THE SPECIALIST EFFECT

Partner with a specialist

When specialist knowledge, flexible lending and strong broker relationships combine, you get a special effect!

• Regulated & Non-regulated loans - up to 75% LTV

• Fast Track process

• Online self-service broker portal

• Biometric ID verification

• AVMs

• Dual Legal representation ince the last issue of Bridging & Commercial, interest rates have been hiked up to 4%, UK house price growth has continued to dally, and the construction industry is staring recession in the face, according to the Construction Products Association’s winter forecasts. The report predicts that, this year, private housing output will take an 11% slump due to rising mortgage rates, falling real wages and meagre consumer confidence. However, with economists anticipating that inflation is close to peaking— and could start to fall this summer—and land values expected to drop as housebuilders focus on their existing projects rather than new sites, it’s not all doom and gloom for the property market.

If anything, this is the time the specialist finance space truly shines. As stated by the latest Bridging Trends report, bridging loan transactions surged to the highest they have been in three years. The need for rapid transactions was shown by the rise in bridging finance being used to prevent chain breaks.

In this issue, we devote a great deal of time talking to experts about how to navigate a tumultuous market [p24], spot opportunities [p58], and what can be learnt from it all [p64].

Additionally, we take a deep dive into training and increasing standards in the sector. In January, we ventured up to Middlesbrough to visit the female-led powerhouse behind VAS Valuation Group to discuss how they are raising the bar across the industry [p68]. We also chat to some of the authors of FIBA and ASTL’s new specialist finance qualification [p10]—an idea which has been floated by various associations and individuals for as long as I’ve been writing about bridging—and take a look at White Rose Finance Group’s new LIBF-accredited broker education scheme [p20].

‘Education’ and ‘service’ were the words on every lender’s lips at our annual Directors’ Lunch in January, where we welcomed more than 70 leaders in the specialist finance sphere [p76]. Considering the endless changes in product offerings, and average bridging completions now taking almost 60 days, solid service has never been more critical to help borrowers circumnavigate what lies ahead. This is why we have featured those that went the extra mile to offer spectacular client outcomes over the past 12 months in this year’s annual Power List [p40]. We thoroughly enjoyed reading the countless submissions for this, and the 40 that made the cut really deserve the spotlight. Many congratulations to you all!

Beth Fisher Editor-in-chief

The latest bridging products The

Putting pen to paper to educate brokers

Assetz Capital / White Rose Finance Group

How to navigate in a tumultuous market

What’s the deal with recruitment?

Tanya Elmaz / Neal Moy

Experiencing Tour de VAS

The industry’s finest meet again