Just one experience from me - I tried them first and the couldn’t get me a mortgage because my home is deck access. But I then spoke to a different mortgage broker and they said it wasn’t an issue sorted out a load of options straight away.
This was some time ago but I suspected they weren’t great with non-standard properties. So if they do say your property is difficult to mortgage try someone else.
I exchanged and completed back at the end of June as a first time buyer.
I used Habito and, as mentioned previously, they were great and doing the process all online worked perfectly. My circumstances were straightforward so not sure how that would translate in a more complex position.
From a conveyancing perspective I went with an online conveyancer off the back of a recommendation from a friend - MJP based in Norwich.
Cost-wise they were really competitive and, whilst very no frills (contact is mainly through an online portal), having access to every single document and understanding exactly where the process was up to came in very helpful - I was able to push the Estate Agent when there were delays with the seller’s solicitor or queries just weren’t getting resolved satisfactorily.
Next time I go through buying somewhere, I’ll definitely have access to an online conveyancing portal as a main requirement.
I used a broker this week. Spoke to her on Tuesday, application submitted on Wednesday afternoon, bank’s valuation done today - worth every penny of her £400 fee. Also looked over my insurances and made a few other money saving recommendations. All by phone and email. She’s done about 8 or 9 mortgages across the family over the years.
DM me if interested (I don’t get a kickback BTW 
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I’ve just recently increased payments towards my Mortgage, was already overpaying but thought I might as well throw in a bit more. Currently on track to pay it off 5½ years earlier than planned.
Should also help secure a better deal in 4 years time when I can remortgage, given I won’t owe as much against the value of the property.
Thought also with times been like they are, it’s better to pay off more now whilst I can, as never know what’s around the corner. I’m still managing to save money at the same time.
I wish I was as disciplined as that because it makes so much sense.
The first hurdle I need to get over is creating the cool Google sheets chart to calculate and forecast it all because that might motivate me to actually do it.
Does your mortgage provider have an online calculator for overpayments 
Mine does (NatWest), once logged into the account it pulls all the current details into the calculator. You can then tell it how much you want to pay in addition, it’ll do the calculations and show it on a graph along with details of how many years it’ll knock off.
Edit - also says what the potential cash saved in interest fees will be
Just had a look and I don’t think they do. We’re with Platform, which I’ve just found out are part of the co-operative bank!
MSE has one: Mortgage Overpayment Calculator: Pay off your debt early?...
We don’t overpay because I don’t think it’s worth it for us, I think we do better by putting the money in investments through a LISA. Always worth considering all the options; but then paying down debt is often the safest route (making you less vulnerable to future interest rate changes or problems remortgaging)
I overpay (33% increase in my monthly payments) mostly so that at remortgage time I can be in a better LTV band.
When my student loan is paid off, I’ll be putting that extra against overpayments too.
Ultimately I want to move house to a more expensive place and it helps me get into the habit of not having that extra money, and being able to have a higher mortgage in the future.
I’ll never use an online conveyancer again. I used 1 to buy my flat. They were horrendous, impossible to speak to, everything took longer than it should. They then got shut down after completion so didn’t finish everything (land registry, etc).
Mine was brilliant from start to finish, no hassle. Replied quickly to all emails, was in constant contact with me about the process.
LTV question… are there certain points that is noticeably improves?
Obviously 80% is better than 90% but if you’re at say 79% is it only worth pushing if you can get to 75%? If you get to 76% then nothing really changes?
You will generally get the best deals at 60% and ‘better’ deals at 75% over 80% or 90%, but of course there are a huge number of variables.
Not sure about the direct answer to your question, but one thing that does improve at 25% specifically is you hit the level where you can probably let the property out (with lenders persmission) so it’s a target some aim for. And it’s generally known the best deals are at 60% (doesn’t improve after that)
Mostly 5% increments some may change. IMO depends on how much your mortgage is as to whether going from 78 to 75 is worth it
I personally think if you’re 1% off the next bracket - or forecast to me when your fixed term ends - then overpay a bit on the run up to the term ending.
I’m aiming to get into 60% - with the increase in value of the house and overpaying.
I think we should be in the 70-75% range, depending on the house we buy, but didn’t want to put every single penny in, if there’s no real benefit when I’d rather buy a few new toys for the house instead.
OLED & Sonos > being at 71% instead of 72%
I definitely wouldn’t put too much in anyway. It’s not an accessible form of savings, and mortgage rates are low at the moment, so it’s only of slim benefit.
It also depends when you are likely to remortgage. If it’s ten years away, you are almost definitely better off in investments. If it’s two years away, repaying the mortgage early is better.
Either way the standard advice would be paying off any short term debt, and having a sizeable emergency fund before they put any money into something non-reachable (like mortgage overpayments). Mortgage overpayments are one choice of a few on where to put your extra cash after that point.
Good advice!
Our absolute top line deposit figure is coming down and as you’ve said that, I don’t feel so bad about it. Originally I wanted to put in every penny I could, but savings, emergency fund, actually being able to furnish and enjoy our new home is equally important.
Probably fixing for 5 years this time around. 2 years when moving into a bigger place and adjusting will come around pretty quickly.
If you go with a broker they can run the figures at different deposits for you in regards to what brackets they fall under, they’ll provide quotes for it. You can see what the difference is then at least, to help weigh up a decision.
Or use the mortgage comparison tool on MSE - which will tell you the LTV & you can see the change in cost etc too 