Founder & Principal
Mortgage321
Meet Matthew Pigrome CeMAP
Founder & Principal of Mortgage321
Matthew has worked in financial services since 1989 and founded Mortgage321 in 2009. Today, he specialises in mortgage cases where income, credit history, property or circumstances mean the answer isn’t always straightforward.
Digital Business CardSince 1989
Financial Services
2009
Mortgage321 Founded
CeMAP
Qualified Mortgage Adviser
Whole-of-Market
Mortgage Advice
FCA
AR No. 498937
Why 35+ years’ experience matters
Mortgage lending has changed enormously since Matthew entered financial services in 1989, but one thing hasn’t changed: different lenders can look at the same client very differently.
That becomes particularly important when a case involves self-employment, company income, previous credit problems, unusual property, multiple properties or circumstances that don’t fit an automated lending decision.
Experience isn’t about knowing one lender particularly well. It’s about knowing what questions to ask, what may cause a problem and where further investigation is needed before an application is made.
The cases Matthew enjoys solving
Not every mortgage needs specialist investigation. Matthew’s experience becomes particularly valuable when something makes the case less straightforward.
Self-employed & company directors
Income that doesn’t come from a payslip — sole traders, partnerships and limited company directors.
Learn moreComplex or changing income
Bonus structures, contracting, variable earnings or income that has changed in recent years.
Learn moreCredit problems & previous declines
Missed payments, defaults, CCJs — or a mortgage that has been declined elsewhere.
Learn moreProperty investors & portfolio landlords
Buy-to-let, limited company ownership, HMOs and multi-property portfolios.
Learn moreUnusual properties & transactions
Non-standard construction, leases and transactions that need more investigation.
Learn moreBorrowing that doesn’t fit the standard calculator
Raising capital, interest-only, or borrowing beyond what a simple calculator suggests.
Learn moreWhat it’s like working with Matthew
You don’t need to diagnose your own mortgage problem before speaking to Matthew.
Step 1
Start with a conversation
Tell Matthew what you’re trying to achieve and what has happened so far.
Step 2
Matthew identifies what needs investigating
If something may affect the mortgage, he’ll explain why it matters and what information is needed.
Step 3
Confirm the details
Mortgage321 uses a simple digital Factfind so you can confirm the information discussed and fill in anything that’s missing.
Step 4
Matthew advises you
Once the circumstances have been properly assessed, Matthew can research the appropriate options and explain his recommendation.
The story behind Mortgage321
Matthew began working in financial services in 1989. After two decades in the industry, he founded Mortgage321 in April 2009 with a simple objective: provide professional mortgage advice built around the client’s circumstances rather than trying to make every client fit the same process.
Over time, that naturally led Mortgage321 towards the more complicated cases — self-employed applicants, company directors, clients with credit problems, property investors and mortgages where the obvious answer wasn’t necessarily the right one.
Today, Mortgage321 combines that experience with modern technology to make the process simpler, while Matthew remains responsible for the mortgage advice provided to his clients.
1989
Started in financial services
2009
Founded Mortgage321
Specialist Mortgage Advice
Developed a focus on cases requiring more investigation
Today
Experienced human advice with a simpler digital client journey
How Matthew approaches a mortgage case
Understand the whole situation first
Before looking for a mortgage solution, Matthew wants to understand what the client is actually trying to achieve and anything that may affect the case.
Research before applying
Where a case isn’t straightforward, understanding lender criteria before making unnecessary applications can be particularly important.
Explain the options clearly
Mortgage terminology and lender criteria can become complicated quickly. Matthew’s job is to explain the options, trade-offs and recommended route in plain English.
A note from Matthew
“One of the things I’ve learned over the years is that a mortgage case rarely tells its whole story through a calculator. When something isn’t straightforward, I want to understand why before deciding what the next step should be.
You don’t need to know which lender you need before you contact me. Tell me what you’re trying to achieve, and we’ll start from there.”
— Matthew Pigrome CeMAP
Founder & Principal, Mortgage321
Experienced advice. Simpler technology.
Mortgage321 uses technology to make information gathering and communication easier, but technology does not replace Matthew’s regulated advice or judgement.
Speak to Matthew wherever you are
Mortgage321 works by phone, video and WhatsApp, helping clients throughout the UK from its Colchester base.
Latest from Matthew’s Knowledge Centre
Specialist mortgage knowledge — explaining the underwriting issues that actually make a case difficult.
Why 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.
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.
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.
How Do Mortgage Lenders Assess Limited Company Directors?
Being the director of a profitable limited company does not necessarily mean every mortgage lender will assess your income in the same way. The same accounts can produce very different affordability.
What clients say about working with Mortgage321
Mortgage advice is built on trust. Matthew Pigrome has received client feedback over many years through independent review platforms and directly from Mortgage321 clients.
Based on 37 independent reviews
Matthew Pigrome
Mortgage adviser · ColchesterIndependent review platform. The current genuine score and review count are shown on Trustpilot.
Feedback collected directly from Mortgage321 clients after completion, with their consent.
Each review source is shown separately and has a different collection methodology. Mortgage321 does not combine these into a single aggregate rating. VouchedFor review data is referenced from Matthew Pigrome’s public profile; Matthew is not currently described as “VouchedFor Verified” as the public profile does not state full verification.
Discuss your mortgage with Matthew
If your mortgage isn’t straightforward, you don’t need to work out the answer before getting in touch. Tell Matthew what you’re trying to achieve and take it from there.
Digital Business CardMortgage321 is a trading style of Matthew Christopher Pigrome, an appointed representative of Ingard Financial Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority No. 450731. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.