Unleashed £45 million in real estate investment liquidity for private clients, says ASK.
In the UK, high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) are shifting their investment focus towards direct and private real estate debt investments in both commercial and residential sectors. This trend is part of a broader move towards private and alternative assets for diversification and control [1][2][4].
Technology is playing a significant role in facilitating these investments. ASK Partners, a company investing in technology to reshape the market, has developed a digital platform to meet the demand from HNWIs. This platform, used by high-net-worth individuals and family offices, allows for investing in commercial and residential property loans [3][6][7].
The platform facilitates secondary market transactions, having completed 174 such transactions. London represents 85% of the investment opportunities, according to research, while the Midlands accounts for 5% of all secondary transactions [8].
The largest property type for which loans have been provided is mixed-use/life-science projects, accounting for 24% of the loans. Mixed-use residential buildings are the second most common property type, with 23% of the loans provided going into these schemes [9]. Interestingly, most of the loans provided by ASK Partners (71%) have been used for covering planning costs associated with real estate projects.
Mark Templeman, CIO at ASK, stated that the £45m in exchanges demonstrates the growing number of investors seeking greater choice, flexibility, and liquidity from the private wealth platform [10]. The digital platform also allows investors to manage their portfolio online, providing enhanced transparency and control for those managing complex wealth structures across currencies and jurisdictions.
In a dynamic financial landscape, UK HNWIs are actively embracing private real estate debt as part of a diversified strategy, using technology to access, monitor, and manage these investments with greater precision and efficiency.
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Technology is essential in enabling high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) to invest in direct and private real estate debt, as demonstrated by ASK Partners' digital platform. This platform, designed to reshape the market, caters to HNWIs and family offices, facilitating investments in commercial and residential property loans, even secondary market transactions. Furthermore, the platform offers investors enhanced transparency and control over their portfolios, a key advantage in managing complex wealth structures across various currencies and jurisdictions.
