Specialist property finance
Finance for property transactions that require a different approach.
From short-term bridging to development and commercial property finance, Intra helps clients navigate more specialist borrowing requirements.
Specialist finance
Bridging, development, commercial and secured property finance.
Specialist finance options
What are you looking to finance?
Select the area most relevant to your circumstances to explore the specialist property finance available.
01
↗Bridging Finance
Short-term property finance for purchases, refinancing and transactions where timing or property condition makes conventional mortgage lending less suitable.
02
↗Bridge-to-Let
Short-term finance designed around a planned transition onto longer-term buy-to-let borrowing once the property and wider circumstances are ready.
03
↗Development Finance
Finance for property development, conversion and refurbishment projects where funding needs to reflect the project programme and expected completion.
04
↗Commercial Finance
Property finance for commercial premises, mixed-use assets and more specialist real-estate requirements.
05
↗Second Charge
Additional borrowing secured against a property while an existing first mortgage remains in place.
Beyond conventional lending
Some property transactions do not fit a standard mortgage process.
Timing, property condition, project structure or intended use can all mean conventional mortgage lending is not the appropriate starting point.
Specialist finance can potentially provide a route where a property needs refurbishment, a transaction needs to move quickly, or the borrowing is linked to a development or commercial property requirement.
The appropriate facility depends on the purpose, asset, timescale, leverage and — for short-term borrowing — the proposed exit strategy.
When specialist finance may be considered
Different transactions create different funding requirements.
Specialist finance is generally considered around a specific property, transaction, project or borrowing objective.
01
Time-sensitive purchases
A transaction may need to complete more quickly than conventional mortgage lending can accommodate.
02
Property refurbishment
A property may require works before it is suitable for a standard residential or buy-to-let mortgage.
03
Development projects
Finance may need to reflect acquisition costs, build costs, project stages and the planned exit.
04
Commercial property
Business premises, mixed-use assets and investment property can require specialist underwriting.
05
Capital raising
Clients may seek to raise funds against property for investment, business or other permitted purposes.
06
Complex property circumstances
Unusual construction, planning position, condition or intended use can affect the finance available.
Bridging finance
Short-term funding where timing or property condition matters.
Bridging finance can potentially be used where a property needs to complete quickly, requires works before longer-term finance is available, or where another clearly defined short-term funding requirement exists.
Because bridging is intended to be temporary, the proposed exit strategy is normally a central part of the lender's assessment.
Explore bridging financeFacility
Short-term finance
Key consideration
Credible exit strategy
Development finance
Funding structured around the project rather than just the finished property.
Development finance can potentially support qualifying construction, conversion and refurbishment projects.
Lenders can consider factors such as acquisition price, build costs, project programme, experience, expected completed value and the proposed exit.
Explore development finance→What lenders consider
Specialist lending is often driven by the transaction as much as the borrower.
Property, purpose, leverage, timescale and repayment strategy can all have a significant influence on lender appetite.
01
Purpose of the borrowing
The lender needs to understand what the finance is being used for and how it fits into the wider transaction.
02
Property & valuation
Value, condition, construction, planning status and intended use can all influence lender appetite.
03
Loan size & equity
The amount being borrowed relative to the property value or project cost can materially affect the options available.
04
Exit strategy
For short-term lending, lenders will usually want a credible route for repaying the facility.
05
Borrower experience
Development or investment experience can be relevant, particularly for more substantial projects.
06
Timescale
How quickly funds are needed can influence both lender choice and the way the case needs to be prepared.
Commercial property
Property finance can extend beyond residential assets.
Commercial property finance can potentially support premises used by a business, investment properties and mixed-use assets.
The assessment may involve the property, lease position, business circumstances, rental income and wider transaction structure.
Explore commercial financeShort-term borrowing
The route out of the finance can be as important as the route in.
Where borrowing is short term, lenders will normally need to understand how the facility is intended to be repaid.
Depending on the circumstances, this could potentially involve a sale, refinancing onto longer-term borrowing, or another clearly identified source of funds.
The Intra approach
Start with the transaction, then identify the finance.
Specialist cases benefit from understanding the property, borrowing purpose, timing and intended exit before approaching a lender.
Requirement
Understand
We establish the property, borrowing requirement, timescale, purpose and wider circumstances before lender research begins.
Finance strategy
Structure
Your adviser considers how the transaction could be structured and what type of specialist facility may be appropriate.
Lender criteria
Research
We research relevant lender appetite, property criteria, leverage, pricing structure and exit requirements.
Application
Apply
Once a route is agreed, we prepare and submit the case with the relevant supporting information.
Completion
Manage
Our team supports the case through valuation, underwriting, legal work, offer and completion.
Lender access
Different specialist lenders can approach the same transaction very differently.
Our lender research can include banks, specialist property finance lenders and other institutions depending on the type of transaction involved.
Lender availability and suitability depend on the type of finance, property, transaction and individual circumstances.
Why Intra
Specialist finance starts with understanding the transaction.
The right lender can depend on far more than headline pricing. Structure, timing, asset type, leverage and exit can all matter.
01
Property-led assessment
Specialist finance often requires detailed understanding of the asset as well as the borrower.
02
Specialist lender research
Different lenders can have materially different approaches to leverage, property condition, experience and exit strategy.
03
Transaction structuring
We consider how the proposed borrowing fits with the purchase, refurbishment, development or refinancing strategy.
04
Application management
Our advisers and administration team support the progression of the case across lender, valuation and legal stages.
Related finance
Explore related property finance.
Investment property
Property Finance
Buy-to-let, limited company, portfolio and property refinancing.
Existing property
Property Refinancing
Review, restructure or potentially raise capital against existing property.
Higher-value borrowing
Large Mortgages
Residential mortgage advice for larger borrowing and higher-value property.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about specialist property finance.
These answers are general. Available options depend on the transaction, property, borrower and lender criteria.
01What is specialist property finance?
+
What is specialist property finance?
Specialist property finance is a broad term covering borrowing that sits outside a straightforward residential mortgage. This can include bridging, development, commercial property finance, bridge-to-let and second charge borrowing.
02When might bridging finance be used?
+
When might bridging finance be used?
Bridging finance can potentially be used where short-term funding is required, such as for a time-sensitive purchase, refurbishment, chain break or refinancing. Suitability depends on the property, purpose, exit strategy and wider circumstances.
03What is an exit strategy?
+
What is an exit strategy?
For short-term finance, the exit strategy is the planned method of repaying the facility. This could potentially include a sale, refinance onto longer-term borrowing or another clearly identified source of repayment.
04Can specialist finance be arranged quickly?
+
Can specialist finance be arranged quickly?
Potentially. Some specialist lenders are structured to work with time-sensitive transactions, but completion still depends on valuation, underwriting, legal work, documentation and the individual circumstances of the case.
05Can Intra help with property development?
+
Can Intra help with property development?
Potentially. Development finance can be used for qualifying property development, conversion and refurbishment projects, subject to lender criteria, project viability, borrower experience and the proposed exit.
06Is specialist property finance regulated by the FCA?
+
Is specialist property finance regulated by the FCA?
The regulatory position depends on the type of finance and the circumstances of the transaction. Some forms of commercial, bridging, development and investment property finance may not be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Some forms of bridging, commercial, development and specialist property finance may not be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. The regulatory status of a transaction depends on the individual circumstances involved.
Your home or property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage or other loan secured upon it.
Specialist finance
Start with the property, transaction and timescale.
Tell us what you are looking to finance and what you need the borrowing to achieve. Our team can then discuss the next steps.
enquiries@intra-pf.com