- Client: US-based high-net-worth buyer
- Challenge: Required zero deposit structure while relying on investment wealth rather than traditional income
- Loan Amount: £3M mortgage secured across two properties
A US-based client approached Enness seeking finance to purchase a countryside property valued at approximately £2.6M. The client already owned a London property outright worth circa £2M and intended to sell it following completion of the new purchase. However, the timing of the sale created a challenge, as the client needed to complete on the new home before funds from the existing property would become available.
The client’s objective was to secure the new property without contributing personal savings or liquidating US-based investment holdings. Their wealth was primarily held in savings and investment portfolios located in the United States, which generated ongoing investment income and formed the basis of their broader wealth strategy. Preserving these assets and avoiding unnecessary liquidation was a key priority throughout the transaction.
The case required a lender capable of taking a holistic view of the client’s balance sheet and investment position rather than relying on conventional employed or self-employed income. Traditional lenders were unlikely to accommodate the structure due to the absence of salaried earnings and the requirement to raise sufficient borrowing against both the existing London property and the onward purchase in order to fund the acquisition and associated costs in full.
Enness introduced a private bank able to structure a bespoke facility secured across both properties. A £3M mortgage was arranged against a combined property value of approximately £4.6M, enabling the client to complete the purchase without injecting any personal capital. Importantly, the element of borrowing secured against the existing London property was structured with no early repayment charges, allowing repayment immediately upon sale of the asset.
The lender was comfortable underwriting the facility based on the client’s substantial US-based investment portfolio and overall wealth position rather than traditional income metrics. By structuring the transaction through a private bank rather than an expensive bridging facility, Enness secured competitive long-term pricing while preserving liquidity and investment exposure.
This case demonstrates how private banking solutions can provide flexible liquidity for internationally based high-net-worth clients where timing, asset positioning, and wealth preservation are more relevant than conventional affordability models.
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Property values can fall as well as rise, and you may not get back the amount originally invested. Property investments can be illiquid and may take time to sell. Where borrowing is used, your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other loan secured against it.
