Technological innovation in recent years has transformed how mortgages are delivered. At Funding 365, we use various fintech tools to improve the efficiency and security of our transactions. Our underwriters use Thirdfort and Creditsafe, for example, to assist with our KYC and AML checks. We’re also happy to be on various platforms which amalgamate lenders’ criteria, rates and fees for those brokers and borrowers who are not familiar with the ever-changing specialist lender landscape.

However, the specialist property finance industry has always prided itself on relationships. It values collaboration between brokers and lenders to craft bespoke solutions for property professional clients who want to know that they are choosing the best option not only in terms of price, but also service. This won’t change overnight.

Current technology is simply not sophisticated enough to replace human underwriters for complicated enquiries. I can’t speak for regulated bridging and long term buy to let lenders whose enquiries are usually more straightforward, but the unregulated bridging, development and specialist BTL cases we see have elements of nuance that still benefit from being underwritten and handled by a human.

Which is great news for our team. We have a unique underwriter-led proposition, which means that two thirds of the Funding 365 team are underwriters. These multi-tasking experts take on the roles of the likes of BDMs, case managers and asset managers at other lenders.

When you send an enquiry to Funding 365 by your preferred method - phone, email, WhatsApp, website chat, social media, carrier pigeon - one of our decision-making underwriters will look at it and get back to you personally. They also aim to send out bespoke, credit-backed terms within just one working hour of receiving a full enquiry.

If your case progresses, the same underwriter will manage it through the valuation and legal processes to completion. They will also hang on to the loan during its term, handling drawdowns if applicable, all the way to redemption. This means that one person manages each of our loans from start to finish, providing our brokers and borrowers with a uniquely certain, swift and seamless journey.

Whilst I will continue to follow fintech developments - and particularly AI - with interest, at present, the best specialist property finance solutions are still created when brokers and lenders put their heads together.

The march of progress is unstoppable, but in an industry where relationships and tailored solutions are king, our jobs are safe, for the moment, at least.