© Copyright Acquisition International 2025 - All Rights Reserved.

Article Image - Bridging Success in 2015
Posted 31st January 2015

Bridging Success in 2015

There is currently a huge appetite for short- and medium-term property loans across the UK, and Dragonfly Property Finance is leading the way.

Mouse Scroll AnimationScroll to keep reading

Let us help promote your business to a wider following.

Bridging Success in 2015
Image

Bridging Success in 2015

There is currently a huge appetite for short- and medium-term property loans across the UK, and Dragonfly Property Finance, a self-funded principal lender, is leading the way. Jonathan Samuels, CEO, Dragonfly Property Finance, to find out more

Dragonfly Property Finance is a self-funded principal lender, offering not only short-term bridging loans, like traditional bridging finance companies, but also medium-term loans of up to five years.

Dragonfly set up as a bridging lender when most other lenders were heading for the hills – during the Global Financial Crisis of 2008/09. “We believed that the massive retreat of the mainstream lenders, and most other bridging lenders, offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” says Jonathan Samuels, CEO. “And so Dragonfly was born.”

In the five or six years since its launch, Dragonfly has established itself as the UK’s leading lender of short and medium-term property finance. Reflecting this, the firm has lent over £1.1bn since inception.

“We focus on five key areas: bridging loans of between one and 18 months; medium-term buy-to-let loans of between two and five years; commercial property finance; second charges; and development and mezzanine loans,” Samuels says.

Bridging loans, says Samuels, are for people who need to borrow funds urgently. “They exist to get you from a point A to a point B. Regarding risk, there should always be a solid exit strategy attached to any bridging loan. They should never be taken out unless the investor has a way of paying the loan off, for example, through a remortgage or the sale of a property.

“If bridging is done correctly, risks are very low,” he continues. “And even while the interest rate on a bridging loan is higher than that of other forms of lending, it is only intended to be used for a short amount of time – usually up to 12 months. Generally speaking, bridging loans aren’t suitable for people who have a poor credit record, are inexperienced in this area or are using the loan as a last resort to buy their own home.”

A healthy appetite

Currently, there is a huge appetite for short- and medium-term property loans – not just in London and the South East, but across the UK as a whole, says Samuels. “We’ve seen a growing desire for bridging and alternative forms of lending across the country in the past few years, which is why we’ve made several significant regional hires to facilitate the growing demand. The recovery of the property market and renewed confidence in the economy have further contributed to the growing demand for our products.”

Residential remains very strong this year, he says – as it has been virtually every year since 2009. “Bridging is a curious sector in that it can perform strongly in both bull and bear markets. When the residential market, for example, was under pressure and prices were falling, bridging helped investors maximise the opportunities available. In today’s buoyant market, by contrast, bridging has been a great facilitator and makes investors and buyers not just more flexible but more competitive. With the economy recovering all the time, over the past 12 months we have also seen a sharp rise in activity levels and completions in the commercial sector.”

A growing industry

Before the financial crisis, the short-term market was relatively immature. But bridging as a whole has changed beyond recognition in recent years, says Samuels. “Today’s lenders are far more robust and are in it for the long-haul rather than short-term. Borrowers sense this. It also helps that typical bridging rates today are roughly half what they were pre-GFC.” 

At £2.42bn, the bridging market is now three times bigger than it was in 2011, when it stood at £0.8bn. “Most of the change has been in the calibre of lender, the rates charged (which have fallen dramatically), product innovation and general borrower awareness,” Samuels says.

For this growth to continue, bridging must remain transparent, focused on the interests of the borrower and continue to enhance its reputation through professional and sensible lending, he adds.

Over the next 12 months and beyond, Samuels expects to see industry consolidation – which “could shake things up a bit”, he says, adding that the interest rate up-cycle and future of the economy will naturally also have an influence on the market.

Categories: Strategy


You Might Also Like
Read Full PostRead - Eye Icon
Quindell Plc Shares Suspended
Finance
29/06/2015Quindell Plc Shares Suspended

Shares in Insurance firm suspended after U.K Financial Conduct Authority confirms investigation.

Read Full PostRead - Eye Icon
Entertainment and Media: The Speeding Edge of the Digital Revolution Package
Innovation
19/10/2015Entertainment and Media: The Speeding Edge of the Digital Revolution Package

Founded in 2014, Dunaud Clarenc Combles & Associes brings together private and public experience and a culture of industry expertise and customised consulting, with an identity and a reputation formed through our work in the areas of litigation, institutional

Read Full PostRead - Eye Icon
Country Style Cooking Announces Shareholder Approval of Merger Agreement
Legal
20/04/2016Country Style Cooking Announces Shareholder Approval of Merger Agreement

Country Style Cooking Restaurant Chain Co Ltd, a quick service restaurant chain in China, announced at an extraordinary general meeting today, the Company's proposal to authorise and approve the previously announced agreement and plan of a merger dated Decembe

Read Full PostRead - Eye Icon
Space Industry: An Investment Guide for Entrepreneurs
News
02/10/2023Space Industry: An Investment Guide for Entrepreneurs

As space exploration continues to captivate the world’s imagination, being a part of this journey offers the chance to contribute to the progress of humanity’s cosmic frontiers and potentially reap the rewards of this innovative market.  In th

Read Full PostRead - Eye Icon
Most Dedicated Audio Technology CEO 2023 (Barcelona): Mercè Delgado
Innovation
10/07/2023Most Dedicated Audio Technology CEO 2023 (Barcelona): Mercè Delgado

In recent years, the technological industry has seen notable changes when it comes to women’s representation and opportunities. While women continue to be underrepresented in certain leadership and technical roles, there is no denying the growing recognition

Read Full PostRead - Eye Icon
Hitachi Capital UK to accelerate business finance growth with franchise acquisition
Finance
27/06/2018Hitachi Capital UK to accelerate business finance growth with franchise acquisition

Hitachi Capital UK has significantly strengthened its business offering with the acquisition of Franchise Finance Ltd, a specialist financial services provider to the franchising industry.

Read Full PostRead - Eye Icon
Lexial Is A Leading Law Firm
Legal
15/02/2021Lexial Is A Leading Law Firm

Created in 2007, Lexial Law Firm is an international beacon of excellence within the two main fields of business immigration law, and international criminal and political law. With offices across continental Europe, there is much to admire about this firm, inc

Read Full PostRead - Eye Icon
The Best Practice
Leadership
29/09/2016The Best Practice

Based in Houston, Texas, Tumey L.L.P. now has offices in two different locations, with a second office located in the growing area of The Woodlands/North Houston, but what are the secrets behind the firm’s success?

Read Full PostRead - Eye Icon
Leading Dutch IT Recruiters Plug in to Market Needs
Leadership
07/11/2019Leading Dutch IT Recruiters Plug in to Market Needs

Founded in 2002 and now a market leader for IT recruitment in the Netherlands, Personnel Search IT Recruitment is one of the most reliable and professional offices within the industry. With a strong reputation for professionalism and success built by an elite



Our Trusted Brands

Acquisition International is a flagship brand of AI Global Media. AI Global Media is a B2B enterprise and are committed to creating engaging content allowing businesses to market their services to a larger global audience. We have 14 unique brands, each of which serves a specific industry or region. Each brand covers the latest news in its sector and publishes a digital magazine and newsletter which is read by a global audience.

Arrow