First-time buyers
From deposit questions through to completion day: a clear plan, an agreement in principle, and someone to translate the jargon at every step.
Mortgage advice · Chelmsford
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Tell Tracy what you are planning and she will call you back with the right options for your move.
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A little about me
Tracy Bowdidge
Mortgage and Protection Consultant
A mortgage is rarely just a mortgage. It's a school catchment, a commute, a plan for the next ten years. My job is to make the money side of that feel simple.
I've worked in financial services for over 20 years, including 13 years with Barclays Bank as a mortgage adviser for Premier and Corporate clients across Essex and the East of England. I later joined City Mortgage Solutions Ltd, where I've spent the past 7 years proudly providing independent mortgage advice. I continue to support clients throughout Chelmsford and mid-Essex, including Springfield, Great Baddow, Writtle, Galleywood and the newer neighbourhoods of Beaulieu Park, while also regularly advising clients across the UK.
A mortgage is likely to be one of the biggest financial commitments you'll ever make, which is why protection advice is equally important. My aim is to ensure that if life takes an unexpected turn through illness, injury or death, you and your family have the financial support needed to stay in your home and keep up with your mortgage payments. The right money at the right time will take away some of the stress you would experience. Products such as life assurance, critical illness cover, income protection and family income benefit can provide valuable peace of mind and long-term security. Protection is not an optional extra; it is an important part of responsible financial planning. As a regulated adviser, I have a duty of care to make sure you understand the options available to you, and I can tailor this to meet your needs.
I am happy to hold appointments face-to-face locally, by phone, or via video call. I can also accommodate evening appointments by arrangement.
Every recommendation I make will be clearly broken down so it is easy to understand. I am more than happy to recap our discussions or answer any questions you may have along the way. Please feel free to ask anything, as no question is too small!
CeMAP qualified
Whole of market
Protection specialist
Why Chelmsford homebuyers choose me
You don’t have to take my word for it. Here’s what local buyers and homeowners say about working with me.
★★★★★5.0 rating on Google Reviews
“I recently purchased a property via mortgage. My broker, Tracy Bowdidge was an absolute superstar throughout the entire process. Clear communication at all times and she is someone who knows the process inside out. I’d recommend Tracy to anyone in a heartbeat.”
“Working with Tracy was exceptional from start to finish. She is utterly superb at what she does, with an outstanding knowledge of the mortgage market and a deep understanding of how lenders and banks operate. I would recommend her without hesitation to anyone looking for first-class mortgage advice and support.”
“Thank you so much for helping myself and my son with our mortgage finance, you could not have done more. Fantastic to work with and 100% recommend Tracy. Great result!”
Areas we cover
Advice rooted in Chelmsford, serving the Essex towns around it
Select an area to see how Tracy helps buyers and owners there, in person locally, or by phone and video anywhere.
Our home town
Chelmsford
Home base. From the old town and the Hythe to Heybridge, this is where Tracy lives and works, and where most of her clients buy.
How I can help
Whatever your situation, I can help
Whatever stage you're at, the process is the same: listen first, search the whole market, recommend in plain English, then manage it to completion.
Home movers
Porting, upsizing or relocating into Chelmsford's catchments, advice that times your mortgage around the chain, not the other way round.
Remortgaging
Your current deal ending isn't a deadline to panic about. Start six months out, lock a rate, and switch again if the market improves.
Buy-to-let
Portfolio or first rental, personal name or limited company, stress-test the numbers across specialist and mainstream lenders.
Self-employed & contractors
Day rates, retained profits or a short trading history: the right lender for your accounts makes all the difference, and I know which ones to approach.
Protection & insurance
Life cover, critical illness and income protection, arranged alongside your mortgage so your home and family stay protected if life changes.
The full journey
From the first chat to your new front door, handled for you
Buying or remortgaging involves a lot of moving parts. The difference is, you won’t be chasing any of them. I handle the lender, solicitor, survey and paperwork and keep everyone moving, so there are no nasty surprises and no needless delays.
STEP 1
First conversation
We talk through your plans, budget and timescales. No cost, and no obligation to go ahead.
STEP 2
Decision in principle
I confirm what you can realistically borrow, so you can offer on the right home with confidence.
STEP 3
Solicitors & survey
I help get your solicitor instructed and the survey booked early, setting everything up so the rest of the process runs smoother, not stalled on paperwork later.
STEP 4
The right deal
I compare over 90 lenders and recommend the mortgage that fits your circumstances, not just the first one offered.
STEP 5
Protection in place
Life, critical illness and income cover arranged to match, so your home is safe if life changes.
STEP 6
Completion & beyond
Keys in hand, then a rate review before your deal ends to help you avoid slipping onto a higher rate.
Why use a broker
One bank shows you its shelf. A broker shows you the market.
Going direct to your own bank isn't wrong, but it only ever shows you one lender's view. See what changes when Tracy is sitting on your side of the table.
With City Mortgage Solutions
Whole of market- Deals compared across 90+ lenders, including broker-only rates
- Advice on which lender suits your income, deposit and credit profile
- Agreement in principle arranged before you offer, so you can move fast on the right home
- Application managed end-to-end: paperwork, chasing, solicitor liaison
- Protection reviewed alongside the mortgage, not as an afterthought
Going direct to one bank
- Only that bank's own products, however the market compares
- You self-select the lender before knowing if their criteria fit you
- Appointment lead times set by branch and call-centre availability
- Progress-chasing across bank, valuer and solicitor sits with you
- A declined application can leave a mark before you try elsewhere
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Local knowledge, whole-of-market reach
Why use a mortgage broker in Chelmsford?
Period cottages in the old town, riverside homes by the Hythe and new family streets toward Heybridge rarely stay listed long. When the right home appears, the buyers who have arranged their finance first are the ones who secure it.
City Mortgage Solutions pairs that local picture with access to more than 90 lenders, so your recommendation comes from the whole market, not from one bank’s range.
Lenders compared
90+
Whole of market
Google rating
5.0
From local clients
Initial consultation
Free
Honest, jargon-free advice
Years advising
20+
Mortgage & protection
Access to over 90 lenders, including
Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
Halifax
Nationwide
NatWest
Santander
HSBC
Barclays
Skipton
Accord
+ 80 more
Common questions
Mortgage questions, answered straight
You can go directly to a bank, but a whole-of-market broker compares deals from 90+ lenders rather than one, and manages the application end-to-end. In a market like Chelmsford's, where good homes move quickly, having an agreement in principle arranged before you offer can be the difference in securing a property.
Your initial consultation is free and without obligation. Any fees that apply to your case are explained clearly and in writing before you commit to anything.
Most lenders offer between 4 and 4.5 times income, though affordability rules, deposit size and credit history all play a part. Tracy will give you an accurate borrowing figure and an agreement in principle so you're ready to offer.
Yes. Self-employed and contractor cases are a regular part of our work. Different lenders treat retained profits, day rates and short trading histories very differently, knowing which lender suits your accounts is exactly where whole-of-market advice earns its keep.
Around six months before your current deal ends. Offers are typically valid for six months, so starting early lets you lock a rate now and still switch if rates improve before completion.
We'll get you booked in at a time that suits you, in person locally, or by phone and video call, including evenings.
Book your appointment
Ready when you are. Tracy will call you back.
Tell us when suits and Tracy will be in touch. Prefer to talk now? Call us on 020 7481 3736. Evening and video appointments are available.
Thanks, your request is in.
Tracy will call you back within one working day.