Tessa - Mortgage Adviser

Tessa - Mortgage Adviser First home? Remortgaging? Let’s make it stress-free. I help UK buyers secure mortgages with confidence – no jargon, just results.

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See LinkedIn for experience 👇🏽

http://linkedin.com/in/tessa-d-souza-kanabar-cemap-922b5193 With nearly 20 years of experience in the financial industry, I bring a wealth of knowledge and a passion for helping people find their dream homes. My journey began in 2004 with NatWest, where I climbed the ranks to become a branch manager over my 10-year tenure. During this time, I dabbled in mortgage advice, sparking a new passion. After a year of traveling and reflection, I decided to dive fully into the mortgage industry, earning my CeMAP qualification independently. In 2016, I began my career as a mortgage and protection broker, quickly advancing to a mortgage partner with three promotions in just eight years. Along the way, I was honoured with multiple "Mortgage Broker of the Year" awards. What sets me apart is my commitment to going beyond just securing a mortgage—I’ll help you find your dream home, liaise with estate agents, and support you through every step of the buying process, from making offers to finally getting the keys. Having worked for one of the largest estate agency groups, I knew it was time to take my expertise and passion to the next level by becoming an independent, self-employed mortgage and protection adviser. Now, as a whole-of-market broker, I can truly offer personalised mortgage solutions that fit your unique needs. Whether you’re buying your first home, buying an additional property or re-mortgaging, I’m here to guide you through the entire process, making it as smooth and exciting as possible. Let’s make your dream home a reality


Areas of expertise:

• Home movers
• Re-mortgage
• First time buyers
• Bad credit
• Self employed
• Debt consolidation
• Buy to let

If I had a billboard, this is exactly what I’d put on it. 😂No complicated mortgage jargon.No promises that everyone can ...
24/09/2026

If I had a billboard, this is exactly what I’d put on it. 😂

No complicated mortgage jargon.

No promises that everyone can borrow a fortune.

Just what I actually do.

First homes.
Home movers.
Remortgages.
Buy to Lets.
And the cases that aren’t quite so straightforward.

Because mortgages are rarely one size fits all, and sometimes finding the right solution takes a little more digging.

Although I can’t lie…

I quite like the idea of my face interrupting your drive down the M25. 😂

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

HOW MUCH SHOULD A MORTGAGE BROKER ACTUALLY BE CHARGING YOU?£0?£299?£599?£1,000+?Here’s where it gets controversial…There...
23/09/2026

HOW MUCH SHOULD A MORTGAGE BROKER ACTUALLY BE CHARGING YOU?

£0?
£299?
£599?
£1,000+?

Here’s where it gets controversial…

There isn’t one “correct” broker fee.
And a broker charging a fee isn’t automatically ripping you off.
Equally, paying more doesn’t automatically mean you’re getting better advice.

What matters is what you’re actually getting for your money.

Is your case straightforward or complex?
Are they simply arranging a product, or managing the case from start to finish?

Are they researching your circumstances properly?
Will they fight your corner when something goes wrong?
Will they still answer the phone after the application is submitted?

Some brokers charge nothing directly to the client. Others charge hundreds or even more depending on the work involved.

Neither automatically makes them better or worse.
The question shouldn’t just be:

“How much do you charge?”

It should also be:

“What am I getting for that fee?”

Because when you’re dealing with potentially hundreds of thousands of pounds of borrowing…
cheapest doesn’t automatically mean best.

And neither does most expensive.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

22/09/2026

“Tessa, I’ve just maxed out a £20,000 credit card right before completion. Is that okay?”

Me: Please tell me you’re joking. 😂

Getting your mortgage offer does not mean you can suddenly change your finances without it potentially affecting your mortgage.

Before completion, lenders can carry out further checks and may become aware of new borrowing or changes to your circumstances.

Maxing out a £20k credit card could:

❌ Increase your monthly commitments
❌ Affect affordability
❌ Change your credit profile
❌ Potentially put your mortgage at risk

Does new borrowing automatically mean your mortgage will be withdrawn? No.

But taking out significant debt just before completion is definitely something I’d want to know about.

Until you have the keys, don’t assume the mortgage is untouchable.

And maybe leave the £20k furniture shopping spree until you’ve spoken to your broker. 😂

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

IF YOU’RE GOING TO NEGOTIATE ON A PROPERTY, BE PREPARED TO LOSE IT.Blunt, but true.There’s nothing wrong with negotiatin...
21/09/2026

IF YOU’RE GOING TO NEGOTIATE ON A PROPERTY, BE PREPARED TO LOSE IT.

Blunt, but true.

There’s nothing wrong with negotiating. Sometimes there’s £20,000, £30,000 or more between the asking price and what a buyer believes the property is worth.

If you’ve done your research, looked at comparable sold prices, considered the condition and you’re genuinely prepared to walk away, negotiate.

But I also see buyers risk losing a property they absolutely LOVE over £2,000 or £3,000.

On a mortgage over many years, the difference in monthly payment may be relatively small. That doesn’t mean you should overpay, but it’s worth understanding the actual numbers before making that decision.

Ask yourself:

If another buyer gets this house for £3,000 more than I offered, am I genuinely okay with that?

If yes, hold your ground.

If no, decide what the property is worth to you and set your maximum.

Negotiating isn’t about winning or getting the seller down as far as possible.

Know the property. Know your numbers. Know your limit. And if you negotiate hard, be prepared for the seller to say no.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Sundays are for relaxing… and scrolling Rightmove 😜No mortgage agreed.No idea why you’re looking at a 6-bedroom house co...
20/09/2026

Sundays are for relaxing… and scrolling Rightmove 😜

No mortgage agreed.

No idea why you’re looking at a 6-bedroom house completely out of budget.

But obviously you need to see the kitchen. 😂

Rest, recharge and casually plan your imaginary next move.

I’m having a chilled day today, although I’ll be doing a touch of work later. I actually like having a little catch-up so I feel organised for the week ahead.

And if your casual Rightmove scroll suddenly turns into “Wait… I actually LOVE this house” 👀

Get an Agreement in Principle in place and find out what you could realistically borrow.

Because we all know “I’m just having a look” can escalate very quickly. 😂

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

19/09/2026

STOP WAITING FOR MORTGAGE RATES TO FALL.

I hear this all the time:

“I’ll wait until rates come down.”

But what exactly are you waiting for?

Nobody knows where mortgage rates will be in 3, 6 or 12 months.

They could fall.
They could rise.
They could barely move.

And while you’re waiting, property prices, your circumstances and the mortgage deals available could all change too.

That doesn’t mean rush out and buy a property or take a mortgage that doesn’t work for you.

It means make your decision based on what you can afford today, rather than trying to perfectly time a market that none of us can predict.

If the numbers work and the mortgage is affordable, waiting purely for a lower rate could mean waiting for something that may not happen when you expect it to.

Make decisions based on your life, not predictions.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

18/09/2026

“I’m already paying £1,800 a month in rent, so surely I can afford an £1,800 mortgage?”

Not necessarily.

And I completely understand why that feels frustrating.

A mortgage lender doesn’t simply look at your rent and match it to a mortgage payment.

They can consider your:

✅ Income
✅ Loans and credit cards
✅ Childcare and dependants
✅ Regular financial commitments
✅ Overall affordability

They also need to assess whether the mortgage is sustainable under their own affordability calculations.

And once you own the property, repairs and maintenance become your responsibility too.

Paying £1,800 rent shows you’re used to a significant housing cost, but it doesn’t automatically mean a lender will approve an £1,800 mortgage payment.

Rent and mortgage affordability are simply assessed differently.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

BREAKING: BANK OF ENGLAND HOLDS INTEREST RATES AT 3.75%The Bank of England has today kept Bank Rate unchanged at 3.75% f...
17/09/2026

BREAKING: BANK OF ENGLAND HOLDS INTEREST RATES AT 3.75%

The Bank of England has today kept Bank Rate unchanged at 3.75% for the sixth consecutive meeting.

The decision comes at a time of increased uncertainty, with inflation above the Bank’s 2% target and rising global energy prices adding further pressure.

So while there’s no change today, the big question now is what happens next.

And remember, Bank Rate staying the same does NOT mean fixed mortgage rates will stay the same.

Fixed mortgage pricing is also influenced by swap rates, funding costs and what financial markets expect interest rates to do in the future.

For now, Bank Rate remains at 3.75%.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

17/09/2026

AI CAN ALREADY DO PART OF MY JOB. CAN IT DO YOURS?

I use AI sometimes, so I’m not going to pretend it isn’t changing how we work.

Because it absolutely is.

AI can write emails, create content, analyse information, automate admin and answer questions in seconds.

And yes, it can already do parts of my job as a mortgage broker.

But the whole job?

I’m not convinced.

Mortgages aren’t always neat numbers on a screen.

Sometimes it’s knowing when to challenge a decision, finding a way through a complicated case, calming a worried client or simply understanding the human being behind the application.

And this isn’t just mortgages.

Accountants. Lawyers. Recruiters. Marketers. Designers. Advisers. The list goes on.

Maybe the question isn’t:

“Will AI take my job?”

Maybe it’s:

“What parts of my job can AI already do better than me?”

I’d rather learn to work with it than pretend it isn’t happening.

But completely replacing human judgement, relationships and trust?

Ask me again in five years. 😂

Why are mortgage rates rising again… and should you be worried?Yes, we’ve seen a number of lenders increase selected fix...
16/09/2026

Why are mortgage rates rising again… and should you be worried?

Yes, we’ve seen a number of lenders increase selected fixed mortgage rates recently.

But interestingly, Bank Rate hasn’t gone up.

Fixed mortgage pricing is influenced by swap rates and what financial markets expect interest rates to do in the future, not just today’s Bank Rate.

Recent inflation and energy-price uncertainty have moved market expectations, and lenders have been repricing as a result.

So should you panic? No.

But if you’re buying or your current deal is ending soon, I wouldn’t rely on rates simply dropping again either.

Mortgage rates can move up or down quickly, and trying to perfectly time the market is almost impossible.

Know your options and make the decision that works for your circumstances.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Address

Uxbridge

Telephone

+447912000422

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