CATO MORTGAGES

Expert, efficient and tailored mortgage advice for all your property needs

We offer whole-of-market mortgage advice for first-time buyers, refinancers, and investors, providing access to thousands of products, including exclusive options not available from high street lenders, to help you find the perfect mortgage fit.

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We recognise that embarking on the mortgage journey can feel like navigating a financial maze. Cato Mortgages was set up with a mission to streamline and modernise this process and make the journey feel more like a stroll in the park.

As our name states ‘Cato’ which comes from the roman name for a financially astute and all-knowing individual, we pride ourselves in a wealth of knowledge of the home finance sector, and our expert advisers will breakdown the mortgage process into understandable steps, ensuring you feel confident from start to finish. Utilising both technology and broker knowledge we believe we can help our clients regardless of their situation and save them money along the way.

MEET THE TEAM

Meet our executive team

Peter Hughes

CEO, Founder

CeMap certified Mortgage adviser with over a decade of experience in the field, founder of Cato Mortgages after working with various UK firms, committed to delivering efficient, personalised mortgage advice.

Eugene Kirwan

COO

Eugene has in excess of 30 years experience in Banking and Technology, he has led Global Operational Change and Transformation in senior roles, and today ensures Cato Mortgages' systems meet daily business needs.

Simon Phillips

Chief Risk & Compliance Officer

Simon, over 15 years in banking specialising in strategy and compliance, heads compliance and risk, and is a qualified Legal Practitioner since 2011, ensuring Cato Mortgages upholds Compliance & Risk standards.

Sharon Kirwan

Office Manager

Sharon, with 20+ years in office management across IT, Telecom, and Retail, ensures efficient daily management of Cato Mortgages' administrative procedures.

Our Services

Cato Mortgages offers a range of services to support our clients

First time buyer

Entering the world of property ownership for the first time can evoke a mix of excitement and apprehension. Cato Mortgages stands ready to guide you through every step of this journey. Drawing upon our extensive experience, comprehensive understanding of the mortgage market, and strong collaborative relationships, we ensure our clients are always well-supported. Our knowledgeable advisers specialise in assisting first-time homebuyers, providing clarity on borrowing potential and seamlessly managing the entire mortgage application process from start to finish. Given that a mortgage represents one of life's most significant financial commitments, entrust a Cato Mortgages adviser to secure the best deal for your circumstances.

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Home mover

A purchase mortgage is secured whenever you're looking to acquire a property, This may be acquiring a second home, or transitioning to a new residence.

At Cato Mortgages we specialise in walking you through each stage of the process and matching you with the perfect mortgage tailored to your specific needs and situation. Our commitment lies in ensuring a swift and seamless progression of your application.

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Remortgage

Refinancing your home, also known as remortgaging, involves transitioning from one mortgage arrangement to another. Our advisors simplify the process by presenting the best remortgage options, whether sticking with your current lender or exploring new ones. Each remortgage has the potential to adjust your monthly repayments, aligning with what suits your situation best.
Reasons to Remortgage :

Avoiding the SVR: If your current fixed or variable rate deal is nearing its end, you'll likely transition to the lender's standard variable rate (SVR), which tends to be more expensive.
Changing Deal Types: Whether you're on a tracker rate and anticipate a rise in the base rate or you desire a mortgage product offering greater flexibility for overpayments, it's crucial that your mortgage aligns with your current needs.

Releasing Equity: If your home has accrued sufficient equity, remortgaging enables you to borrow additional funds against it instead of opting for a separate loan. This could be for home improvements, debt consolidation, or other purposes.

Increased Property Value: If your property's value has appreciated, resulting in a lower loan-to-value ratio (LTV), it might be an opportune moment to secure a more competitive interest rate.

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Buy to let

Whether you're a seasoned property developer or investor, venturing into renting out your first property as a new landlord, or purchasing a home for holiday rentals, our experienced team is dedicated to guiding you to success.

Regardless of your level of experience in property development and investment, we specialize in finding the most suitable mortgage for your circumstances. We have access to specific deals tailored for various purposes, including:

Buy-to-Let rental portfoliosStudent letsHouses of Multiple Occupancy (HMO)Holiday letsLimited company Buy-to-Lets

For Buy-to-Let mortgages, it's common for lenders to require a larger deposit compared to standard residential mortgages. Typically, borrowers are expected to provide at least a 20% deposit. We're here to assist you every step of the way in navigating these requirements and securing the optimal mortgage solution for your needs.
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*Not all Buy to Let mortgages are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority*

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Protection

Whether you're purchasing a property or securing capital for your business, it often involves taking on significant financial commitments. Therefore, it's crucial to have the appropriate insurance coverage in place to provide peace of mind and reassurance to yourself, your family, your lender, and anyone else who depends on you.

By ensuring you have the right insurance protection, you can navigate life's uncertainties with greater confidence, knowing that you've taken proactive steps to mitigate potential risks and protect the financial well-being of those who matter most to you.

Types of cover:

Life insurance

There are various options available for arranging life cover, and our advisers are here to assist you in finding the most suitable option for your requirements. Life insurance can ensure that your mortgage is repaid in the event of your death, alleviating the financial burden on your dependents or loved ones.

Additionally, there are other types of insurance offerings:

Critical Illness Cover: Provides a lump sum or regular income upon diagnosis of a specified critical illness, offering financial support during challenging times.Income Protection: Ensures that essential repayments continue to be made if you're unable to work due to illness or injury, offering peace of mind by covering monthly expenses until you're able to return to work.Buildings and Contents insurance: Our advisers offer a range of competitive insurance products for homeowners, landlords, and tenants from leading UK insurers. This includes adequate coverage for both buildings and contents against risks such as fire, theft, and flood. We typically offer products from a limited panel of providers to ensure comprehensive coverage and peace of mind for our clients.

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Commercial, Bridging and Development Finance

Whether you are looking to finance a loan on your business or residential property, or to raise the finance for a new development, we have you covered. We work with a varied number of specialist partners that will offer you expert advice and present you with bespoke options to meet your needs.

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Self employed Mortgages

Whether you are a sole trader, partnership or limited company, we understand the unique challenges faced by self-employed individuals when it comes to securing a mortgage. Our tailored solutions are designed to help self-employed borrowers navigate the complexities of the mortgage application process with ease. We offer personalised guidance on documenting income, finding lenders who understand the nuances of self-employment, and structuring mortgage applications to showcase your financial stability.

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Contractor Mortgages

If you are freelancer, consultant, or independent contractor, attaining a mortgage can be both frustrating and time consuming. There is a lack of understanding in the market around the different types of contractor incomes and this can result in poor service or unnecessary declines. Our tailored solutions are designed to cater specifically to contractors, offering flexible options that take into account irregular income streams and varying contract lengths. Cato have expertise in this niche market, we can help contractors navigate the complexities of mortgage applications, access competitive rates, and find the right mortgage product that suits their individual circumstances.

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Credit impaired Mortgages

With a less than perfect credit history attaining a mortgage can be challenging. Our tailored solutions are designed to help clients with credit issues achieve their property goals. We offer guidance on improving credit scores, access to lenders who work with credit-impaired individuals, and expert advice on navigating the mortgage application process. Our team is dedicated to finding creative solutions to match clients with the right mortgage products that suit their unique financial circumstances.

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YOUR CATO JOURNEY

The road to your new home

Talk to an expert

Book in a call with your expert adviser to complete your qualification and answer any questions you may have. Your adviser will verbally qualify you and provide affordability based on your circumstances.

Your documents

We like to keep things simple, so we have a customised portal you can upload your documents on . Simply upload your documents to the portal and let us do the rest.

Decision in principle

We can now submit a decision in principle to the chosen lender. At this stage you will be provided with your decision in principle certificate which can be important proof of funds when arranging viewings of potential homes.

Apply for a mortgage

Once you have found a property we will submit the full application to the chosen lender on your behalf. We will then be on hand to guide you through to the completion of your mortgage, liaising with your solicitor and relevant parties to ensure smooth sailing from start to finish.

MORTGAGE CALCULATOR

You could borrow up to...

£ - -

The total amount you can borrow can vary from lender to lender and the above is purely an indication of the maximum amount available based on your income for illustrative purposes only. The actual amount you can borrow will take other things into account such as credit commitments and the above should only be considered a guide figure.

Your income

Credit report

Most lenders have their own credit reporting systems to assess your credit score, drawing from information contained in your Credit Report. Usually, they conduct regular checks across multiple Credit Reference Agencies, contact us to find out more.

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working with 100+ reputable lenders, including

Hear from our clients

Claire Hughes

5 / 5

I recently used Cato mortgages to purchase my first home. Having bought via auction I was on a tight deadline to complete. I spoke to Peter who was very knowledgeable and confident he could help. Straight away he found me suitable lenders with affordable rates as a first time buyer. He also found me a suitable conveyancer who specialised in auction so I was able to meet my tight deadline. Peter was really efficient and maintained great communication throughout, not only with myself but my solicitor to ensure a quick and smooth process. Within 6 weeks I was able to complete and a big part of that is down to Peter. I couldn’t recommend Peter and Cato mortgages enough.

Maria & Marc Mullan

5 / 5

Our first time remortgaging and Pete went above and beyond every step of the way. A very difficult process made so much easier by having Pete on board. He found us the best rates to ensure our mortgage was affordable and allowed us to take out the equity we needed for home improvements. Always on hand to answer questions when needed and maintained great communication with our solicitors, pushing every though for completion in good time. Couldn’t have asked for more! Thanks Pete and Cato for all of your help.

Andrew Lee

5 / 5

I cannot recommend Pete and Cato Mortgages enough. We were going through a difficult remortgage with a lot of lenders either refusing us out right or offering us unrealistic rates that didn’t suit our requirements. After an initial conversation with Pete he was confident he could help. Within 2 days we had two potential lenders not only offering far better rates but also providing us the additional lending we needed to finish our house renovation. Pete kept us informed throughout the process and nothing was too much trouble. He turned a very difficult and stressful time into a really positive experience and we are extremely grateful for his help

Deborah Bates

5 / 5

I originally approached Cato Mortgages through a recommendation. I required specialised bridging finance to allow the purchase of a second property . I spoke to Peter , he dealt with my request quickly assessed my position and connected me with an associated broker that specialises in Bridging. I would have no issues recommending Cato Mortgages.

Daniel Hindley

5 / 5

Wouldn’t go to anyone else. Peter was reliable, always communicated with us, communicated with other parties in the process, there was no hassle & it was a pleasant process from start to finish.

Liam Kefford

5 / 5

We recently used Cato Mortgages to purchase our home. We dealt with Peter who was knowledgeable, efficient and always readily available to answer our questions. Despite our difficult circumstances he got us a great deal and we won't hesitate to use him again for our renewal in 2 years time.

Rory & Annabel

5 / 5

We contacted Peter from Cato mortgages off the back of a recommendation. He made what can feel like a daunting and complex process, very simple and stress free. Besides the mortgage he also found us a reputable conveyancer to deal with all the legal aspects. Thank you Peter and Cato Mortgages!