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Magnet Capital target £60m of new development loans in 2022

By Blog, Development Finance, Lending

Specialist development finance lender Magnet Capital have today announced their 2022 target of £60m of small development finance loans. The North London based lender has grown consistently since their launch in 2018, and are now aiming for their biggest year yet. The lender recently announced the incoming of new staff to bolster both operations and sales sides of the business.

Magnet Capital Chief Executive Ashley Ilsen commented, “We’ve carved out a great niche in the specialist lending market, focussing on development finance loans below £2m. We’re still seeing this area as poorly served and still hear some concerning stories about the quality of lending practices in this part of the market. At Magnet Capital we put a tremendous emphasis on transparency and quality of service. This includes the ability to be genuinely flexible throughout the loan which is needed for development projects now more than even. Our ability to consistently deliver has put us in a fantastic position going into 2022”.

Magnet Capital have also recently launched a new website to help speed up the process of handling incoming enquiries.

Also why not check out…

Magnet Capital expands team – theintermediary.co.uk

ashley-ilsen

Magnet Capital added to Dynamo’s panel

By Blog, Development Finance, Lending

Development Finance lender Magnet Capital have announced that they have been added onto the lender panel for Dynamo.

Their development finance offering will be available to Dynamo’s client-facing mortgage consultants and members of Dynamo for Intermediaries. This follows the lender’s recent announcement that they have added to their operations team to meet growing demand for their products.

Magnet Capital Chief Executive Ashley Ilsen said: “We’re delighted to begin our journey of working with the team at Dynamo which will undoubtedly give our products further market reach. In testing times developers need to work with lenders that can deliver and above all remain consistent in their offering. During the recent Covid-19 lockdown we backed all our schemes and carried on writing new business without reneging on a single deal. We’re here to be a long-term development finance partner.”

Ying Tan, founder and chief executive of Dynamo, added: “We’re excited to be joining forces with Magnet Capital whose personal and customer-oriented approach to lending so closely matches our own company values. I know that our consultants and club members will welcome their tailored development finance options and commitment to helping clients’ businesses grow.”

How to Finance Your First Property Development

By Development Finance, Lending, Uncategorized

Getting started on your very first property development project is most likely an exciting but also slightly daunting prospect, especially with so many potential options available in terms of funding. To make the decision process a little easier, we’ve broken down the main ways in which you can finance your foray into the property development sector.

Buy-to-let mortgages

If you intend to buy a single property and renovate it with the intention of then renting it out to a tenant for a number of years, it could be well worth your time investigating if a buy-to-let mortgage would be worth considering.

What makes a buy-to-let mortgage is different from a residential one? In many respects, they are similar: you will have certain eligibility criteria you will need to meet in order to qualify for this kind of mortgage. For example, a certain level of income will usually be necessary as this will determine the amount of capital you can borrow from a lender. Buy-to-let mortgages are also limited to one single property too.

The fact that most buy-to-let mortgages are limited to one property means that it is likely you will need to look for funding elsewhere in addition to the mortgage if you would like to expand your portfolio further than one property, or develop a number of properties at once.

Auction finance

Another viable option to getting finance for your very first property development is auction financing. Property auctions are usually considerably more affordable than if these very same buildings were listed in the traditional way, but the caveat is that they often require a lot of work to be carried out on them before being able to sell them on.

Whilst houses at auction tend to be cheaper, you will need to have all the money available to purchase it outright within a month of the auction ending (and your bid was successful). This can pose a problem for some property developers, who may not necessarily have access to all the finance upfront, but at the same time do not want to miss out completely on the possibility of the perfect property to develop.

Auction financing helps to solve this problem, as it a short-term bridging loan that can be arranged very quickly and helps property developers that cover the cost of the building until funds become available at a later point. It can also be agreed in principle before the auction.

Development finance and bridging loans

One of the most popular funding options for property developers tends to be property development finance and bridging loans. But how do these financing options work? This type of short-term funding can help with not only the purchase of a building but also help with the cost of renovating it too. It can be arranged quickly, and funds can be released to you within a very short period of time (within 4 weeks), meaning that it gives developers a great deal of flexibility when it comes to getting access to capital.

For more information about development finance and how Magnet Capital can help, contact our team directly.

Commercial mortgages

Are you or your company looking to expand primarily into the commercial property sector? Then a commercial mortgage may be your best bet instead. However, it is important that you keep in mind that this kind of funding will be limited to commercial properties only: for example warehouses, offices, and shops. In all other respects, it works very similar to a residential mortgage, which also means that if you are looking to develop residential properties or need additional funding then a commercial mortgage may not necessarily be the best option for you.

funding-property-development.

A Guide: What are the alternatives to mortgages?

By Blog, Development Finance, Lending

Are you looking to buy a home and get on the property ladder? Or alternatively, are you a property developer looking to purchase a building in order to renovate and sell on? You might be immediately considering to get a mortgage in order to buy a property, but did you know that there are other options available to you too? We take a look at some of the most popular alternatives to traditional mortgages.

Cash buyers

A cash buyer refers to someone who has the cash available upfront in order to purchase a property without needing to get a mortgage. It is possible that this can be done on an individual basis, or by a firm. Choosing a cash buyer in order to finance your mortgage can have a number of benefits, including helping to make the house sale process quicker, and it is also possible that it can help prevent a chain-forming beyond the purchaser.

Cash buyers are commonly homeowners who have already sold their home or simply have a lot of disposable money available and do not need a mortgage.

If you decide to use a cash buyer instead of getting a mortgage, you will typically be given a cash offer after a formal valuation of the chosen property. If you accept the offer, it is possible to complete the sale then within a timeframe that best suits your needs.

Development finance

Another option available to you is development finance when purchasing property, especially if you are a property developer. This type of finance is primarily aimed at those who intend to renovate, build up or extend a new property from a plot of land.

One of the main reasons why development finance best suits buyers who intend to develop a property is that the loan values are broken down into construction costs and for also purchasing the land too.

All funds are provided to you in stages during the construction project after a valuation from a surveyor. As a result, this type of property finance can help you to budget carefully during the project, maintain positive cash flow and ultimately avoid overspending.

Bridging loans

Bridging loans are aimed at those who are looking to complete properties on a fairly strict deadline. This includes buyers who are intending to complete on an apartment or building within a 2-to-4 week period.

One of the main reasons that bridging loans are so popular as an alternative form of property finance is that the loan can be sorted out far quicker than is standard with a traditional mortgage, which can take months to go through.

Types of buyers that commonly use bridging loans to buy property including homeowners intend to move but have yet to sell their existing property, those looking to raise finance for business purposes or investments, and homebuyers who have bought a property at auction. Your security is at risk so if you do not keep up with repayments, your property is at risk of repossession from the lender.

Help-to-Buy equity loan

Help to Buy equity loans are also a viable alternative to standard mortgages. This government loan is available in England and Wales and helps people to put down a deposit for a house at a quicker rate, and it is low in interest.

alternatives-mortgages

Mortgages are not the only form of funding available to purchase property.

In terms of eligibility criteria, the house you intend to buy will need to be a new build registered with the Help to Buy Scheme. The purchase price can be up to £600,000 in England or £300,000 in Wales, and it can be the only property that you own.

It is also worth keeping in mind that you will need a 5% deposit in the first place, with the Help to Buy loan then lending to you an additional 20% (or 40% in London) and additional funding will be needed through other forms of finance.

This is designed to help first time buyers or those looking for assistance when getting on the property ladder.

Shared Ownership

In the UK, it is also possible for you to buy a home via the shared ownership scheme, and it is also possible to do this with a housing association or council property.

The scheme enables you to buy between 25% and 75% share of a leasehold property, and then you pay off the remainder as rent. To be able to apply for shared ownership, you need to earn less than £80,000 a year, and fall into one of the following categories:

  • You are a first-time buyer
  • You are an existing shared owner
  • You used to own a home, but it is no longer possible for you to purchase one as you can’t afford to.
development-finance

A Guide: What is development finance used for?

By Blog, Development Finance, Lending

What is development finance?

Development finance offers finance used for developing, refurbishing or constructing a property. The end goal can be to rent out the property to tenants or sell it for a higher price once completed. It is a type of specialist finance commonly used in order to develop residential and commercial properties.

The uses for development finance

There are a number of different reasons why someone may opt for development finance such as:

  • To help assist with the funding of a large development project, such as conversion project or a new build
  • Residential redevelopments involving considerable structural work
  • Smaller development works
  • Quick access than applying for a mortgage
  • Avoid traditional property chains
  • More specialist for buying land and developing it

Properties include:

houses, flats, flats, barns, farmhouses, garages, warehouses, offices, storefronts and more.

Development finance lending criteria

When looking at applying for a development finance loan, you should keep in mind the following, as most lenders will assess you against the following eligibility criteria:

  • Terms of the loan: this is typically between 6 and 15 months, but depending on the lender it can be more than this
  • Feasibility of the project: if the lender has too many concerns about your development project, the application may be declined
  • Security: the level of security for the site or building should be of a good standard
  • Level of experience: the applicant should have a good commercial background or experience in property
  • Location: this will also be taken into consideration by a property finance specialist.
  • Loan to value maximum: the lender will usually provide in the region of 55% of GDV

How can I apply for development finance?

If you are applying for development finance, keep in mind that it does not work in the same way as standard mortgage applications.

In most cases, property development specialists will assess the value of the property, and determine what the loan amount will be based on this assessment, as well as the borrower’s overall eligibility.

property-development

Development finance can help to realise your dreams of carrying out a renovation project.

At some point, you may need to provide details such as:

  • Development costs
  • Development appraisal
  • Planning permission details
  • Details of the building or site, such as the price of the site/property as well as the location and value
  • Gross Development Value details
  • Company structure
  • Details of all applicants involved
  • Asset and liability statement for applicants involved
  • Details of the main contractor
  • Details of the project manager for the development project

You may also need to provide paperwork to apply, which can include the following:

  • All drawings and designs of the development project
  • A detailed breakdown of all costs
  • A complete schedule of works that will be carried out
  • A planned exit strategy
  • A completed Asset, Liability, Income and Expenditure Summary (ALIE)

How are development finance funds transferred?

If you are successful with your development finance application, you will receive your loan in stages by Magnet Capital.

There are a couple of reasons why this happens: first of all, payments are given in stages to ensure that the money is always proportionate to the overall value of the work that is being carried out in your project.

Initially, as part of the first stage of how development finance works, you will receive a certain amount upfront in order to secure your site or building. The amount you receive will be determined prior to signing the contract.

Payments are released each time current work on your project has been signed off by a surveyor (who is typically instructed by your lender to manage the site and work undertaken). If all current work is approved and it has met the terms and conditions of the loan, further instalments are provided.

property-finance

A Guide: What is the difference between bridging finance and development finance?

By Blog, Development Finance, Lending

Those looking for property finance will often confuse bridging finance and development finance. Whilst it is true that they do have similarities with each other, such as:

  • They can be used to help fund the purchase of residential and commercial properties
  • They are secured loans
  • They are often used to avoid traditional property chains

They do also have a number of differences. If you are looking at getting specialist property development finance to help you buy a property, it is important to know the difference between the two, so that you can find the right product that you will require.

When is bridging finance used?

Generally speaking, bridging loans are linked to completing properties on a tight deadline. This means that most borrowers tend to opt for bridging finance when they need to complete on a flat or buildings within a month, or sometimes as little as two weeks. It can also be a popular option for:

  • Buyers looking to purchase a property at an auction house
  • Homeowners who are moving, but have yet to sell their existing property
  • Those raising finance for business growth

When is development finance used?

Those applying for development finance will use this for property development purposes.  This means that this kind of specialist finance is better suited to those who:

  • Are looking to renovate a new property from a plot of land
  • To cover construction costs
  • To extend or build up a new property

How funds are released with bridging finance

If you decide to go with a bridging loan, this will typically be provided upfront in one lump sum, enabling you to complete the purchase of a property on time. For an auction, this is particularly important, as you need to provide the full funds within 28 days of the gable hitting.

How funds are released with development finance

If you choose development finance, the funding you receive will usually be in instalments, based on different stages of the property development process. Payments will be provided once the current work has been signed off by a surveyor.

funding-property-development.

Before applying for funding, it is important to be aware of the fact the loans are released differently depending on the product you choose.

One of the main reasons that money is released in instalments with this kind of finance is because lenders want to make sure that the loan amount given is proportionate to the value of the work that is being undertaken.

It provides a number of benefits, as it helps to maintain positive cash flow and it makes sure you keep within budget.

Average loan terms

When it comes to both bridging and development finance, they both tend to have very similar loan terms. This is usually anything from 6 months to 15 months in total.

Once the loan term comes to an end for either type of finance, the repayments are rolled up (unless they have been paid on a monthly basis) and then the loan is fully repaid once the sale or completion of a property has gone through.

In the event that the property has not been sold or completed, then the borrower has the option to refinance with the same lender, or choose a different lender. However,  it is important to keep in mind that terms of the loan may not be so favourable to you the second time around with either loan types.

How the amount you borrow is calculated through bridging finance

Your bridging finance loan will be calculated on the loan-to-value (otherwise known as LTV). That means that the borrower needs to pay a deposit, and then the rest is paid by the lender.

How the amount you borrow is calculated with development finance?

Rather than your loan being based on the loan-to-value, a development finance loan is calculated on Gross Development Value (GDV). This refers to the overall value of the loan once all construction and renovations have been complete.