Frequently Asked Questions

Mortgage Genie is an independent mortgage brokerage working from Oxford, helping buyers, homeowners and landlords across Oxford, Oxfordshire and the wider UK. We work whole-of-market, comparing deals from a wide panel of high-street lenders, challenger banks and specialist providers so you're not limited to one bank's rate.

A broker looks at your income, deposit, credit history and goals, then searches the market to find the deals that genuinely fit your circumstances rather than a one-size-fits-all product. We handle the paperwork, chase the lender on your behalf, and keep the whole process moving so you're not left guessing what happens next.

Yes. Tony operates this branch under licence from The Mortgage Store (TMS) Limited, which is an Appointed Representative of Mortgage Intelligence Ltd, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under number 305330 in respect of mortgage, insurance and consumer credit mediation activities. Tony himself is CeMAP qualified with close to two decades of experience in financial services.

Your bank can only offer you its own products. A broker compares deals across dozens of lenders, including some that don't deal directly with the public. This matters most if your situation isn't completely standard - self-employed income, a smaller deposit, a credit blip, or a previous decline elsewhere - where a broker can often find a genuinely better fit.

We start with a free, no-obligation initial conversation to understand your situation and confirm we're the right fit before anything is charged. Any fees are explained clearly upfront, well before you commit to anything, so there are no surprises later in the process.

Yes. Self-employed applications need a bit more groundwork - typically two to three years of accounts or SA302s - but we work with lenders who understand how self-employed income actually works and know how to present your case in the best light. See our self-employed mortgages page for more detail.

Often, yes. A poor credit history doesn't automatically rule you out - it just narrows down which lenders will consider your application. We work with specialist lenders as well as high-street names, and we'll be upfront with you about what's realistically available and what it might cost, rather than wasting your time on an application that's unlikely to succeed.

It depends on your income, outgoings, deposit and credit history, and different lenders calculate affordability differently. Rather than guess from a generic online calculator, the most accurate way to find out is a short conversation with us where we can give you a realistic figure based on your actual circumstances.

Not necessarily. Deposit requirements vary by lender and product, and there are schemes and products designed for buyers with smaller deposits. We'll talk you through what's realistically available based on your situation rather than a blanket rule. Our first-time buyer page covers this in more detail.

A mortgage in principle (sometimes called an agreement in principle) is an early indication from a lender of roughly how much they'd lend you, based on a quick check of your circumstances. A full mortgage offer comes later, after a full application and valuation, and is the lender's formal commitment to lend.

It varies by lender and how complex your situation is, but a straightforward application can complete in a matter of weeks from application to offer. We'll give you a realistic timeframe once we know your circumstances and keep you updated at every stage.

Yes. Whether your current deal is coming to an end, you want to release equity, or you're simply looking for a better rate, we search the market on your behalf so you're never left sitting on an expensive standard variable rate. See our remortgage advice page for more.

No. While we support buyers across Oxford and Oxfordshire, we work with clients right across the UK. Mortgage advice doesn't depend on us being in the same town as you - most of the process happens over the phone, by email, or via video call.

Get in touch for a free, no-obligation initial conversation. We'll talk through your situation, explain your options in plain English, and let you know exactly what we'd need from you to move forward.