Going directly to a lender or bank can be useful if you’ve found a product that’s right for you. However, if you’re unsure about what you need and are wanting to shop around to find the best deals then it may be worth getting help from a mortgage broker. First time buyer mortgage brokers have access to a variety of different lenders, so they can search through a range of products to find the best deal they have available for your specific circumstances. However, using a broker may have extra fees than if you went directly to a lender.