Lawler Mortgages: From Estate Agency to Growing Mortgage Business

How a trusted local estate agency built a mortgage business clients could rely on, backed by the Cornerstone Network

Lawler Mortgages is the trading name of Lawler and Company Financial Services Ltd, with offices across Hazel Grove, Poynton, Hyde and Marple. The business was founded by Leigh Lawler and Adele, who spent 12 years building their estate agency, Lawler and Company, before taking the natural next step. Launching an in-house mortgage business meant clients could get good, honest advice on financing their purchase, rather than being referred elsewhere. Andrew (Andy) Dawber leads on advice, with the team growing to keep pace with demand. 

Building solid foundations

“It’s been a year of building solid foundations. We became part of the Cornerstone Network as an Appointed Representative, got the compliance and operational groundwork right, and started converting the estate agency’s client base into mortgage business. We’ve moved from a standing start to a genuine, growing pipeline, and we’re now planning our next phase of growth.”

Earning trust in a crowded market

“For a new name entering a market full of established brokers, the biggest challenge has been building trust. A warm introduction from the estate agency opens the door, but it’s the quality of advice and the outcome that keeps clients coming back. That lesson has shaped the firm’s approach to growth, favouring strong fundamentals over chasing volume.”

What sets Lawler Mortgages apart

“Our USP is that we’re plain speaking. Clients get straightforward advice with no jargon and no spin, and they’re told exactly where they stand. Combined with high levels of customer service and consistently positive outcomes, it’s an approach that keeps clients coming back and attracts brokers who want to be part of the team. The connection to an established estate agency also means a genuine, trusted referral relationship built over years, not a cold lead.”

Looking ahead

“The immediate focus is building out the team properly, with more advisers and the admin support to match, so the business can grow without compromising service levels. We’re also improving how our agency branches present the mortgage service to customers. Longer term, we’d like to build a track record in higher-value cases, but step by step.”

Advice for other advisers

For advisers looking to grow their own business, the message from Lawler Mortgages is: “Growth comes down to service, not just sales, since referrals follow once clients get a genuinely good outcome. Building real referral relationships matters more than relying purely on paid leads. And bringing in admin support earlier than feels necessary pays off, because an adviser buried in paperwork can’t give clients the attention they need”

The Cornerstone Network advantage

“Joining Cornerstone gave us the compliance backbone and operational support to launch with confidence, rather than building all of that from scratch. It means we can focus on advising clients and growing the business, knowing the regulatory and back-office side is properly supported.”