What to Look For When Choosing a Mortgage Lender

GOGOPROP
Property Guides
April 3, 2025

Picking the right mortgage lender is a critical step for buyers and investors, especially those from Southeast Asia and the UAE, who want to invest in the UK property market. A well-suited lender can streamline the financing process and provide the support needed for a successful transaction. 

Understanding what to look for in a mortgage lender can make all the difference when securing short-term financing on rental property in the UK. We’ll explore what factors you should consider before deciding on a lender to ensure you make an informed choice on your UK property investment.

A couple choosing a mortgage lender

1. Loan Types & Flexibility

The right lender should offer diverse mortgage products that take into account the buyer’s financial situation and investment goals. Consider a lender that provides options, including buy-to-let, interest-only, and equity-release mortgages. Look for flexibility in repayment terms, deposit requirements, and loan-to-value (LTV) ratios.

For overseas buyers, asset-based lending is often a better fit than traditional, credit-focused loans. GOGOPROP specialises in asset-based loans designed for overseas buyers. Our range of flexible, short-term options ensures you get a mortgage aligned with your financial goals.

2. Speed of Approval & Funding

In a competitive market like London, delays in securing financing can result in missed opportunities. Aim for lenders that can approve loans and disburse funds quickly. When picking a mortgage lender, consider digital-first platforms with streamlined processes that can facilitate faster applications and decision-making.

With digital lender GOGOPROP, loan decisions are made within 24 hours, and funding is disbursed in as little as 10 days, giving you the speed you need to take advantage of investment opportunities.

3. Transparency in Fees & Interest Rates

Hidden fees or unexpected charges can significantly increase the cost of borrowing. A transparent lender ensures you are fully informed about all costs upfront. Consider a lender with clear fee structures and fees, including handling fees and penalties. The lender should provide detailed information outlining all potential expenses. Compare rates across lenders to find one that balances cost with service quality.

GOGOPROP is committed to transparency, offering competitive rates and clear, upfront information about all fees. With us, there are no hidden charges—just straightforward, fair lending.

4. Accessibility & Convenience

Overseas buyers often face challenges in accessing UK-based lenders due to time zones, physical location, and extensive document requirements. A lender offering digital convenience can simplify the process. Look for digital platforms or online applications that allow you to apply, track, and manage your loan remotely and provide reliable customer service. 

GOGOPROP’s digital-first approach means you can apply from anywhere, track your loan status in real time, and receive expert guidance whenever you need it.

5. Security & Compliance

Handling large financial transactions requires trust in the lender’s security measures and adherence to UK regulations. When choosing a mortgage lender, look for one with a secure platform to make sure your data is protected at all times. Regulatory compliance should be a key concern so go with a lender that follows all UK financial and property laws.

GOGOPROP is committed to providing safety and security in your transactions in full compliance with UK regulations to provide reliable and efficient property financing services for international clients.

A finger pressing a key labelled “lenders” on a keyboard

Why Is GOGOPROP Your Lender of Choice?

GOGOPROP offers a streamlined mortgage lending experience designed for overseas buyers, with fast approvals within 24 hours, processing within 5 days, and funding in as little as 10 days. We provide loans on new property purchases or equity releases on existing properties you already own. We also offer flexible repayment terms that work for short-term arrangements while our competitive rates and clear fees ensure transparency.

We are a trusted platform that guarantees your data and transactions are protected. Our convenient, fully digital platform allows remote accessibility and real-time updates. For more information, contact our team for expert guidance and support when choosing a mortgage lender for your UK property investment.

GOGOPROP

When our family bought an electric cargo bike earlier this year, one of my biggest fears was that this lovely and expensive new machine was going to get stolen. So I got the best lock money could buy, and I started to investigate: did I need ebike insurance?

First, I called my homeowners insurance provider to see if they would cover the bike if it were stolen. To my surprise, because it’s an electric bike, not only did my policy not cover it, they wouldn’t even add it for an additional fee or sell me a separate policy for it, the way they did for our family car.

Instead they referred me to an insurance company that specializes in bikes and ebikes. I bought a policy from them and sleep a little better for it.

I’ve heard similar stories from other ebike owners. And I’ve heard worse.

What can happen without ebike insurance

The saddest stories are the ones where someone assumed their homeowners or renters or car insurance covered their ebike, and after it was stolen or seriously damaged, it turned out it wasn’t covered.

"And then there are the stories about people whose ebikes were covered by their homeowners policy, but their premium went way up when they made a claim for a stolen ebike."
<span class="blog-quote-name">-Kyle Miller, CEO Brass Hands</span>

Why it’s hard to insure an ebike

When it comes to insurance, ebikes land in a gray area outside standard homeowners insurance and auto insurance. Here’s why:

  • Ebikes are new in terms of the insurance industry. Most of the several million ebikes in the U.S. were purchased in the last two years. Insurers aren’t familiar with them, and insurers don’t like to be surprised by unfamiliar products.
  • Ebikes are more expensive than regular bikes. Policies that cover bikes, like most homeowners or renters policies, might have also covered ebikes until the insurer had to pay much larger claims than they expected to replace a damaged or stolen ebike. See above about insurers and surprise. So some policy terms got changed.
  • Finally, ebikes get stolen a lot, and not only from people’s homes. They are ridden and locked up outside all over the place, which makes them more vulnerable than other valuable household items.

Steps to take to properly insure your ebike

The odds that your ebike is covered by your existing insurance is lower than you may think. Here’s what to do to find out if you need ebike insurance:

  1. Call your insurance company and find out what they cover. Things to bring up: coverage of accidental damage, theft, and travel (like what would happen if you flew somewhere with your bike and the airline did a number on it). Does the insurance company consider your ebike a “luxury item”? If you’re happy with the coverage, great! You’re good to go.
  2. Consider bike-specific coverage. If you aren’t covered, or feel like the coverage you do have isn’t enough, here are some things to think about.

Bike insurance covers all kinds of bike specific things, not just theft. Think damage to the bike from a collision, medical payments if you are injured in a collision, insurance for the bike if you are traveling with it or racing it, or a bike rental while your bike is being repaired. Some policies even cover things like accessories (like bike lights and panniers) and riding clothes.

Bike claims won’t affect your other insurance premium. Should you need to make a claim on your ebike, your home insurance premium won’t change or get canceled.

We can help

Want to learn more about ebike insurance? Join Tempo and get easy access to insurance quotes, and other ways to protect your ebike right inside the app.

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