Mortgage specialist on the move with new firm

A Shrewsbury mortgage broker is on the move himself after setting up a new brokerage Severn Mortgage and Protect.

Rob Brookes will lead the firm, which will be based at Mercury House in The Creative Quarter on Shrewsbury Business Park.

Brookes, who will be joined by his colleagues Gareth Jones and Jenny Buchan from MLM Financial, has already hired two more people in client relations and case management and is looking to recruit more mortgage and protection advisers.

Earlier this year, he reported record months for the business, driven in part by the Stamp Duty legislation and the pandemic, as people began considering a new home, or making improvements to their property, especially with the rise of homeworking.

Those business levels have continued throughout the year for Brookes, who will continue to work in partnership with DB Roberts estate agents which has a wide presence across the Midlands and Shropshire.

Brookes said: “This has been a year of huge change and of course a great deal of activity and opportunity in the housing market. The Stamp Duty break is still driving activity to an extent but what we’re seeing now is a certain element of reflection from homeowners and aspiring house buyers.

“Homeowners have spent so much time in their current four walls that they are noticing things they would change or improvements they might make by remortgaging and improving. On the other hand, they may now be acutely aware that their current home isn’t now right for them or that another opportunity may well be. It is as much a lifestyle choice as anything and we will be here to help them with all of that as they navigate the mortgage options available to them.

“We hope to be properly settled into our new home by the first week of January and look forward to welcoming a few new faces to the team too. In the meantime, we would advise that if you are assessing your own options, we are here to help and you should take the time to do your research.

“This doesn’t require anything too onerous, just plan your budget and get your paperwork in order so that you can be ready to make your move when your perfect opportunity arises.”