The Intermediary – June 2025 - Flipbook - Page 45
SPECIALIST FINANCE
Opinion
Unlocking
opportunities
for your clients
W
hen the
property
market is
described as
‘unpredictable’,
it’s usually
shorthand for the simple fact that no
two deals are the same. As a lender,
I’ve long accepted that a degree of
flexibility is oen required. But in
the current climate, where property
professionals are juggling complex
portfolios, different timelines, and
competing priorities, that flexibility is
being tested more than ever.
A recent £4.5m transaction we
completed at Alternative Bridging
shows what’s possible when that
adaptability is built into the funding
structure from the start.
We worked with a returning
client with multiple property
interests across the North of
England. Three distinct facilities
were arranged: one to refinance
an existing commercial bridging
loan, another as a development exit
facility for a residential scheme, and
a third to support a pre-let retail and
office investment.
Each loan had its own terms
and timelines, but together they
formed a single, structured package
designed to meet the client’s broader
funding objective.
Not every deal fits
A few years ago, this kind of case
might have been seen as overly
complicated, or simply not viable.
However, we’ve found that separating
out the different elements – rather
than trying to force everything into
a single loan – oen results in a
smoother, more efficient outcome.
For brokers, it’s a reminder that the
best route forward isn’t always the
most obvious one.
It’s not always clear at first glance
when a deal needs to be split. But
there are signs. Different asset
classes, overlapping deadlines, and
shiing valuations all suggest a
more segmented approach might
work beer.
In this case, one asset was ready to
exit, another was income-generating,
and a third was under offer. A single
facility wouldn’t have done justice to
the client’s strategy, and in fact, might
have ground everything to a halt.
Three Rs
The ‘refinance, release, reinvest’ cycle
is one I’m seeing more regularly.
Clients are increasingly looking
to refinance existing assets, free
up capital, and move it into new
opportunities. What maers is
making sure one part of the funding
doesn’t hold back another. By
structuring loans individually, we
allow borrowers to keep momentum,
while still maintaining overall clarity.
There’s wider evidence that bridging
remains central to broker activity.
According to Knowledge Bank,
‘regulated bridging’ was the most
searched-for criteria by brokers in
the first quarter of 2025. That doesn’t
surprise me. Short-term finance
continues to play a critical role in
geing deals over the line.
There are also clear indicators that
bridging continues to play a central
role in the market. According to
recent data from the Bridging &
Development Lenders Association
(BDLA), overall loan books have
grown by 14.4%, passing the
£10bn mark for the first time, and
reaching £10.30bn.
Pipeline business has also shown
strong momentum, with applications
rising by 3.9% in the fourth quarter
alone, taking the total to £11.30bn.
JONATHAN RUBINS
is chief commercial officer
at Alternative Bridging
Corporation
Clients are
increasingly looking to
refinance existing assets
[and] free up capital”
That kind of growth underlines
what we’re seeing day-to-day: brokers
and borrowers turning to bridging
not just for speed, but for flexibility
and structure when the mainstream
options fall short.
In this deal, communication was
key. We worked closely with the
broker to agree terms, secured updated
valuations where needed, and issued
separate offers for each facility. Our
underwriting team collaborated with
our legal partners and the client’s
solicitor to make sure everything
progressed without delay.
As I oen say, delivering a
structured deal like this isn’t about
being clever, it’s about experience. It’s
about knowing when to keep things
simple and when to step back and
consider whether there’s a beer way
to approach the funding altogether.
Structured bridging won’t be right
for every case. But when you’ve got
layered funding needs or multiple
moving parts, it can make all the
difference. For brokers, the important
thing is to recognise when a deal could
benefit from that kind of flexibility,
and to have a lender on board that
knows how to make it work.
Bridging isn’t just about speed. It’s
about solutions that reflect how real
borrowers operate, giving brokers
confidence that the funding will fit the
deal, not the other way round. ●
June 2025 | The Intermediary
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