Why “Yes” is Our Favourite Word | Monday Morning Musing #18

At Merryoaks, we regularly talk about the three pillars of property investment and development: Land, Knowledge, and Capital.

If you have missed any of the previous newsletters, then you should know that with all three, the number of deals you can achieve is virtually endless.

Since we specialise in capital provision in the property market, a question we hear several times a day is "Can you raise capital for us/this?"

The great news, and one of the reasons I love my role as a specialist property finance broker, is that the answer is usually YES.

Whether you’re looking for bridging finance, development finance, commercial, residential, or more bespoke solutions, we have access to a wide range of products to support your funding needs.

Back in 2008, during the height of the credit crunch, I met a successful residential mortgage broker. When we reconnected in 2016, I asked him how he fared through the global financial crisis, stating it must have been hard with not much cash around to borrow/lend. His response highlighted an important truth: "There is ALWAYS cash available. It all boils down to two main factors, price and LTV."

Even in the toughest markets, like the credit crunch, there was still cash circulating, but the terms were not what people were used to. Higher costs and lower LTVs changed the game, but deals still got done for those who understood how to navigate it and understand clearly these two points:

1. Price – Arrangement fees, interest rates, exit fees, and secondary costs like valuations, legal, and broker fees. These are important to factor in, but shouldn’t deter you from borrowing as they are usually marginal costs
2. Loan to Value (LTV) – Simply, the amount you can borrow against the value of the land or property you are using as security

Whatever product you’re searching for, whatever your credit situation, and whatever asset type you are funding, there’s a solution out there.

It all comes back to understanding Price and LTV, which are, in essence, how funders assess risk and reward.

During my days as a lender, the answer I found myself repeating mostly to applications was “No”.
Over the last 15 years, the property finance market has become increasingly fragmented as lenders today are more niche, often specialising in just one or two areas, and doing them very well (or quickly disappearing if they don't).

Now, as a broker, I take great pride in saying “YES” and in finding the right solutions for people just like you.

If you're ready to explore funding options or simply want to discuss a project idea, don't hesitate to reach out.