In 2006, our founder, Gary, took a leap of faith, purchasing his first property just as he was transitioning to self-employment. It was a bold move at a challenging time, with the credit crunch on the horizon and mortgage conditions shifting rapidly. Yet, despite obstacles like negative equity and evolving mortgage regulations, Gary persevered. His journey of resilience and determination reflects the core values at Active Mortgages today.
Gary’s passion for helping others navigate the mortgage market began even earlier. “I qualified to provide mortgage advice in 2002, launching Active Mortgages in 2008. But it wasn’t until in 2015 that we realised firsthand how hard it is to get a mortgage when you’re self-employed,” he shares. At the time, his wife Ayesha was a sole trader, and Gary was running Active Mortgages. Like so many of our clients, they encountered the complex reality of trying to buy their own home with a mortgage for self employed people.
“We really struggled to find a mortgage, and when we did get one, it didn’t really add maximum value, nor did it give us a competitive interest rate,” Gary recalls. For Gary, the experience was a turning point. It became his mission to ensure that business owners, company directors, and self-employed professionals—people who take risks to create something greater—could access the perfect mortgage, free from the stress and worry he and Ayesha had experienced.
For over 15 years, Active Mortgages has drawn from Gary’s journey and his deep understanding of the challenges faced by self-employed individuals across the UK. His story forms the foundation of our company’s ethos: that securing a mortgage should be achievable, empowering, and, above all, supportive of your financial goals.
Today, Active Mortgages is dedicated to providing the very mortgage solutions that Gary wished he’d had during his own journey—solutions that add value, bring competitive rates, and make home ownership attainable for self-employed individuals. At Active Mortgages, we’re more than just a mortgage broker; we’re a partner who genuinely understands your journey and is committed to helping you achieve your goals.
