Koto Financial Services

Koto Financial Services Koto is a whole of market mortgage and protection adviser based in Hertfordshire.

Thinking about using bridging finance?Before you jump in, there are a few things you really need to understand.First — w...
08/06/2026

Thinking about using bridging finance?

Before you jump in, there are a few things you really need to understand.

First — what’s the exit strategy?
Is it selling the property?
Is it refinancing onto a mortgage?

Next — what are the fees and the true net loan amount after costs?

And most importantly — what is your contingency plan if things take longer than expected?

Bridging can be a fantastic short-term tool when structured correctly.
At Koto Financial Services mortgage broker St Albans, through our trusted partners, we help clients across the UK understand the numbers and the risks before moving forward.
Because when bridging works well, it’s brilliant.
When it’s not planned properly, it can become expensive very quickly.

Your Home may be Repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or any other debt secured on it.

Not all forms of Property Development Finance are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. All Bridging and commercial business is on a referral only basis through one of our trusted business partners.

Are you self-employed and thinking about getting a mortgage in the next couple of years?Here’s something many people don...
06/06/2026

Are you self-employed and thinking about getting a mortgage in the next couple of years?

Here’s something many people don’t realise.

Most lenders look at the last two years of your tax returns and often take an average of those figures to work out what you can borrow.

So if you’re planning to buy, refinance or invest in property, the decisions you make now at the end of the tax year can have a big impact on your borrowing power later.
A quick conversation between you, your accountant and your mortgage adviser can make a huge difference to the outcome.

At Koto Financial Services, mortgage broker St Albans, we help clients across the UK plan ahead so they can achieve their property goals.

Sometimes a short conversation can make sure you can achieve your 2026 and 2027 goals!

Your home/property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. You may have to pay an early repayment charge to your existing lender if you remortgage.

Today is World No To***co Day, and it raises an interesting question about your protection cover. Have you stopped smoki...
31/05/2026

Today is World No To***co Day, and it raises an interesting question about your protection cover.

Have you stopped smoking in the last five years, but your protection policy still lists you as a smoker?

Many insurers charge significantly higher premiums for smokers, sometimes increasing the cost by around 100%.

If you’ve quit smoking, you may be able to review your policy and reduce the cost.

It’s also worth noting that va**ng is normally still classed as smoking by most insurers.

If you’d like to review your protection cover, speak to Koto Financial Services, mortgage broker St Albans, and we can help check whether a better deal might now be available.

As with all insurance policies, conditions and exclusions will apply.

Check out our new BLOG! Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep ...
27/05/2026

Check out our new BLOG!



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

25/05/2026

When lenders review your bank statements, they don’t treat every payment the same.

Some costs are already accounted for in national spending data, so they aren’t always assessed individually. These can include mobile phones, insurance policies or TV subscriptions.

However, certain commitments can directly impact how much you can borrow.
Things like loans, credit cards, hire purchase agreements and school fees are considered committed expenditure.

Lenders may also question regular gambling transactions or subscription platforms if they appear frequently.

At Koto Financial Services, mortgage broker St Albans, we help clients across the UK prepare their application so nothing unexpected appears during underwriting.

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

22/05/2026

What exactly is a remortgage?

Simply put, it’s when you move your mortgage to a new deal when your current one ends.

You can either stay with your existing lender, which is known as a product transfer, often with minimal underwriting.

Or you can switch to a new lender, which involves a full application and affordability assessment.

Some lenders even offer free legal work or cashback to attract new customers.
At Koto Financial Services, mortgage broker St Albans, we review both routes to make sure clients across the UK get the most suitable deal.

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

20/05/2026

Did you know some lenders may allow borrowing up to six times income?

For higher earners, particularly those earning £100,000 or more, certain lenders may stretch affordability further than many people realise.

Recently at Koto Financial Services, mortgage broker St Albans, we placed a case for a client where the lender issued a mortgage offer within just 48 hours.

Every lender assesses income slightly differently, which is why having access to the whole market can make such a difference.

If you’re unsure what you could borrow, it’s always worth asking.

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

Did you know there is protection designed specifically for children? ChildShield from MetLife can provide cover for chil...
18/05/2026

Did you know there is protection designed specifically for children?

ChildShield from MetLife can provide cover for children up to age 22, helping families manage the unexpected.

Plans start from £6 or £11 per month, and cover includes things like:

• Major and minor broken bones
• ICU admissions
• Hospital stays
• Accidents and illnesses

Depending on the level of cover selected, payouts can range from £50 up to £10,000.

At Koto Financial Services, mortgage broker St Albans, we help families across the UK review their protection so they know exactly what support is available if something unexpected happens.

As with all insurance policies, conditions and exclusions will apply.

15/05/2026

Did you know you may be able to take your existing mortgage with you when you move home?

This is called porting your mortgage.

If your borrowing needs increase, you may also be able to top up the loan with additional borrowing from the lender.

This can sometimes help avoid early repayment charges on your current mortgage deal.

Every lender has slightly different rules around porting, which is why it’s worth reviewing your options before making any decisions.

At Koto Financial Services, mortgage broker St Albans, we help clients across the UK work through these options before they move.

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

Check out our new BLOG!
13/05/2026

Check out our new BLOG!

Address

Riverdale House, 19-21a High Street
Saint Albans
AL48BB

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+441727293050

Website

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