We know Suffolk homes
Suffolk has more than its share of thatched, timber-framed and listed homes. Not every lender will lend on them, and we know the ones that will.
Based in Sudbury, covering all of Suffolk
Your local mortgage broker in Suffolk.
Keyholder Mortgages is a family-run mortgage broker in Suffolk, based in Sudbury. Lois and Harry give honest, whole-of-market mortgage advice to first-time buyers, home movers, remortgagers and landlords across Suffolk and north Essex, including clients who have been turned down elsewhere.
- Local advisers who know the Suffolk property market
- 100+ five-star Google reviews
- Meet in person, by phone or by video call
Free, no-obligation call · No impact on your credit file
Areas we cover
Mortgage advice across Suffolk and north Essex
Not local? We also help clients right across the UK by phone and video call.
100+ five-star reviews
Read them on Google
Whole of market
access to lenders
Decades
of combined experience
FCA regulated
via Cutting Edge Mortgages
Why use a local broker
Why use a mortgage broker in Suffolk?
A local mortgage broker knows the Suffolk property market, works alongside local estate agents and solicitors, and knows which lenders are comfortable with the kinds of homes found across the county, from period cottages and listed buildings to new builds.
At Keyholder Mortgages, we search the whole market for you, explain your options clearly and manage your application from start to finish. You deal with Lois or Harry throughout, not a call centre, and you can meet us in person, by phone or by video call.
We work with local agents
Our links with estate agents and solicitors across Suffolk and north Essex mean we can keep your purchase moving and chase things up when they stall.
We search the whole market
We compare mortgages from across the market, including lenders you won't find on comparison sites, to find a deal that suits your situation.
We help when others say no
Bad credit, self-employed income or a past rejection doesn't have to stop you. Complex cases are what Harry specialises in.
Areas we cover
Mortgage advice across Suffolk and north Essex.
We're based near Sudbury and help buyers and homeowners in towns and villages across Suffolk and north Essex. Here's a little about the areas we cover most often and the kinds of mortgages we arrange there.
Mortgage broker in Sudbury
Sudbury is where we're based, so it's the market we know best. From Victorian terraces near the town centre to new-build homes on the edge of town, we help first-time buyers, families moving up the ladder and homeowners coming to the end of a fixed rate.
With the branch line to Marks Tey, Sudbury is also popular with London commuters looking for more space for their money.
Nearby: Great Cornard, Chilton, Bulmer, Acton and Borley
Mortgage broker in Hadleigh
Hadleigh is a historic market town with a high street full of listed and timber-framed buildings. Older homes like these can narrow down the lenders available, so getting the right advice from the start really matters.
Its position between Ipswich and Colchester also makes it a popular choice for buyers working in either town.
Nearby: Boxford, Kersey, Layham, Polstead and Bildeston
Mortgage broker in Halstead
Just over the border in Essex, Halstead sits in the Colne Valley and offers a mix of period cottages, family homes and newer developments. Prices often compare well with Braintree and Colchester, which makes it a good fit for first-time buyers.
We regularly help Halstead buyers and homeowners with purchases, remortgages and moving home.
Nearby: Sible Hedingham, Castle Hedingham, Earls Colne and Gosfield
Mortgage broker in Haverhill
Haverhill is one of the fastest-growing towns in Suffolk, with lots of new-build homes and easy access to Cambridge. It's a popular choice for first-time buyers and for people working in Cambridge who want more space for their money.
New-build purchases come with their own lender rules on deposits and deadlines, and we'll help you plan around them.
Nearby: Clare, Kedington, Withersfield and Steeple Bumpstead
Mortgage broker in Bury St Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds combines Georgian town houses in the historic centre with large newer estates on the edge of town. It's one of the more expensive towns in the area, so getting the most from your borrowing makes a real difference.
Bury buyers come to us for everything from first homes to remortgages and buy-to-let.
Nearby: Great Barton, Ixworth, Lawshall and Rougham
Mortgage broker in Colchester
Colchester, often called Britain's oldest recorded town and granted city status in 2022, has fast trains to London and a busy rental market thanks to the university and the garrison. That makes it popular with commuters, first-time buyers and landlords alike.
We arrange residential and buy-to-let mortgages across the city and surrounding villages.
Nearby: West Bergholt, Wivenhoe, Marks Tey and Dedham
Mortgage broker in Ipswich
Ipswich is Suffolk's county town, with everything from Victorian terraces to modern waterfront apartments. Flats in larger blocks can come with extra lender checks, such as cladding certificates and lease length, and we'll help you work through them.
With direct trains to London, Ipswich is also popular with commuters and buy-to-let investors.
Nearby: Kesgrave, Martlesham, Pinewood and Copdock
Mortgages for Suffolk villages
Village homes often need a lender who understands rural property. Thatched roofs, timber frames, listed status, private drainage or a home with land can all limit your options.
We know which lenders are comfortable with these homes and will point you to the right ones before you apply.
Including: Lavenham, Long Melford, Glemsford, Cavendish, Nayland, Stoke-by-Nayland and Bures
Don't see your town? We help clients right across the UK by phone and video call.
How we can help
Mortgages we arrange across Suffolk.
Whatever stage you're at, we'll search for a mortgage that suits your circumstances and handle the paperwork for you. Choose a mortgage type to find out more.
First-time buyer mortgages
Low and no deposit options, help from family and clear guidance from your first call to getting the keys.
Find out more →Bad credit mortgages
Defaults, CCJs, missed payments or a past DMP or IVA. We'll find lenders that look at the full picture.
Find out more →Remortgages
Coming to the end of your deal? We'll compare the market so you don't drift onto your lender's standard rate.
Find out more →Moving home
Porting your mortgage or starting fresh, we'll work out the best option and keep your chain moving.
Find out more →Buy-to-let mortgages
For first-time and experienced landlords, from single lets in Colchester to portfolios across Suffolk.
Find out more →Limited company buy-to-let
Buying through a limited company or SPV, with lenders who understand how company structures work.
Find out more →Self-employed mortgages
Sole traders, company directors and contractors, including lenders who accept one year's accounts.
Find out more →Equity release and later life
Lifetime mortgages and retirement interest only mortgages for homeowners in later life.
Find out more →Protection and insurance
Life insurance, critical illness and income protection, so your home is covered if the unexpected happens.
Find out more →
Meet the family
A Sudbury brokerage, run by family.
Keyholder Mortgages is a family business based in Sudbury. Lois founded it, Harry works alongside her, and every client is looked after the way we'd look after our own. We've bought homes ourselves, so we know how daunting the process can feel.
Our aim is to make getting a mortgage feel manageable. First purchase or a case that needs extra help, we'll take the time to listen, explain things clearly and help you get the keys to the home you want, in Suffolk or further afield.
Founder and Director
Lois Holder
Lois spent many years in the mortgage industry before setting up Keyholder Mortgages in Sudbury, so she could look after local buyers and homeowners personally. Buying your first home in Haverhill, or moving across Bury St Edmunds or north Essex? Lois loves seeing clients get the keys, and her knowledge of the whole market makes the next step simpler.
Away from work: family time, Britain's Got Talent and a cheeky glass of Savvy B.
Book a call with Lois
Mortgage Specialist
Harry Mansell
Helping first-time buyers is Harry's bread and butter. Having been a first-time buyer himself, he wants to help as many people as possible find it simple and straightforward. Not to mention, he's our complex lending specialist: bad credit, tricky income or a quirky property type, Harry is there to listen and look for a lender that fits your circumstances.
Away from work: padel, a good steak, Marvel films and Liverpool FC (he promises it won't get in the way of business).
Book a call with Harry
Google reviews
Hear from the people we've helped.
Five-star rated on Google
Every review below was left on Google by a client we've helped, from first-time buyers getting their keys to people who'd been turned down elsewhere.
Case studies
Real clients, real results.
A few examples of how we've helped. Every situation is different, but these show what's possible when someone takes the time to look at the full picture.
Moving up the ladder with defaults and CCJs
- The situation
- Our client had six defaults and two active CCJs. She needed a bigger home so her mum could move in with her.
- What we did
- We looked at her whole story, not just her credit file, and found a lender willing to look past the credit history.
- The result
- She moved into her new home, with room for her mum to live with her.
Buying a first home with no deposit
- The situation
- These first-time buyers were ready to buy their own home but had no deposit saved.
- What we did
- We found a no-deposit mortgage that worked for them, then put protection in place so their new home was covered if the unexpected happened.
- The result
- They got the keys to their first home, protected from day one.
Remortgaging a buy-to-let after a recent CCJ
- The situation
- A landlord needed to remortgage their buy-to-let, but a recent CCJ ruled out most lenders.
- What we did
- We searched for lenders who would accept a recent CCJ on a buy-to-let remortgage and handled the application from start to finish.
- The result
- The remortgage completed with a lender comfortable with the CCJ.
Client names withheld to protect their privacy. Outcomes depend on individual circumstances.
Book a free call
Let's talk about your plans.
Choose who you'd like to speak to, then pick a time that suits you. We'll call at the time you book, listen to what you need and talk you through your options.
- Completely free, with no obligation
- Speak to Lois or Harry directly, not a call centre
- Advising clients in Suffolk, Essex and across the UK
Prefer to talk now? Call 01787 209880 or email [email protected]
Suffolk FAQs
Questions about buying in Suffolk.
Answers to the questions local buyers and homeowners ask us most. Something else on your mind? Give us a ring.
Do I need to live in Suffolk to use Keyholder Mortgages?
No. We're based near Sudbury and know Suffolk and north Essex well, but we help clients right across the UK by phone and video call. The advice and service are the same wherever you live.
Can I meet a mortgage broker face to face near Sudbury?
Yes. If you'd rather meet in person, we can arrange that, and we also offer phone and video calls if they're easier for you. Most clients use a mix of both as their mortgage progresses.
Can I get a mortgage on a thatched or listed property?
Yes, but fewer lenders will consider them, and some have extra requirements such as a specialist survey or proof of suitable buildings insurance. We know which lenders are comfortable with thatched and listed homes and will check this before you apply.
Can I get a mortgage on a timber-framed or non-standard home?
Yes, in most cases, but it depends on how the property was built. Many lenders accept traditional timber-framed homes, while some types of non-standard construction need a specialist lender. We'll find out the construction type early so there are no surprises at valuation.
How long does it take to get a mortgage?
An agreement in principle can often be done within a day. Once you've found a property, a full mortgage offer usually takes two to four weeks, depending on the lender, the valuation and how quickly your documents are ready.
Do you work with local estate agents and solicitors?
Yes. We work alongside estate agents and solicitors across Suffolk and north Essex, and we're happy to work with whichever agent you're buying through. Keeping everyone updated helps your purchase move faster.
Ready to take the next step?
Book a free, no-obligation call with Lois or Harry and find out what's possible for you.