Forto Finance has launched in the UK mortgage and protection market following a successful pilot programme that began in April.

The new brokerage will advise homeowners, landlords and property investors across residential mortgages, remortgages, buy-to-let lending, specialist property finance and protection, with a particular focus on expatriate borrowers.

Forto (whose name draws inspiration from the Italian word 'forte' and the Latin word 'fortis') is launching into a highly competitive UK mortgage and protection brokerage market, where it will be competing against thousands of established brokers, networks, mortgage advisers and increasingly digital-first operators.

Its focus on expat borrowers provides some differentiation, but expat mortgages are also a well-served niche with a number of specialist advisers already active.

Founded by mortgage and protection adviser Anthony Curtis and supported by operations manager Esmé Rook, Forto Finance is targeting a broad range of clients, including first-time buyers (FTBs), home movers, self-employed applicants, high-net-worth individuals and investors seeking specialist funding.

Curtis said the pilot had demonstrated that the proposition worked as borrowers faced increasingly complex lender criteria and affordability requirements.

"The number of choices available to borrowers has increased significantly in recent years, while affordability requirements and lender criteria are evolving all the time," he said. "Clients need advice that helps them understand their options and make informed decisions."

Curtis added that the brokerage had been built around providing clear and proactive advice to help clients buy homes, refinance properties or fund investments, with the focus on expat mortgages reflecting the additional complexity faced by borrowers living overseas.

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