News & blogs

Here at ModaMortgages, we’re dedicated to keeping buy to let simple. With our clear products, easy-to-follow criteria and predictable processes which are designed to speed things up, not slow you down, we’re focused on what actually helps you to place your clients’ cases efficiently, without unnecessary friction or nasty surprises along the way.

Since our launch, brokers have been telling us how much they’re enjoying our fresh approach to lending. But don’t just take our word for it. Roger Morris, our group distribution director, caught up with Josh Halsey from Chatsworth Mortgage Group for a quick chat about his experience working with us and what’s impressed him.

Roger: Hi Josh. To begin with, can you tell us a little bit about your background and why you started using ModaMortgages?

Josh: I’ve been working in mortgages for nearly a decade now having previously been with a large corporate estate agency before deciding to take the plunge and go self-employed in July last year. I’m based in Portsmouth but deal with clients all over the country.

I started using ModaMortgages because they were new to the market. I place quite a lot of buy to let cases, so I wanted to try someone fresh; I like giving my clients the full breadth of opportunities.

What’s impressed you most about working with ModaMortgages?

Without a doubt, it’s how simple you are to deal with. You do the basics really well and your offering does exactly what it says on the tin. The products are clear, the criteria is easy to follow and the processes are predictable which is important in today’s buy to let market. I look after some big portfolio landlords up in the North, the Midlands and down here on the South Coast and have used ModaMortgages a lot over the last year or so. Speed and efficiency are important as the buy to let market moves fast, so I need a lender that deals with cases quickly and with the minimum of fuss - ModaMortgages certainly delivers on that front.

Are there any features you particularly like?

I love that you offer free valuations. No one likes having to pay fees, they’re always a real pain point, so the fact you offer free valuations which can reduce the overall fees payable and help landlords manage their costs, especially those bigger, more experienced landlords who’re investing in lots of properties, is a brilliant USP when I’m speaking with clients. They’re even available to landlords looking to buy HMO and MUFB properties, which is another bonus.

I also like the fact you allow limited company top slicing, which is very rare to find. That’s another massive tick in your box.

I had a case recently when the rental income calculation came back massively downvalued. It looked as though we were going to have to bridge the case, but as bridging was too expensive for the customer, I thought the application would have to be scrapped. However, instead of just kicking the case out, ModaMortgages allowed me to rekey it using top slicing as the client had enough surplus disposable income. It didn’t need to be underwritten again and ModaMortgages found a way to restructure the case which gave my client the offer they wanted quickly and with the minimum of fuss. It’s just another example of how you make things simple for brokers and their clients.

Have you found it easy placing cases with ModaMortgages? Yes, absolutely. You want to be working with someone who really understands buy to let, and ModaMortgages has systems in place that are designed to strip the complexity out of placing a case. The application process is 100% online, streamlined and predictable, which means fewer nasty surprises and more consistent decisions, while your clear criteria enables brokers to see early on whether a case fits with them or not, so you know exactly where you stand right from the very start.

How important are relationships in your work as a broker? I’m a big believer that strong relationships are everything in this business, not just with your clients, but also with the lenders you deal with.

The majority of applications I place are ones that ModaMortgages can usually process with the minimum of fuss but there have been occasions when what appeared to be a straightforward case threw up some hidden complexities that I needed some extra support with. It gives you confidence to know that should anything happen, they’re there to provide help and reassurance when clarity is needed. Even if they can’t help, they’ll always be honest and upfront and say this one isn’t for them.

Thanks for your time, Josh. We know you must be busy at the moment, so we appreciate you speaking with us.

Looking to place a case? Why not discover for yourself just how simple buy to let can be with ModaMortgages by placing an instant DIP with us today?