Mortgage brokerage Mortgage 1^st has launched a specialist lending brand to keep up with unpredictable market conditions.

Specialist 1^stwill be an appointed representative of Connect for Intermediaries and will have access to their extensive lender panel.

The new brand, subject to FCA approval, is designed to advise directly on complex buy-to-let, adverse credit, second charge lending, commercial purchases, development finance and bridging finance. 

It will see the appointment of an experienced specialist adviser as well as a number of Mortgage 1^st advisers becoming dual authorised under the new brand.

Specialist 1st will be headed up by Mortgage 1^st’s head of partnerships Paul Lewis.

Mortgage 1^st managing director Jon Stones said: “We always planned to establish a specialist arm under Mortgage 1^st & after closely following market trends and conditions, this became a very sensible move to make as we enter 2024. 

“As a company we are determined to keep moving forward, enhancing our service and overall offering to Mortgage 1^st customers whilst providing our advisers the opportunity to enhance their own skillsets.  Advisers need a comprehensive suite of lending solutions to keep up with the ever-changing market and customer demand and this move will enable us to help far more clients directly.

“Connect have an excellent reputation within this sector, extensive lender panel and have been wonderful to deal with as we begin building Specialist 1^st.  Their close relationship with Stonebridge also made them the ideal choice for us & we are excited to be working closely with Liz, Kevin, and the entire team at Connect.”

Connect for Intermediaries sales director Kevin Thomson added: “We are delighted to be working with Specialist 1^st as they embark on their diversification into the specialist mortgage markets. We look forward to supporting the whole team at Specialist 1^st and being with them every step of the way so they can achieve their growth ambitions.”