I really appreciated the attention to detail throughout the process. Everything was made to feel smooth and understandable, which took a lot of the stress away.
Learned
Mortgage321 Direct Client Review · M321-DR-669143
Specialist Mortgage Broker · Based in Colchester · Advising clients across the UK
When the mortgage isn’t straightforward.
Specialist whole-of-market mortgage advice for self-employed applicants, complex income, adverse credit, property investors and circumstances that don’t always fit standard lender criteria.
Led by Matthew Pigrome CeMAP · 35+ years’ financial-services experience · Mortgage321 established 2009
What’s making your mortgage less straightforward?
You don’t need to know which lender or mortgage you need. Start with what’s making your situation different.
Self-employed or complex income
Company directors, sole traders, contractors, dividends, retained profits or income that doesn't fit a standard calculator.
ExploreCredit problems or a previous decline
Missed payments, defaults, CCJs, payment arrangements or a mortgage application that hasn’t gone to plan.
ExploreProperty investor
Buy-to-let, limited company borrowing, portfolio landlords, HMO and more complex property investment.
ExploreUnusual property or transaction
Non-standard property, unusual transactions, bridging, refurbishment or circumstances requiring more investigation.
ExploreLater life or specialist borrowing
Later-life lending, capital raising and borrowing requirements outside the standard mortgage journey.
ExploreSomething else?
Not sure where your situation fits? That’s fine. Tell Matthew what you’re trying to achieve.
Discuss My CaseGetting started is simple
Specialist mortgages can be complicated. Getting started shouldn’t be.
1
Tell us you’d like some help
Send us your name and contact details. You don’t need to complete a lengthy mortgage form just to speak to us.
2
Speak to Matthew
Matthew will talk through what you’re trying to achieve and anything that may make the mortgage less straightforward.
3
Confirm your details
If we can help, we’ll send you a personalised online Factfind. We’ll use information you’ve already discussed with Matthew where possible, so you don’t have to start again.
4
We take it from there
Matthew will assess your circumstances, investigate the appropriate mortgage options and explain the way forward.
Discuss My Case
Free initial conversation · No obligation · No credit search just for getting in touch
You don’t need to know which mortgage you need.
Most people with a complicated mortgage situation don’t know which lender will consider them — and we don’t expect you to.
Tell Matthew what you’re trying to achieve and what has happened so far. He can identify what needs investigating.
"My bank says I can’t borrow enough."
"I’m a company director and my income doesn’t fit the calculator."
"I’ve had credit problems and don’t know who will consider me."
"Another lender or broker has already said no."
Your mortgage is handled by a person, not an algorithm.
Founder & Principal · CeMAP
Matthew Pigrome CeMAP
Matthew leads Mortgage321 with a specialist’s understanding of how lenders assess difficult cases — self-employed income, credit problems, complex property and non-standard borrowing structures.
Technology helps Mortgage321 make the process quicker and more organised, but mortgage advice and recommendations are provided by a qualified adviser.
35+ years in financial services Mortgage321 established 2009
Have a quick mortgage question?
Molly is available 24/7 for general mortgage information and guidance.
Molly doesn’t provide regulated mortgage advice.
The Mortgage321 Casebook
Real cases are rarely textbook.
See how different circumstances can affect affordability, lender criteria and the mortgage options available.
Self-Employed
Real Mortgage321 Case · Details anonymised
Self-Employed Mortgage: When One Year's Accounts and Adverse Credit Complicate the Application
A home-mover case where one year's self-employed accounts, an historic default and disputed utility arrears narrowed the lender field — and the property chain then tested the mortgage offer to its limits.
Read Case Study
Company Directors
Mortgage321 Scenario Guide
Company Director Mortgage With Recently Increased Income
How a limited company director whose pay and dividends recently increased can be assessed by lenders that look at the current position — not just a two-year average.
Read Case StudyComplex Cases
Mortgage321 Scenario Guide
When the Mortgage Calculator Says You Can't Borrow Enough
Online calculators give a rough figure — but the real borrowing amount depends on how each lender assesses your income, commitments and the property.
Read Case StudyWhat clients say about Mortgage321
Real feedback gathered from clients Mortgage321 has helped with their mortgages over the years. From straightforward purchases to more complex lending situations, our focus is always on clear advice, personal service and finding the right solution for the individual client.
Great experience from start to finish with my initial enquiry. The service was friendly, knowledgeable, and they were always quick to respond. I would definitely recommend them.
Caldwell
Mortgage321 Direct Client Review · M321-DR-167352
The mortgage process was explained clearly, and I really appreciated the professional communication throughout. Everything felt organised and straightforward, making the whole experience much easier.
Martin
Mortgage321 Direct Client Review · M321-DR-110731
I received really helpful guidance throughout the mortgage process. Everything was explained clearly, and I felt I had a good understanding of my options and what was required at each step.
Smith
Mortgage321 Direct Client Review · M321-DR-074214
The communication was prompt and professional throughout the process. It made it much easier to understand exactly what was happening at each stage of my mortgage application.
Phillips
Mortgage321 Direct Client Review · M321-DR-978634
I have used Mortgage321 on a number of occasions to arrange buy-to-let and HMO mortgages. Matt understands the specialist lending market extremely well and has always been able to find solutions, even when the circumstances haven’t been straightforward. The service is personal, professional and reliable, and I would happily recommend Mortgage321 to other landlords and property investors.
Webb
Mortgage321 Direct Client Review · M321-DR-225484
Prefer to understand things first?
Explore Mortgage321’s plain-English guides and tools before deciding what you’d like to do.
Learn
Plain-English mortgage guides
Explore the Knowledge CentreCalculate
Useful mortgage calculators
View Mortgage CalculatorsMortgage Rates
The mortgage rate available to you will depend on your circumstances, property, deposit and lender criteria.
View Mortgage RatesWhy Can Two Mortgage Lenders Offer Completely Different Affordability?
You can give two mortgage lenders exactly the same income, deposit and financial commitments and receive two very different answers about how much you can borrow.
By Matthew Pigrome CeMAP 6 min
Can a Mortgage Lender Use My Latest Year's Self-Employed Income?
If your self-employed income has increased, will a mortgage lender use your latest year's figures, or average your previous years? There is no single answer that applies to every lender.
By Matthew Pigrome CeMAP 6 min
My Mortgage Was Declined — What Should I Do Next?
A mortgage decline can feel definitive. It often is not. The important question is why it was declined - and immediately applying elsewhere can create more problems than it solves.
By Matthew Pigrome CeMAP 5 min
Not sure whether your mortgage is possible?
You don’t need to complete a lengthy form or know which lender you need.
Tell us you’d like some help and Matthew will take it from there.
Questions people ask before getting in touch
Straight answers to the questions we hear most often.
Yes. A decline from one lender doesn’t mean no lender will consider you — lenders assess the same situation very differently. Tell Matthew what happened and he’ll identify what needs investigating before anyone applies again.
No. Most people with a complicated situation don’t know which lender will consider them — and we don’t expect you to. Tell Matthew what you’re trying to achieve and what has happened so far.
You send your name and contact details. Matthew contacts you for a free initial conversation, and if Mortgage321 can help you confirm your details in a short personalised online factfind. Getting in touch involves no lengthy form and no credit search.
Yes — sole traders, contractors and company directors are a core specialism, including income from dividends and retained profits that doesn’t fit a standard lender calculator.
Yes. Missed payments, defaults, CCJs and arrangements are situations we work with regularly. Different lenders take very different views, so the right first step is a conversation about what has happened and when.
No. Mortgage321 is based in Colchester and works remotely by phone, video and WhatsApp, advising clients across the UK.
The initial conversation is free and there’s no obligation. If you decide to go ahead, our fee structure is transparent and published in full on our fees page before any work begins.
No. Molly is our AI assistant, available 24/7 for general mortgage information and guidance. Regulated mortgage advice and recommendations are provided by Matthew, a qualified adviser.
Your Local Mortgage Broker in Colchester & Essex
Mortgage321 is a whole-of-market mortgage broker based in Colchester, Essex. Since 2009 we have helped thousands of homebuyers, homeowners and property investors across Colchester, Essex and the wider UK find the right mortgage — researching lenders across the market, not just the high street, to find a suitable mortgage for each client's individual circumstances.
What sets us apart is our unique blend of AI-powered mortgage guidance and FCA-regulated human advisers. Our AI assistant, Molly, is available 24/7 to answer your mortgage questions instantly — from affordability and deposit requirements to scheme eligibility and specialist lending criteria. When you are ready for tailored, regulated advice, our expert advisers take over, guiding you through the entire application process from start to finish.
We cover clients across 23 counties in England and Wales — from our Colchester base across Essex, Suffolk, Kent, Hertfordshire and the Home Counties to Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Merseyside, Devon, Cornwall, South Wales and North Wales, with dedicated local pages for towns across them all. We also serve clients nationwide across the whole of the UK through our fully remote, flexible service model. Whether you are a first-time buyer in Colchester, a landlord in Manchester, or looking to remortgage in Cardiff, Mortgage321 has the expertise and whole-of-market access to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about using Mortgage321 as your mortgage broker.
Mortgage321 is a whole-of-market, FCA-regulated specialist mortgage broker based in Colchester, established in 2009 and led by Matthew Pigrome CeMAP with 35+ years of financial-services experience. We help self-employed applicants, clients with adverse credit, property investors and non-standard cases that do not fit the high street. Our Colchester clients also benefit from our 24/7 AI mortgage assistant, Molly, for instant guidance outside office hours.