HSBC mortgages 'urges people to go direct to lenders'

Date:Thursday 23rd September 2010
Author: Max Freedman

A spokesperson for HSBC mortgages has claimed that people should go direct to lenders for their home finance deals, as well as speak to brokers.

Martijn van der Heijden, head of mortgages at the company, explained that an increasing number of financial institutions are giving some of their best rates to customers who go to them directly.

He said: "Shopping around is essential when looking for a new mortgage and that means doing more than simply seeing a mortgage broker."

Mr van der Heijden noted that four in ten customers went straight to lenders for their mortgages in 2009, while one in four home finance arrangements sold direct in the UK was through HSBC.

This makes the company the biggest seller of direct mortgages in the country.

Recently, HSBC unveiled a new range of mortgage deals available at up to 90 per cent loan to value, in an effort to "reach out" to first-time buyers.