Our client, a British expatriate living and working in Asia, wanted to purchase a luxury residence in London valued at £12 million. With income spread across several international sources and currencies, our client found that traditional UK lenders were unwilling to support his application.
Despite a strong asset base and a proven track record of financial success, the clients earnings profile was considered too complex for standard underwriting models. The issue was not affordability, but how the client’s wealth was structured. Our client needed a lender who understood the realities of international income and could offer a facility that supported their global lifestyle.
Expat clients often face obstacles when trying to arrange finance for UK property purchases. Lenders tend to prefer borrowers with straightforward, UK-based income, which excludes many high-net-worth professionals working overseas.
In our client’s case, their income came from a combination of business ownership, consultancy contracts and investment dividends in multiple currencies. Although these streams were consistent and substantial, they did not fit the rigid templates used by most high street banks.
Additionally, the client wanted a structure that would complement their long-term wealth management strategy. The client’s goal was not just to purchase a property, but to maintain flexibility and liquidity across their portfolio while minimising unnecessary foreign exchange exposure.
Our senior adviser began by gaining a clear understanding of the clients global financial position. We worked closely with the clients’ international accountants and private wealth advisers to collect documentation and present his income in a way that lenders could easily interpret.
We then identified a private bank experienced in working with expatriate clients and cross-border income structures. By leveraging our existing relationship with the bank, we were able to engage directly with senior underwriters to ensure they had full visibility of our clients financial strength.
Our proposal included verified proof of income, details of long-term investments, and a comprehensive breakdown of currency flows. We also demonstrated how the property purchase would be supported by sustainable earnings and a strong asset base.
Following careful negotiation, the lender agreed to provide a £12 million facility structured on an interest-only basis, giving the client the flexibility to manage cash flow effectively. The facility also allowed for early partial repayments, which aligned perfectly with their plan to use future investment returns to reduce the balance.
The transaction was completed smoothly, and the client became the owner of a prestigious London residence without disrupting their global financial arrangements. The interest-only structure provided maximum flexibility, enabling the client to manage repayments around their income and investment cycles.
This bespoke solution also reduced the need for frequent currency conversions, as part of the income servicing the facility was denominated in sterling. As a result, our client could maintain liquidity across their international accounts while keeping the UK property finance both efficient and secure.
In the months following completion, our client continued to work with Million Plus Private Finance to explore further opportunities for portfolio growth, including investment properties in Europe and Asia.
This case highlights how expatriate clients can achieve exceptional results with the right guidance. For high-net-worth individuals living abroad, the challenge often lies in presentation rather than affordability. A lender needs to understand how international income operates and how global wealth structures differ from domestic ones.
By taking the time to fully understand our clients’ circumstances and presenting their financial position clearly, we were able to achieve what mainstream lenders or brokers could not. The result was a world-class lending facility that reflected the clients true financial standing and provided the flexibility required for a dynamic international lifestyle.
At Million Plus Private Finance, our strength lies in bridging the gap between complex income and intelligent lending. This means our clients can access competitive finance without compromising on the structure or terms they need.
