High-net-worth borrowers are increasingly using finance as a strategic wealth management tool rather than simply a means of accessing capital, according to new research by Enness Global.
The report reveals that borrowers are placing greater emphasis on preserving liquidity, securing certainty of execution and accessing bespoke lending solutions, even as market volatility continues.
Despite continued demand for traditional mortgage products, the report identifies a structural shift in borrowing behaviour, with affluent clients increasingly using debt to preserve liquidity, fund investments and optimise their wider balance sheets rather than simply to access capital. As a result, specialist lending — including securities-backed finance, bridging loans and cross-border facilities — continued to gain momentum.
The research also shows that Prime London remains attractive to international buyers. Although transaction volumes softened, housing supply increased by 13.8% year-on-year, creating greater choice for buyers, while average discounts to asking prices widened to 10.5%, providing favourable purchasing opportunities. Prime Central London house prices remain around 7% below last year, reinforcing buyer opportunities in the luxury market.
US buyers remained among the most active overseas purchasers, particularly those from the technology, AI and private equity sectors.
In addition, transactions above £5 million remain comfortably above pre-pandemic averages, despite a year-on-year decline, highlighting the resilience of the super-prime market.
Islay Robinson, CEO of Enness Global, commented: "The strongest borrowers are often not the simplest. Increasingly, successful borrowing is less about accessing capital and more about structuring it intelligently around a client's broader wealth position. Sophisticated borrowers are placing greater value on certainty of execution and preserving liquidity than simply achieving the lowest possible rate."
