A cross-platform mobile application revolutionising how landlords manage portfolios and source whole-of-market mortgage products.
What we did
- Hybrid mobile application architecture design
- Cross-platform development for iOS and Android
- Real-time integration with bespoke "Mortgage Flow" sourcing API
- Secure user authentication and Extranet data synchronisation
- UX/UI redesign following strict corporate brand guidelines
- Financial compliance integration (APR prominence logic)
- Interactive "Jargon Buster" and help system development
About the project
Mortgages for Business (MFB) is a leading UK property finance brokerage known for its proprietary "Mortgage Flow" software - a powerful tool containing whole-of-market product information unavailable anywhere else. Having initially experimented with a basic iPhone-only application in 2012, MFB recognised a significant shift in user behaviour. By 2015, they required a more robust, professional, and cross-platform solution to better serve their growing audience of professional landlords and property investors.
Tinderhouse was commissioned to rebuild the mobile experience from the ground up. The goal was to transform a successful proof-of-concept into a high-performance business tool. The new application needed to serve as a mobile extension of the MFB brand, providing users with sophisticated mortgage calculators, real-time product sourcing, and a secure environment to manage their property portfolios.
Working within a strict timeframe, we transitioned the existing local-storage model to a cloud-synchronised system. This ensured that a landlord could update their portfolio on the web and see those changes instantly reflected on their mobile device. The result was a comprehensive financial tool that bridged the gap between complex mortgage data and user-friendly mobile accessibility.
The Challenge
The original iPhone application, while popular with over 7,500 downloads, suffered from several critical limitations that hindered its long-term viability and business impact:
- Platform Limitation: The app was restricted to iPhone users only, despite a massive surge in Android traffic and direct requests from iPad users.
- Data Silos: Portfolio data was stored locally on the device (CoreData), meaning users lost their information if they switched phones and could not access it via the web extranet.
- Weak Conversions: Despite high engagement, the "Call to Action" (CTA) elements were visually subtle, resulting in a low lead-to-download ratio.
- Compliance Risks: Financial regulations required that the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) be displayed with equal prominence to the product rate, a feature missing in the legacy version.
- Brand Misalignment: The aesthetic did not reflect the updated Mortgages for Business corporate identity, lacking consistent logo placement and professional styling.
Our Solution
Multi-Platform Hybrid Development
To address the need for both Android and iOS versions within a tight 10-week window, we utilised a hybrid app development strategy. By leveraging a single codebase, we ensured feature parity across all devices, including iPads and Android tablets. This hybrid app development approach allowed us to deploy the app rapidly while maintaining the high performance required for complex financial calculations.
Secure API & Extranet Integration
We replaced the local CoreData storage with a robust, secure synchronisation engine. This was a core component of our MVP development phase, focusing on moving data to the MFB servers via a Windows-authenticated SSL API. Users were provided with a secure login linked to the MFB Extranet, allowing for seamless property data management across web and mobile platforms.
Compliance-First UI/UX Redesign
Our design team overhauled the interface to meet both brand guidelines and UK financial regulations. We implemented a high-contrast display logic where the APR is automatically paired with the product rate in every search result. To improve lead generation, we redesigned the "Quote" and "Results" screens with prominent, high-visibility CTAs and "Tap to Call" functionality, making it easier for users to transition from research to expert consultation.
Advanced Mortgage Sourcing Engine
We integrated the app directly with the "Mortgage Flow" server, a bespoke web system that handles complex queries for HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation), Limited Company applications, and various repayment types. This ensured that the financial app development met the specific needs of professional investors who require granular data, such as Yield, RTI (Rent to Interest) cover, and ERC (Early Repayment Charge) breakdowns.
The Results
Cross-Platform Launch: Successfully delivered the Android and iOS versions to their respective stores by the January 2016 deadline.
Improved Lead Quality: Redesigned CTAs led to a measurable increase in direct enquiries from the app compared to the legacy version.
Seamless Data Mobility: Landlords can now manage their portfolios on any device, with data securely backed up to the MFB Extranet.
Total Regulatory Compliance: The app met all FCA-style requirements regarding the prominence of financial rates and APRs.
Centralised Resource: The integrated "Jargon Buster" became a go-to tool for users, increasing the app's "stickiness" and daily active use.
Technical Highlights
Architecture: Hybrid mobile framework for iOS and Android.
Integrations: Secure WCF (Windows Communication Foundation) web services with JSON data exchange.
Security: SSL-encrypted API calls and secure PIN/Username authentication.
Core Logic: Complex mortgage calculation engine for LTV, Stamp Duty, and RTI ratios.
Data Handling: Transition from local CoreData to centralised SQL server via secure API.
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