The Christmas decorations were barely back in the loft, and the specialist finance market was already firing on all cylinders.
Early signs this year certainly feel encouraging, with more confidence and opportunity coming to market. One trend we have seen this month is an increase in “big ticket” enquiries, landing across bridging, development finance and specialist mortgages.
And no, it’s not just because everything costs more now (although your “big food shop” receipt might suggest otherwise). What we are seeing is a shift in borrower behaviour: more experienced clients are making more deliberate moves, after sitting for a while and waiting for the right moment.
We’re seeing larger loan sizes driven by three key factors:
Returning confidence
After last year’s period of hesitation, borrowers are now keen to get moving. They have had the time to assess their circumstances and get comfortable with the costs involved. As costs, rates and timelines stabilise, the “just in case” buffers naturally shrink
Returning confidence doesn’t just change the number of deals; it changes the scale of the borrowing. Developers move beyond smaller refurbishments into full schemes with higher GDVs, while investors and homeowners use larger facilities as a deliberate way to secure opportunities early. When exits are clearer, and timelines feel achievable, more ambitious facilities that would have felt too risky six months ago are taken on.
Complex income and tighter affordability
A growing number of high-value borrowers no longer fit neatly into automated affordability models. Add in the impact of recent rate rises, cost-of-living pressures and a tougher credit environment, and many otherwise solid borrowers have picked up the odd credit blip along the way – just enough to cause friction with the banks.
We’re also seeing larger bridging facilities used not just for purchases, but for capital raising and asset leverage, too. Increasingly, these loans form part of a wider strategy: restructuring portfolios for better yield.
Recent legislative and regulatory shifts have also continued to shape landlord behaviour, and many are investing in their assets.
Refinancing pressure and forward planning
With around 1.8 million fixed-rate mortgages due to expire in 2026, many borrowers are reassessing their options early, particularly where loan sizes are larger or affordability has tightened.
Instead of reacting at the last minute, more clients are refinancing strategically – restructuring portfolios, consolidating facilities or using short-term finance to buy time and line up the right exit.
The Budget plays into this, too. Tax changes rarely trigger instant action, but they do shape long-term decisions, and we’re seeing borrowers take a more considered, forward-looking approach, which again, tends to push loan sizes up.
What this means for brokers
This shift in borrower behaviour means that for brokers, 2026 is less about finding a product and more about complex case management. As loan sizes grow and borrowers move from the sidelines, brokers will need to provide certainty in a selective market.
Big-ticket cases need clarity and confidence. This is where specialist lenders can add real value to your business: providing practical flexibility that banks often lack.
Certainty matters
Specialist lenders tend to be more flexible and focus on manual underwriting, meaning we can assess the deal on its merits. This translates to a willingness to consider complex income and faster decisions when a deadline is looming.
If you have a client looking to secure a larger facility, Masthaven supports big-ticket cases across bridging, development finance and specialist mortgages.
Not only do we understand complex borrower circumstances, but we take a pragmatic view of risk and with credit-backed terms and clear decision-making upfront. That certainty matters when loan sizes increase and there’s less room for error.
Because in 2026, “big ticket” isn’t a trend, it’s just the new normal.
As always, if you have any enquiries you’d like to talk through, or a case you want a second view on – big ticket or otherwise, we’re happy to help.
