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London brokers increasing their amount of international bridging

Based on observations and conversations over the past year, there appears to have been an increase in the search for international funds coming through London brokers.

A growing number of London brokers it seems, are being asked to access money by borrowers keen to do one of three things: either purchase an international property, carry out work on a property based overseas or, increasingly, release money from a property based in continental Europe in order to spend on property or business in the UK. In each of these cases there is another property that is being leveraged on a short-term basis in order to satisfy a development or business need.

There could be a number of reasons for this uplift, but it increasingly seems to be the case that if you have an international property and can’t find funds abroad then you look to London as an international finance centre. For flexible, short-term funding, London is still the place to come, even despite Brexit.

What is interesting is that the people turning to London brokers for help are not even all UK nationals, they are a number of different nationalities all of whom have property on the continent that they need to leverage on a short-term basis.

It makes sense that international brokers like Enness and Knight Frank will be approached for this business as they have international connections so may be contacted in multiple jurisdictions, but the demand seems to be wider than this with a much wider range of brokers being approached. It is not exclusive to London brokers either, but the demand does seem to be predominantly in this region.

The key reason seems to be that short-term finance is not generally available across the continent, but as awareness grows of bridging finance and how useful it is, this is increasing demand. And the key place to realise this demand is in London and the UK.

There has also been an uplift in UK business people releasing capital from properties they may own abroad in order to capitalise on business opportunities here. Many UK business people, especially developers, will have unencumbered property abroad. They are now seeing the opportunity to leverage it for their business or for property development. It is this segment of the market that is showing the greatest potential. This fast turnaround of short-term money can really make a difference to businesses needing to invest, or even needing working capital.

It is an exciting market and what that looks set to increase throughout the year as awareness of the possibilities increase, not only in the UK but across Europe.

Source: Mortgage Introducer

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Bridging market grew by 15% in 2018

Members of the Association of Short-Term Lenders (ASTL) wrote more than £4bn of bridging loans in 2018, representing an increase of 14.8% on 2017.

Figures compiled by the ASTL’s auditors from its bridging lender members for the fourth quarter of last year show an increase in the value of loans completed, outstanding loan books and applications in 2018 from the year before.

Benson Hersch, chief executive of the ASTL, said: “Our latest data survey shows continued growth in the bridging sector, with the value of loans completed in 2018 up by nearly 15% on 2017, the value of applications growing by more than 13% and the value of outstanding loan books also higher than the previous year.

“These results show that, in an uncertain economic environment, our members are continuing to provide useful, flexible finance for a whole range of purposes, and they are doing so whilst maintaining a commitment to high standards of underwriting.

“This is very encouraging and indicates a sustainable sector that is built on robust foundations.”

During this period, the value of applications increased by 13.4% to nearly £21.5bn and total loan books increased by 3.6%.

The value of loans completed for the quarter ending 31 December 2018 increased by 13.5% on the previous quarter and the value of applications increased by 0.3%, although the value of outstanding loan books decreased by 7.1% during this period.

Source: Mortgage Introducer

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Could bridging loan business surge in 2019?

A plethora of TV property programmes have over the years inspired a generation of property investors and restorers in the UK, which has given a boost to property auction houses and helped fuel an increase in bridging loan activity.

In addition, changes in buy-to-let have caused landlords to chase opportunities for better yields. Some investors have made good returns by purchasing properties at low prices and renovating them to increase the value and potentially derive attractive rental yields.

The Association of Short Term Lenders (ASTL) recently reported that bridging lending recorded a 21% increase in the 12 months to September 30th, 2018.

Buying rental property at auction

For those looking to invest in rental property at auction, there are time pressures around financing.

You must pay 10% of the property auction price on the day and settle the full amount within 28 days of the auction taking place. Some houses may offer 56 days, depending on property and auction house rules.

Securing a mortgage in that timeframe is generally impossible. Regardless of timescales, if you are purchasing a property that is uninhabitable (no functioning kitchen /bathroom), a mortgage lender generally would not extend a mortgage. This is where a bridging loan comes in.

A bridging loan is a form of short-term lending and can be arranged in much less time than a buy to let mortgage. Turnaround times are typically 28 days, although one of the lenders we work with has the ability to pay out funds from as little as two weeks from application.

This means you can go to auction with a timely means of securing the finance you need to purchase your property.

Bridging loan uses

Bridging loans are not just useful for auctions.

They can help to finance a number of scenarios such as renovation work on a property, with the aim of either selling the building for capital growth once the work has been carried out, or letting it out (when it is in a suitable condition) for rental income.

A bridging loan can also be used to purchase land for future development, or (as mentioned above) to purchase uninhabitable property.

Borrowers can usually secure bridging finance on up to 75% loan to value and, at the time of writing rates start from 0.44% (this is subject to change).

Exit strategy                                                                                                                                            

When using a bridging loan, it is vital you have a clear exit strategy – i.e. a definitive plan on how you will pay it off.

Bridging loan rates are more expensive than buy to let mortgage rates and they are charged monthly not annually. Not having a robust method of repaying the loan risks unnecessary and expensive repayments at best, which could lead to financial hardship.

No broker should ever arrange a bridging loan for you without planning the exit, and if there is no viable way to pay off the bridging loan, they should not recommend a bridging loan to you.

An exit strategy could be as simple as the intention to sell the property to pay off the loan.

It could also be that the property, once renovated, is intended to be used as a rental property. In this case, the borrower may opt to pay off the bridging loan with a buy-to-let mortgage. The property would have to be in a suitable condition to meet lender criteria and have enough equity to satisfy the lenders’ loan to value limits.

In cases where a business has taken out a bridging loan, future operating cash flows may be used to pay off the loan. However, a projection of future cash flow is not a secure exit strategy.

How commercial bridging loans can contribute to solving the housing crisis

Land availability and securing planning permission can be tricky propositions.

Yet the declining UK high street could be a viable means of helping to create living spaces.

A report from the Federation of Master Builders, in 2017, suggested that as many as 400,000 new homes could be built or created through conversions above shops.

The conversion of empty office blocks or shops into homes, could save greenfield and brownfield belts, whilst supplying much-needed homes from existing structures, saving on tools and materials by recycling buildings.

Borrowing levels on a commercial bridging loan can be available up to several million pounds and financing can be completed in two to four weeks.

On commercial property, you can borrow up to 75% loan-to-value, with most lenders averaging at 65%.

Exit strategy on a commercial bridging loan

Once again, you must have a clear exit strategy as typically any bridging loan must be redeemed within 24 months.

Your options are to refinance to a term loan, which is usually secured for three or more years for commercial lending. This suits a scenario where a building has been renovated for commercial or residential letting, and the borrower is interested in retaining the investment and generating monthly income.

Alternatively, you may look to sell the building for capital growth and pay off the outstanding loan, providing enough value has been created in the property.

As the housing crisis continues to attract concern and political debate, this section of the bridging market could be set for growth in the coming years.

Source: Mortgage Introducer

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Bridging loans provide cost-effective solutions

As indicated by falling transaction volumes over the past 12 months, selling a built asset is never easy in today’s market, whether it’s a residential or commercial property. Offers that realise the full value of an asset have, in my experience as a specialist finance loan provider, taken longer than normal to materialise over the past year, especially when a developer is selling multiple units at a time.

Some developers will opt to reduce their prices for a quicker sale – and we understand that, especially when they’re waiting for multiple sales rather than one.

But others, equally understandably, are wary of dropping their prices and want to realise what they believe to be the full value, even if that means waiting longer to find the right buyer. For those developers, companies such as ours can offer development exit bridging loans to give them some breathing space, and we’re seeing more and more developers seeking that kind of facility.

There are a number of reasons a developer might want such a loan. Development finance for the project at hand might have tight terms that require payment within a few months of completion. Active developers might also want to free up equity to fund other schemes while they wait for a sale at the right price. These developments are completed, often to time, and are effectively de-risked – so why shouldn’t developers be able to pull some money out of them?

Whether or not a developer is looking for this type of loan is naturally very dependent on the term they have on their development finance, how complicated the build was, any time or cost overruns, and how much time they have to sell, but nonetheless it is a trend we are seeing across both residential and commercial markets. It is not just our existing clients that are seeking development exit loans; we are seeing a mixture of smaller, new developers alongside larger, more established players looking for this type of flexible finance.

Bridging loans

For the most part, developers simply want more time to find the right buyer, and in most cases they’re seeking a like-for-like refinance of existing loans. They might have a development loan reaching term end, for example, and a bridging loan from a company like ours can give them piece of mind by effectively increasing the term on their finance.

These bridging loans are not necessarily more expensive either: at the lower end of the loan-to-value spectrum we offer rates starting at 0.55% a month, and we do not charge any exit fees. That means that, as well as providing developers with more time, these loans can also sometimes be more cost-effective.

It is something we have been doing for years, but now that more companies are looking for this type of solution in today’s market, we hope to be more flexible than ever. We understand that circumstances change quickly on development projects. That’s why, in some cases, we can offer loans with an 18-month term, which is longer than for a normal bridging loan.

Buy-to-let

We’ve also had cases where investors looking to sell a number of residential properties have moved into one of the units, and the loan then becomes a regulated bridging loan. Essentially, if there are variations along the way or bumps in the road, we’ll be able to accommodate it – and we have a large, dedicated loan team on hand to see to our clients’ needs.

Unlike some other bridging lenders, we also provide a full spectrum of finance products, including development finance, which means we understand developers more than most. Last year, we also launched longer-term second charge mortgages on both residential and buy-to-let securities and we have exciting plans to launch into other areas of lending next year in the hope that it gives our clients surety of not having to jump between different lenders, offering them a one-stop shop for their financing needs.

Development exit bridging loans are a product that we are very much used to offering, and the main variable on our part is the length of the loan term. When a developer is selling multiple units, such as a residential apartment block, then we are very used to working with them to come up with the best strategy.

Development finance

We believe the increased flexibility of companies such as ours is part of the trend that is seeing smaller, specialist lenders stepping in and providing ever-more cost-effective solutions for developers, which helps get more homes and offices built. Even with Brexit and all the concerns people have about the housing market, there is still a shortage of property and there are pretty big targets to hit to meet housing needs, which makes specialists like us more important than ever.

Our development finance starts at 7% a year, and that is getting close to the high street and other established lenders. Specialist lenders like us can also give developers more leverage – and clearly, cash is very important when it comes to development. Having the liquidity to make sure the project gets finished correctly, and on time, is vital. The ability to push the loan-to-value to a higher level than the high street or more traditional development lenders is therefore an increasingly attractive option.

By offering the full spectrum of financing options, we hope we can build long-term relationships with our clients, and give them the confidence that we will be with them no matter the situation. In that way, development exit bridging loans, as well as our upcoming buy-to-let product, feel like a natural extension of what we have always done and will continue to do.

Predicting what will happen to the residential and commercial markets over the next year is difficult, but as long as transactions are taking longer than usual, bridging loans can offer developers the time and support they need to sell their high-quality completed assets at the right price.

Source: Property Week

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Industry calls for dedicated bridging qualification

Bridging experts have called for the introduction of a bridging qualification to improve reputation, education and self-regulation across the industry.

Brian West, director of Central Bridging, who sits on the board of the ASTL (Association of Short Term Lenders), namedropped the old FISA (Finance Industry Standards Association) qualification for secured loans, which he said drove up standards and confidence.

He said: “I regularly push for examinations and training. Pretty much everybody, every underwriter within the main brokerages took the old FISA qualification and got their certificate.

“The bridging industry should be more aspirational. Why don’t we have a bridging foundation course?

“Let’s pull together the ASTL, NACFB and FIBA and some of the bigger lenders. If Brightstar put all its staff through it then Positive would follow suit as would every brokerage out there.

“With regulators you have to be seen to be doing the best you can to self-regulate, so it’s better if the FCA looks at an industry where the main trade federations and bodies are pulling together to produce a bridging foundation examination, even if it’s only a one or two day course to get a basic foundation in bridging rather than seeing an industry doing nothing.

“There are plenty of lenders and organisations that would get actively involved and would be prepared to pay and help.”

Rob Jupp, chief executive of Brightstar, has called for a bridging qualification before and is surprised one hasn’t yet been introduced.

He said: “The short-term lending market has grown significantly in recent years and lenders, distributors and brokers have all worked hard to raise standards and make bridging finance a more accessible solution for thousands of customers.

“But short-term mortgages are a distinct product that come with their own considerations and I am staggered we have still not introduced a qualification that can help brokers to demonstrate their understanding of the sector.

“We worked hard to get this across the line when I was chairman of the AOBP and we need to continue to continue that work to help continue to raise standards in our industry.”

Damien Druce, director at Assetz Capital, agreed, emphasising it should be driven by the industry, not regulators.

He said: “There’s definitely room for this but it should be driven by the industry rather than the Institute for Financial Services or the FCA.

“If you can get all the trade bodies in a forum with some key players, brokers and lenders, you can probably come up with some kind of qualification that’s probably not as formal as a CeMAP but has that practical side to it.

“The biggest benefit to this is the reputational enhancements to the bridging market because there’s still probably a little stigma attached to it, although it’s nowhere near as it was a long time ago. It’s improved massively.”

However Mathew Tooth, chief commercial officer at LendInvest, was against the idea of an industry wide qualification, favouring an on-board course at individual organisations instead.

He said: “It’s up to each to decide how they work and what they invest in. I think it should be an on-board course.

“The notion of a full qualification with an exam at the end where bridging and development is so interlinked and the syllabus would expand, wouldn’t serve a great purpose but some kind of on-board course lasting a couple of days for different types of stakeholder, for someone starting at a brokerage, someone starting at a lender, would be really good.

“So I’m for on-board training but not an industry wide qualification at this stage.”

Source: Mortgage Introducer

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Brexit may be to blame for fall in regulated bridging loans

Potential buyers taking stock of an impending Brexit may be behind regulated bridging loans falling in the third quarter to the lowest level since Q1 2015.

That’s according to Gareth Lewis, commercial director at MT Finance (mtf), as it was revealed the number of regulated loans conducted by Bridging Trends contributors fell for the second consecutive quarter. They dropped to 31.6 per cent of all lending in Q3 2018, compared to 36.8 per cent during Q2 2018. This is the lowest level since Q1 2015, when the number of regulated bridging loans transacted was at 31.5 per cent of all lending.

Lewis said: “The data continues to show that property investors are seeking attractive opportunities to acquire properties where they can add value, a trend that shows no sign of slowing down. Conversely the transaction flow in the regulated space has continued to show signs of slowing down. Is this a direct response to the everyday purchaser taking stock of Brexit and holding fire before looking to commit to the purchase of a new residence?”

Bridging loan volume transacted by contributors hit £213.35 million in Q3 2018, an increase of £15.4 million on the previous quarter. This is the highest figure to date and comes as another new contributor joins Bridging Trends — specialist finance packager, Clever Lending.

First legal charge lending increased to 84.4 per cent of all loans during Q3 2018, up from 80.9 per cent in the second quarter. Meanwhile, second charge loans decreased to 15.6 per cent compared to 19.1 per cent during Q2 2018.

For the second consecutive quarter, refurbishment purposes were the most popular reason for obtaining a bridging loan, as borrowers continued to add value to existing and newly purchased properties.

Mortgage delays were the second most popular reason for obtaining a bridging loan, accounting for 19 per cent of all lending, down from 20 per cent in the previous quarter.  Whilst loans for auction purchases and business purposes increased in the third quarter by 3 per cent and 1 per cent respectively.

The average monthly interest rate dropped to 0.78 per cent in Q3, from 0.83 per cent in Q2 2018 — the lowest rate recorded since Q4 2016. This activity translated into lower LTVs, with average LTV levels in Q3 decreasing by 1.5 per cent to 55.4 per cent.

The average completion time on a bridging loan application jumped to 46 days during the third quarter from 43 during the second quarter, as service and resource levels were impacted by annual leave. The average term of a bridging loan in the second quarter remained at 11 months.

Sonny Gosai, head of specialist lending at Clever Lending, says the business is privileged to be on board with Bridging Trends, which “provides much needed analysis of the market”. He added: “The bridging industry is booming at present and forms a large part of our key distribution and remains one of our main focuses.

“Whilst the data suggests that there has been a drop in regulated bridging activity, we have recently set up a team solely to provide regulated bridging advice as we have seen a growth in this area particularly for enquiries. It will be interesting to see the next quarter’s Bridging Trends results.”

Meanwhile, Luke Egan, head of specialist property finance at Pure Commercial Finance, says the market is becoming more competitive. He said: “Regarding the drop in regulated bridging transactions, we operate slightly different to a lot of specialist brokers as we take a large amount of direct business, so we have more regulated bridge enquiries as a lot of clients are home movers.

“However, the market is becoming more competitive which would explain the decline to an extent as there is a finite amount of business being passed around a larger number of people.

“Interest rates seem to be only going one way. I believe one of the main regulated bridging lenders will drop their rates again soon in order to stand out in a crowded marketplace. Completion times increasing again is a worry, speed seems to a forgotten pre-requisite of bridging and more of a USP these days.”

Source: Bridging Directory

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Bridging finance industry is buoyant according to new survey

The bridging finance industry is in promising shape and continues to flourish. That’s the conclusion of Gareth Lewis, commercial director at MT Finance (mtf) after a new survey showed a spike in demand.

The desire for bridging loans increased in the third quarter of 2018, despite the traditional summer slowdown, according to the latest Broker Sentiment Survey conducted by bridging lender mtf.

Demand for bridging finance grew in the third quarter of 2018, with 48 per cent of brokers experiencing a rise in bridging loan volume, up from 38 per cent in the second quarter of 2018. And just 17 per cent of brokers did not experience a rise in bridging loan volume in Q3 2018.

Feedback from brokers points to a strong need for specialist lending but the geographical spread of bridging loan demand narrowed in the third quarter the year, with demand in the North West, South West and Scotland dropping from the previous quarter.

The South East saw the biggest demand for bridging loans in the UK at 48 per cent, up from 30 per cent in Q2. The second highest area of demand was London, at 41 per cent.

For the third consecutive quarter, funding development projects was the most popular reason for taking out a bridging loan at 31 per cent. Business purposes was the second most popular reason at 21 per cent, up from 16 per cent in the second quarter of 2018.

However, 66 per cent of brokers said the bridging loan process is longer than it was 12 months ago, while the majority, some 48 per cent, suggesting three to four weeks was the average length to complete a bridging loan. Meanwhile, some 21 per cent indicated that bridging loan cases generally took two to three weeks to complete. Of 113 brokers polled, 61 per cent blamed solicitors as the main reason for delays, followed by the valuer at 16 per cent.

And Lewis said: “The bridging finance industry is in promising shape and demand continues to grow, particularly from property investors looking to fund development projects in London and the South East.

“However, speed has always been a vital element in bridging finance and it is essential we don’t lose sight of this. It is important that all parties involved- the lender, lawyer, valuer and the broker, move swiftly to complete to the borrower’s schedule.

“It is important we stay true to the fundamentals of bridging: providing borrowers with fast access to the capital they need in a responsible and sustainable way and not fall in to the more traditional computer banking model.”

Source: Bridging Directory

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Bridging can offer the solution to HMO compliance

The new Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) rules came into effect last week, which means any landlords whose HMO properties are not up to scratch in terms of the minimum room sizes and amenities could face serious penalties.

The new rules came into play on October 1 and there is no grace period, and the consequences for non-compliance can be severe: up to a £30,000 fine, a rent repayment order, a banning order and even a criminal record.

For those who simply need to get a licence because, under the new rules, their property is now defined as an HMO, the process is fairly simple.

But for those landlords who need to make structural alterations or improvements to safety standards to comply with the new minimum room sizes in HMOs, compliance is not so straightforward.

There are only a handful of lenders that lend on HMOs and the ones that do will be more used dealing with experienced professional landlords so will expect the property to have the correct licensing and already meet the new minimum bedroom size guidelines before they will consider lending. This is obviously no good for landlords who need an injection of cash in order to fund changes to their properties to ensure they comply with the new rules.

This is where bridging loans can offer a solution.

We have already seen many people entering the HMO market, looking to purchase a large detached property in order to convert it into single living accommodation units with shared facilities and communal areas.

In these situations, a bridging loan is able to bridge the value of the funds needed to improve the property and make it suitable for owner occupation. We typically lend on a term of six months, obviously ensuring the client has an exit strategy in place – in this case, it will generally be a buy to let or commercial mortgage.

In most cases, the value if the property will not generally be enhanced, but the rental value will go up as the property becomes a fully licenced HMO with potential for multiple rental incomes.

And while we expect to see this trend continue, there could now be a spike in HMO lending as landlords scramble to ensure their properties, already defined and licenced as HMOs – meet the new regulations.

Source: Mortgage Introducer

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No deal Brexit could push up bridging rates

If there is a no deal Brexit bridging rates could become more expensive, Trevor Williams, professor at Derby University and independent economic consultant has predicted.

He also forecast that prices could drop by between 10-12% without government policy changes.

Williams said: “Bridging loans could become more expensive – as the risk is greater they [lenders] are likely to want better returns for it.”

He predicted a tougher environment for investors.

He added: “Most people trying to sell could see a sharp drop in prices offered; below what they were expecting.

“If they had financial commitments on the basis of those properties being sold they are going to be caught short.

“For those who don’t have overdraft facilities already in place they may have a cause to use them because they can’t sell their properties.

“If you haven’t got an overdraft facility you may need to from your established lender, or go to a bridger to cover in the short-term.

“There may be more claims for those with insurance against rent.”

Source: Mortgage Introducer

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Could further rate rises affect the bridging market?

After almost a decade with static, low rate environment, November 2017 saw the first rate rise in 11 years. There was much talk at the time that it could be followed by several more. Then nothing until last month, where a 0.25% rise saw the bank rate hit 0.75%, the highest it has been since 2009.

The Bank of England has indicated that it will be followed with at least one more rise before tFhe end of the year, maybe two. So, we are finally seeing a shift to a rate rise environment, a bit of shock after the static situation we have all been familiar with for so long.

November’s rise – the first many borrowers will have ever seen – coupled with this latest rise and the fact there is still uncertainty over Brexit, means we are in uncharted territory.

The one thing we do know, is that rates are rising, but how far and by how much remains unknown. Another unknown is how these recent and potential rate rises will affect the bridging market.

Generally speaking, while rate rises can affect the short-term lending market, it is less rate sensitive than the mainstream lending market. This is down to two main reasons. Firstly, due to their short-term nature, the rates of a bridging loan will generally not rise during the loan term, and secondly, because bridging lenders are funded differently from mainstream lenders.

Some bridging lenders are reliant on external funding, while others like Hope Capital, are principal lenders, which means they are privately funded, and therefore not directly affected by BoE rate rises.

In fact, as bridging becomes more accepted as a viable alternative to high street lenders, there is more competition in the market which has actually forced rates down. However, rates do vary quite widely between lenders because cases are taken on an individual basis, so rates are agreed depending on a number of factors including the speed at which the borrower needs to loan in place, how flexible the lender needs to be and the risk involved.

The main effect of rate rises on the bridging market, therefore, is exit routes. Borrowers who are looking to refinance as their exit route will be affected by higher rates on the longer-term finance deals that they go onto after the bridging loan. Therefore, bridging lenders and brokers need to be aware that if rates rise, it may affect the borrowers’ exit strategy and therefore their ability to repay the loan, which may need to be taken into account when assessing the risk.

Even if selling the property is the customer’s exit strategy, this still may be affected by rising rates because higher rates tend to slow property price growth.

However, assuming rates don’t rise significantly, I think the impact of the recent rises on the bridging industry to be fairly minimal. At Hope Capital, thanks to our position as a principal lender, we will continue to look at every case on an individual basis, whether there is a rate rise or not.

Source: Mortgage Introducer