Loqbox CEO Tom Eyre talks “pre-prime homeowners” in IFA Magazine

‍“Look beyond labels: Treat scores as a starting point, rather than a verdict.”

Our CEO and Co-founder, Tom Eyre, recently shared his thoughts in IFA Magazine on how mortgage brokers and advisers can better support the next generation of homeowners. 

His advice was written for people working in the mortgage industry, but the idea behind it matters for anyone who’s trying to improve their financial future. 

Better borrowers are built, not born. And when someone is learning, rebuilding, or getting ready for a major milestone like buying a home, the way we talk about their progress matters, 

Moving from “sub-prime” to “pre-prime”

When people in finance talk about customers’ creditworthiness, they often use labels like “prime”, “sub-prime”, “thin file” and “high risk”. While that might be useful shorthand, it isn’t the full story. 

The same is true of credit scores. Seeing your score climb can be motivating, and a drop can be a helpful signal to pause, check what’s changed, and plan your next move. But it’s really just a snapshot. 

But labels and scores don’t always capture the important growth that’s happening in the background.

Someone who looks “not ready” on paper might already be moving in the right direction: paying bills on time, making rent every month, repaying debts, saving what they can, and learning from past mistakes. 

From “not good enough” to “on the way”

Getting mortgage-ready doesn’t happen overnight. All of that learning matters. The habits you're building, or the progress you're making after a tough patch, are incredibly valuable. 

That’s why Tom believes the industry should talk less about “sub-prime” customers, and more about “pre-prime homeowners”. 

It’s a small mindset shift that makes a big difference. 

For future homeowners, it reframes their journey from “not good enough” to “on the way”. For the businesses supporting them, it’s a reminder to look beyond the label and recognise the effort, behaviour and momentum that are already there. 

Making progress visible

People aren’t born knowing how credit works. They learn as they go. They ask questions. They make mistakes. They build valuable experience by making small, steady improvements to their money habits each month. 

Better borrowing habits are built gradually, through the everyday money moves that show you’re moving in the right direction. 

Giving Loqbox members the tools they need to succeed

That’s why Loqbox exists: to help people understand the credit system and give them a way to make that progress visible on their credit reports.

We’re proud to see Tom spotlighting this truth in IFA Magazine. Most people aren’t getting money wrong in the way they sometimes feel they are. They’re learning, building, and showing up for their future.

‍Read Tom’s full article in IFA Magazine to see why he thinks the mortgage industry should start talking about future homebuyers as people in progress, not problems to filter out.