OUR CLIENTS VALUE OUR CLEAR, FAIR AND HONEST ADVICE

Who we are

Lifetime Mortgages Maidenhead) Ltd. are a family business based in Maidenhead, Berkshire. We have no geographical boundaries and have clients of many years standing from all over the South of England.

Initially established as a partnership in 1992 the company then known as Mortgage Search became 100% under the control of senior director John Murphy in 1995. Roll forward a decade or two the firm is now owned wholly by John and his son Stephen. There has been pheromonal growth of Later Life Lending and Equity Release as more people take advantage of the innovative products designed to help people in their senior years. We are seeing many new innovative flexible products from the providers including drawdown facilities, the option of ‘servicing’ the loan by making monthly or ad hoc payments (To reduce or stop interest accrual) and the ability to ‘port’ the mortgage subject to the providers criteria, all of this in conjunction .with stricter consumer protection practices driven by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority). The bar has been rising for over 10 years now with the formal Equity Release qualifications (ER1) now mandatory (John qualified in 2012). John being ‘senior’ himself concentrates more on this side of the business where Stephen deals with most of our mainstream mortgage and protection business. In 2017 the company rebranded as ‘Lifetime Mortgages’ to reflect the increased focus on Equity Release as well as standard residential mortgages and protection.

Our history

In 2016, John’s eldest son Stephen joined the firm as a trainee. Stephen is now a fully qualified CeMAP mortgage advisor, having previously worked in a variety of positions within financial services, before joining the family business. Stephen has taken on the responsibility for the mortgage and protection side of the business, leaving John to concentrate on Equity Release and Later Life products.

We have a large client bank built up over 30+ years, which we feel reflects our herd earned reputation for clear, fair and honest advice. Many of our clients have become friends, and within some families we have now worked for three generations – even the grandkids are beginning to call us up!

As John has become more senior, so have many of his clients and what started out as a subsidiary, is now our core business. As a fully fledged member of the ‘Baby Boomers’, John understand the impact retirement can have on a person’s income and lifestyle.

Things have certainly evolved over recent years. People are living longer and leading healthier, more active lives. This means expectations have risen – just because you’ve stopped working, doesn’t mean you don’t still want to enjoy life. Of course we all must slow down at some point, but nobody wants to stop!.

Transparency and advice in plain English …..

We take great pride in eradicating ‘jargon’ and making sure our customers understand the process from start to finish. That our customers understand everything at every stage of the process is sacred. We also ensure our fees structure is fair, simple and transparent and importantly highly COMPETITIVE. For Equity Release cases we charge a flat fee of up to £499; for standard mortgages the fee is capped at £299. The actual amounts can vary depending on the loan size, our agreed fee may well be reduced, or indeed sometimes we can charge no fees at all. We feel our fees are very competitive, any fees charged are only payable upon completion. There are no consultation fees and we offer no obligation consultations as part of our service. Should the application not complete for whatever reason (even if you change your mind) there will be no fees payable. Taking an Equity Release Mortgage is a big commitment and may not be the best option for your circumstances. We will advise you honesty and fairly on the route we think is best for you personally and in addition, we recommend you visit the following site, supported by the Government and (we think) really useful and highly informative: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk

How we work

WE PUT OUR CLIENTS AT EASE WITH OUR FLEXIBLE WORKING
AND STRAIGHT-TALKING, HONEST ADVICE

The pandemic made life difficult for us all. In 2020 we had to change our working practices to reflect the extraordinary circumstances. No longer able to operate on a ‘face to face’ basis, everybody did what they always do in difficult times, we adapted. We conducted more than one meeting with clients, passing information through their kitchen window, meanwhile we were taking notes and covering questions off whilst sitting in their gardens.

Thankfully we don’t have to do this now but as a matter of your choice, can routinely offer telephone meetings and/or Zoom meetings, as well as face-to-face. It becomes clear soon after we closed our offices and worked from home that people were generally more comfortable with a visit from us to their home, rather than coming to us (although we do still have an office in the form of a log cabin in the garden).

We find most of our customers like the choice if a ‘face to face’ home visit or a remote visit by Zoom or telephone. We are also more than happy for people to come to us in our log cabin if they prefer – you might even get a cup of tea!

In all cases, 100% discretion is assured. We encourage new customers to simply pick up the phone for an informal chat or drop us an email. We will tell you very quickly if we think Equity Release isn’t right for you – there are often other options and we can help with those too.

We promise to put you at ease and answer any questions you have in a friendly, relaxed manner. We will not charge you any fees until the application reaches a successful completion.

We can involve your family if you so choose; with Equity Release in particular, this is often a good approach and would be encouraged, but ultimately it is your choice. We will search the whole of the market place for the product which nest suits your needs – no ifs, no buts.

WE PUT OUR CLIENTS AT EASE WITH OUR FLEXIBLE WORKING
AND STRAIGHT-TALKING, HONEST ADVICE

Make an apointment today…

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DISCLAIMER

EQUITY RELEASE: An Equity Release product will reduce the value of your estate, will not be suitable for everyone and may affect your entitlement to state benefits. To understand the features and risks, please ask for a personalised illustration. Check that this mortgage will meet your needs if you want to move or sell your home or you want your family to inherit it. If you are in any doubt, seek independent advice.

Lifetime Mortgages (Maidenhead) Ltd. is an Appointed Representative of PRIMIS Mortgage Network, a trading name of Personal Touch Financial Services Ltd. Personal Touch Financial Services Ltd. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

MORTGAGES AND DEBT CONSOLIDATION: YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.

Think carefully before securing other debts against your home. Consolidating debt may reduce your outgoings now, but you may end up paying more overall. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate most Buy to Let mortgages.

FEES: We typically charge a fee of £299 for our mortgage services, which is payable on completion. For our Equity Release advice we charge a flat fee of £499, regardless of loan size