Local Business Profiles: Mortgage & Insurance Matters

Name: Clare McEnhill
Business Name: Mortgage and Insurance Matters
Business Location: Omagh Enterprise Centre, Great Northern Road, Omagh

How long have you been in business? Eight years.

What are your strengths? 26 years of experience working in financial service industry and mortgage market.

What are your weaknesses? Chocolate!

Has Covid-19 affected your business? Face-to-face meetings stopped for a while but thankfully have resumed in the office with appropriate health and safety measures in place. Home visits aren’t possible but I continue to offer a service using technology and telephone. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic the demand for buying houses has remained strong. It’s been a difficult time for firsttime buyers as lenders require a larger deposit however a few are now accepting ten per-cent deposits, which is manageable for some. Hopefully the government will follow through on their proposal to help first-time buyers with five per-cent deposits.

What makes your business unique? My job is to help clients make the right mortgage choices. At the moment lenders are constantly changing lending criteria and there are so many variables. Every client’s circumstance is different and I’m here to find them a lender and mortgage product that suits their individual needs. I take the hassle out of the mortgage application process.

What does your business mean to you? I’m blessed to be doing a job that I love, it’s rewarding and satisfying.

Aside from family and friends, who has been the greatest influence on your life? I’ve worked with a number of fantastic managers over the years who have believed in me and gave me the confidence to do what I do best.

What are your plans for the future? Continue to grow the business at a steady and manageable pace, while maintaining a quality and reliable service.

Any advice for anyone starting out in your industry? If you’re passionate about your work and enjoy what you do, then go for it! Your enthusiasm will rub off on people and potential customers.

If you weren’t in this field of business, what would you be doing? I honestly can’t imagine doing anything else, I’ve been in this industry so long.

What do you do to relax? I like going to the gym… it’s a good way to unwind and clear the head. It’s also hard to beat a nice meal and a good bottle of wine!

What would you do if you won the lottery? Buy a large family villa in Portugal, see more of the world and definitely a family trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. I’d gift some to family and charity as well.

We might be limited in our travel at the moment, but where is your favourite holiday destination? I love Portugal but would also like to see more of Italy.

What do you miss most about Tyrone when you are away? The friendliness of the people.

If you could swap lives with someone, who would you choose and why? I wouldn’t like to swap permanently with anyone as I’m happy with my lot. Maybe swap for a day so I could do something random, I’m afraid of deep water and can’t swim so maybe a deep sea diver! And finally take the chance to give a shout out to another local business who you think is doing great things:
All those that run small businesses from home, it’s been a very challenging time for them as well. Shop local and support them this Christmas!

Ulster Herald Local Business Profiles in association with Omagh Chamber of Commerce