How SCP sources quality loans for our investors

The short answer is the bulk of our loan applications come from our network of trusted mortgage advisers (acting on behalf of a borrower). Occasionally, we get applications from the borrowers themselves. Either way, we always know who we’re lending to; here’s why.

Southern Cross Partners has a personal approach to finance. Our investors want investments that provide stability and certainty, and we’re able to deliver that by ensuring only good quality loans are available. We do this by assessing applications and lending our own money first, before offering any investment opportunities to our investors.

When we receive a loan application, our mission is to extract as much information about the borrower as possible to understand their personal circumstances that can’t be neatly captured in a checkbox. What’s their backstory? What do they do for work? Why are they seeking property finance?

Understanding our borrowers’ circumstances, and their credit history, is as crucial to ensuring a quality loan as understanding the underlying security. It’s why we don’t accept faceless loans from property investment companies or dabble in property investment funds as part of our service offering. The loan you choose is the loan you invest in, simple as that.

In addition to our borrower’s profile, we also look for:

• how the borrower is going to exit the loan agreement at the end of the term
• details about the underlying security; and
• an appropriate loan to value ratio.

Each loan application is rigorously assessed by a member of our loans team, not an algorithm, who often has established relationships with our mortgage advisers.

Whether a borrower comes to us direct or via a mortgage adviser, our process remains the same. The bulk of our loans come from mortgage advisers because advisers take the leg work out of finding a suitable loan for them. Advisers have the necessary qualifications and industry knowledge and can guide their clients towards an appropriate lending option that’s right for them.

Borrowers who come directly to us tend to have been through the process before. They understand how we work and what we’re looking for.

We’ve been in this business for over 27 years (and counting), and over that time we’ve developed a good eye for quality loans. It’s why, to date, we’ve never failed to deliver returns to our investors, and why our investors as well as our advisers and borrowers, keep working with us time and time again.

Southern Cross Partners is licenced to provide peer to peer lender lending services under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. This article is general in nature only and has not taken into account any particular person’s objectives or circumstances. We recommend you speak with a financial adviser before making any investment decisions.