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 dabb

led 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

09/09/2026

Let’s talk DOWN VALUATIONS… because I’m seeing more of them lately.

And it’s not just happening on purchases.

I’m seeing them across all types of cases, including:

✅ Purchases
✅ Remortgages
✅ Buy to Lets
✅ Bridge exits
✅ Investment properties

A property might be worth £300,000 in your eyes, but if the lender’s valuer comes back at £280,000, that’s the figure the lender will usually work from.

That can affect your LTV, how much you can borrow, the product available and even your exit strategy.

Sometimes there are options, including challenging the valuation where there’s strong comparable evidence, but it’s never guaranteed.

A valuation can completely change the numbers, so never assume the value until the lender’s valuation is back.

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

Proof I survived the 80s once… and apparently I’m back 😂💿
08/09/2026

Proof I survived the 80s once… and apparently I’m back 😂💿

GOOD NEWS STORY OF THE WEEK ❤️This one genuinely got me.A dad who shares custody of his 6 year old daughter came to me w...
08/09/2026

GOOD NEWS STORY OF THE WEEK ❤️

This one genuinely got me.

A dad who shares custody of his 6 year old daughter came to me wanting one thing…

A home where his little girl would always feel like she was coming home.

Since separating from his ex-partner, life had changed a lot. He’d had to start again financially and wasn’t even sure whether buying on his own would be possible.

But it was.

And this week I got to tell him…

MORTGAGE APPROVED. 🏡❤️

The sweetest part? His daughter is already planning how she wants to decorate her new bedroom at Daddy’s house. 🥹

It might be shared custody, but he never wanted her to feel like she was just “staying” with him.

He wanted her to have two homes.

Sometimes a mortgage approval means so much more than buying a property.

This was definitely one of those times. ❤️

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

Why does one lender say YES while another says NO? 🤔Because mortgage lenders don’t all play by the same rules.The exact ...
07/09/2026

Why does one lender say YES while another says NO? 🤔

Because mortgage lenders don’t all play by the same rules.

The exact same client could be accepted by one lender and declined by another.

Why?

✅ Different affordability calculations
✅ Different credit criteria
✅ Different rules around income
✅ Different property criteria
✅ Different approaches to self-employment, overtime and bonuses
✅ Different lending limits and risk appetites

A decline from one lender doesn’t automatically mean you can’t get a mortgage.

Sometimes, it simply means it wasn’t the right lender for your circumstances.

And that’s exactly why lender choice matters.

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

06/09/2026

“Another broker got me a lower rate…”

Me: Okay, but what’s the actual deal? 😂

Because getting a lower rate on paper is the easy bit. Finding the best overall mortgage for your circumstances is what matters.

A lower rate could come with:

✅ A higher product fee
✅ Higher overall costs
✅ Different incentives or cashback
✅ Different early repayment charges

Sometimes the lower rate genuinely IS the better deal. And if it is, brilliant! 👏

But always compare the whole mortgage, not just the headline rate.

Because lowest rate doesn’t always mean lowest cost.

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

05/09/2026

Would you buy a smaller property now, or keep saving for your dream home? 🏡

It’s a decision a lot of first-time buyers face.

Buy sooner and you could start paying down your own mortgage and potentially build equity over time.

Wait longer and you could build a bigger deposit, potentially giving you more choice and access to different mortgage options.

But nobody knows exactly what house prices or mortgage rates will do while you wait.

I also wouldn’t buy somewhere just for the sake of owning a property. Buying and selling costs money, so ideally it needs to be somewhere you can realistically see yourself living for a while.

There’s no one right answer.

Would you compromise to buy sooner, or wait for the home you really want?

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

6.5x income lending for first-time buyers! 👀Coventry Building Society has made some BIG changes to its first-time buyer ...
04/09/2026

6.5x income lending for first-time buyers! 👀

Coventry Building Society has made some BIG changes to its first-time buyer criteria.

Eligible buyers could now benefit from:

✅ Up to 6.5x income
✅ Up to 95% LTV, so potentially just a 5% deposit
✅ Gifted deposits from a wider range of family members

For the 6.5x lending, minimum income is £30,000 for a sole applicant or £50,000 combined for joint applicants, and no applicant can be self-employed.

Of course, 6.5x isn’t guaranteed. Full affordability and lending checks still apply.

But for some first-time buyers struggling to bridge the gap between their income and property prices, this could make a BIG difference.

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

Reviews like this mean more than people realise. ❤️An amazing client has just completed on their new home and took the t...
03/09/2026

Reviews like this mean more than people realise. ❤️

An amazing client has just completed on their new home and took the time to write some of the sweetest, most thoughtful words about their experience with me.

There’s something really special about knowing someone trusted you with such a huge part of their life, and that you helped them get the keys at the end of it. 🏡

I never take reviews like this for granted.

Happy home. Happy client. Very grateful broker. ❤️

02/09/2026

“But Tess, I don’t need an AIP. I’ll just get 5x my income…”

If only mortgage affordability was that simple. 😂

Your income is just one part of the calculation.

Lenders can also consider:

✅ Credit history
✅ Loans and credit cards
✅ Children and childcare costs
✅ Other financial commitments
✅ Deposit and LTV
✅ Their own affordability calculations

So earning £50,000 does not automatically mean you can borrow £250,000.

An Agreement in Principle can give you a much better idea of what you could realistically borrow before you start viewing properties.

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

01/09/2026

Something changes when you start building a life you actually want…

You stop comparing your journey to everyone else’s.

You stop worrying about who’s ahead of you or whether everyone understands what you’re doing.

You realise that good things take time.

The business.
The property.
The money.
You.

Keep showing up. Keep learning. Keep building.

Because the only person you really need to be better than is who you were yesterday.

Address

Uxbridge

Telephone

+447912000422

Website

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