A mortgage broker will get the best deal for you.

A recent study asked portfolio buy-to-let landlords and brokers for their opinions about finding the best loan. The new research concludes that many buy-to-let landlords choose brokers for the best loan, as opposed to direct lenders.

When funding big investments, such as the purchase of a property, choosing the finance method is an important part of the process. A mortgage broker acts as a go-between who helps the consumer identify the most suitable lender, while a direct lender is a bank or other financial institution that decides whether the consumer qualifies for the loan.

Some 71% of investors with portfolios of between £2 million and £50 million stated that opting for a broker saved them money and provided them with a deal they were pleased with.

Research shows borrowers clearly value the support of a broker to find them the best deal and trust them to find a lender that suits their needs. With so many borrowers putting their trust in brokers to find them a loan that suits them, brokers are seen as a key link between lenders and investors – with the added benefit of removing frustrations for landlords.

Though mortgage brokers and direct lenders both provide services to people seeking mortgage loans. Approximately 73% expressed they prefer to use a mortgage broker while only 27% go directly to lenders. This is nearly three-quarters of portfolio buy-to-let landlords.

40% of buy-to-let landlords use a broker because researching suitable mortgage products is a challenging task. Meanwhile, 35% found interest rates frustrating, 35% found the lack of clarity over charges the main issue while 31% found the mortgage/ loan underwriting aspect the challenge.

The residential market is still very buoyant, and many buy-to-let landlords are on the lookout for new properties to add to their portfolio. When it comes to lenders they want flexibility, speed and efficiency, something.