High-net-worth borrowers are increasingly using finance to preserve liquidity and manage their wider wealth rather than simply to secure capital, according to Enness Global’s Private Client Finance Report for the first half of 2026.
The report found that wealthy clients are placing greater value on certainty of execution and bespoke lending arrangements, despite continued volatility across financial and property markets.
Outstanding UK residential mortgage balances reached £1.746 trillion, while new mortgage commitments rose to £78 billion, according to Financial Conduct Authority mortgage lending statistics for the first quarter of 2026. Enness said the figures pointed to improving confidence within a lending market that remained selective.
The number of available mortgage products reached its highest level since 2007, although more than 530 fixed-rate deals were withdrawn during March as lenders repriced their ranges.
Enness expects around 1.8 million fixed-rate mortgages to expire during 2026, supporting continued refinancing activity and demand for specialist mortgage advice throughout the second half of the year.
The report also identified growing use of securities-backed finance, bridging loans and cross-border facilities as affluent borrowers sought to fund investments and manage their balance sheets without liquidating existing assets.
Islay Robinson, CEO of Enness Global, highlighted the increasingly strategic role of borrowing for high-net-worth clients, with sophisticated borrowers placing greater emphasis on structuring finance around their broader wealth position, preserving liquidity and securing certainty of execution rather than simply pursuing the lowest available rate.
Prime London remained attractive to international purchasers despite softer transaction volumes. Housing supply increased by 13.8% year-on-year, while average discounts to asking prices widened to 10.5%, creating greater choice and negotiating opportunities for buyers.
Prime Central London property prices remained around 7% below their level a year earlier, while transactions above £5 million continued to sit above pre-pandemic averages despite an annual decline, highlighting the resilience of the super-prime market.
US buyers remained among the most active overseas purchasers, particularly those working in technology, artificial intelligence and private equity.
The findings demonstrate a broader shift in how high-net-worth individuals approach borrowing. Rather than viewing finance simply as a way to fund a purchase, affluent clients are increasingly using specialist lending as part of wider wealth management and investment strategies.
As wealth structures become increasingly international and complex, Enness expects demand for bespoke lending solutions to continue growing throughout the second half of 2026.
Read the full article in Mortgage Soup.
