What is a Security-Backed Mortgage?

Security-backed mortgages can be an effective means to raise capital for property or other purchases. They usually require a minimum investment portfolio of around £100,000. Securities-backed lending is generally a speedier, more straightforward process than a traditional mortgage application.

Lenders are free to set their lending criteria, and, for this reason, the market can be complex to navigate without the experience of a finance broker who is used to arranging financial borrowing agreements for high-net-worth individuals to ensure the most appropriate lending solutions for your circumstances.

A high-finance international finance broker can arrange a securities-backed mortgage relatively quickly, as they have that knowledge and experience that is needed to navigate that market well. The underwriting process is far more straightforward than the property valuation stages of a mortgage, with underwriting usually limited to the value of the collateral offered as security, with funds generally being available in just a few days and some cases, as little as 24 hours.

What you Need to Know About Security-Backed Borrowing

• You will pledge your securities to the lender, or the lender may require custody of your assets for the loan term.
• You will be expected to make interest payments and stay within the covenant of the loan agreement.
• During the loan period, the lender may trade, leverage and take other actions with regard to the securities as agreed in the loan terms.
• Once the loan is repaid, the assets will be returned, and any pledges removed.
• The process starts by defining the trading symbol of the securities you want to offer. You will specify the number and equity types you wish to pledge.
• Lenders will also require brokerage details, ID, and banking information to ensure you meet the anti-money laundering legislation (AML) and know your customer (KYC), reporting and other regulatory obligations applicable.
• Each lender will apply their own set of trading and liquidity standards you must meet. As they are at the lender’s discretion, the quality of your application and having sufficient market knowledge are key to ensuring the best outcomes.
• At the end of the agreed term, you will need to repay the principal loan balance or repurchase the securities at a pre-agreed discounted rate.
• Securities-backed lending is generally offered at around 50% of your security’s marketable value. Some lenders will offer more; however, this is very much dependent on the strength and presentation of your application.
• These loans are typically secured for short periods, sometimes just a few days or weeks. There is no maximum timespan. The most prolonged period generally is around two years. Understanding the terms and restrictions is essential, as other financing solutions may prove more suitable.
• Interest rates are often cheaper than mainstream lending solutions, such as credit cards and consumer loans. Interest rates are typically linked to LIBOR or standard base rates, with a margin added set at the lender’s discretion. Interest rates are set individually, making it critical to the outcomes to present your case in the best light and approach lenders most likely to meet your needs. An experienced high-finance broker can be invaluable in arranging this type of finance where the borrower’s risk profile highly influences outcomes.

Are there Spending Restrictions for Securities-Backed Lending?

How you choose to spend the capital raised from securities-backed lending is flexible. However, it is imperative to understand the risks involved, your expertise, and the broader financial situation. Securities used as collateral run the inherent risk of asset prices falling and values fluctuating, so it’s critically important to ensure you can continue to make repayments and have the means to meet any enforced margin call should the value of the assets held fall unacceptably.

Securities-backed borrowing is often used to fund property finance as it can be arranged quickly, and it’s possible to compete effectively against cash buyers. Finance may also be used to cover unexpected expenses and emergencies or to leverage opportunities in business-related schemes and projects as it is quick to arrange. Borrowers will often use securities as collateral for borrowing to invest further in the stock market, to take advantage of investment opportunities, or diversify portfolios without crystalising positions on other holdings.

The Cost of Security-Backed Borrowing

Interest rates and terms are always individually negotiated and mostly depend on the underlying security offered and your required loan-to-value ratio. The cheapest loans are available where the security is the most secure, such as A-grade stock loans with modest loan-to-value ratios. However, as the risk levels to the lender rise, so does the cost to you. A high loan-to-value ratio and single-line secondary index stock with low trading volumes will be more expensive in comparison. Undoubtedly, it is possible that securities-backed borrowing can be achieved at rates lower than many traditional loan rates, so it’s an option worth considering. When the costs are taken in context, they may prove to be considerably less than selling securities when the market is against them, before they mature, or when circumstances could mean you miss out on the perfect opportunity. They can prove a significantly cheaper borrowing solution to the alternatives.

Building a representative portfolio to enable access to this lending stream can be challenging. Still, it could prove helpful, given that securities-backed lending can provide funds quickly. It could be worth tailoring some of your portfolios to the requirements if you may need money speedily to meet your financial goals at any point in the future. Securities-backed lending is a finance arrangement that can be secured against a diverse portfolio of liquid, listed securities, and more diverse stocks and assets. There are also unusual deals that can be negotiated against unlisted securities, single stock portfolios, and pre-IPO holdings as collateral.

This presents many investment opportunities for individuals seeking high-value borrowing, even where there are more complex portfolio structures or unique requirements to consider. The complexity of the market can be challenging to navigate alone. Therefore, it can undoubtedly be beneficial to make applications with the support of a high-finance international broker that can bring a wealth of experience and current market knowledge having access to a wide panel of lenders, including those outside the mainstream grade-A security offerings. Such a broken can access the niche lending spaces, such as private equity houses, alternative financiers, and lenders that best meet your interests and financial goals.

Jason Obrien

Jason is the Marketing Manager at a local advertising company in Australia. He moved to Australia 10 years back for his passion for advertising. Jason recently joined BFA as a volunteer writer and contributes by sharing his valuable experience and knowledge.