While commercial mortgage brokers surveyed by Shawbrook Bank cite Brexit as one of the biggest issues likely to impact their clients in 2018, respondents are very much upbeat about the year ahead. 

78% stated that they feel confident about the lending environment in the forthcoming year (up from 72% in 2017), according to Shawbrook Bank’s annual Broker Barometer.

In addition, 27% of respondents reported a 30%+ increase in business volumes in the second half of 2017, compared with 2016.

Meanwhile, 69% of brokers stated they feel confident about business growth in 2018.

The top three challenges that the commercial mortgage brokers surveyed expect their businesses to face in 2018 are lending restrictions (26%,) regulatory change (25%) and valuation issues (16%).

Karen Bennett, managing director – commercial mortgages, said: “Despite some of the uncertainties surrounding the PRA changes and the possible impact of Brexit, it is encouraging to see so much positivity in the commercial mortgage broker market when looking at the year ahead.

“It’s also fantastic to see so many brokers reporting such encouraging results in business volumes, demonstrating the robustness of the commercial mortgage market.”