We live in a world of instant answers. From asking Alexa what the weather is doing to using a chatbot to rebook a flight, technology plays a huge role in how we live, and the mortgage world is no different. There are now plenty of comparison sites and AI tools claiming to help you find the “best deal” in seconds. But when it comes to something as complex and personal as buying a home, technology can only take you so far.
Here’s why speaking to an experienced mortgage broker still makes all the difference.
1. Mortgages have a lot of moving parts
Every lender has completely different criteria. Some will accept self-employed income from the last tax year, some want two years. Some are okay with gifted deposits, some aren’t. Some will take bonus income, others won’t. And that’s just scratching the surface.
There are so many factors to juggle like income history, deposit source, residential history, credit profile, affordability, and more. Trying to get all of that lined up and matched to the right lender is not something AI can reliably do. You need someone who knows lender criteria inside and out and can marry all of those pieces together to make it work.
2. Comparison sites are a starting point, not the whole picture
A lot of people use comparison sites to get a feel for what’s out there, and that’s absolutely fine. But what those sites won’t tell you is whether you’re actually eligible for those deals. That’s where things get misleading. A deal might look great, but if you don’t tick all the lender’s boxes, you won’t be able to get it.
An experienced broker doesn’t just know what the best deals on the market are, they know which of those you’ll actually be accepted for. That’s what saves time, stress, and disappointment.
3. Real world experience counts
Mortgage lending isn’t always black and white. Criteria can be ambiguous, lenders can interpret things differently, and underwriters often ask unexpected questions. A broker has the experience to know what certain lenders are really looking for, how to pre-empt potential issues, and how to deal with red flags like mismatched names, address history gaps, or document formatting problems, things that AI simply wouldn’t catch.
4. Support that makes the difference
One of the biggest parts of my job is knowing exactly what documentation is needed for each lender based on your specific circumstances, and then working hard to get that application through as smoothly as possible. That means chasing things up, answering underwriter queries quickly, speaking to solicitors, and keeping you updated.
That’s not something a chatbot can do. This is where a human being really matters.
5. People want to speak to people
Yes, tech is a huge part of the mortgage process these days, and I use a lot of great systems in my work. But most people don’t want to rely completely on AI when it comes to one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives. They want to speak to someone, ask questions, get clear explanations, and feel reassured along the way. That peace of mind only comes from dealing with a real person who knows what they’re doing.
The bottom line
Technology absolutely has its place, but when it comes to arranging your mortgage, experience, judgement, and personal support make all the difference.
If you’re ready to explore your options or just want to make sure you’re on the right track, I’d be happy to help.