The Property Funder Podcast

What happens when your client spends the development capital on a Hawaiian holiday, a James Bond castle rental and a lift full of fine Tuscan wine? Ashley Hammond has the story - and the lessons that came with it. A near two-decade veteran of ultra-high-net-worth real estate, Ashley joins Michael for a wide-ranging conversation covering the realities of managing high-value assets for private clients and family offices, the rise of industrial real estate and data centres, and why wealthy families are picking up the phone about coming back to London right now. There’s plenty of specialist finance insight here too - from structuring drawdowns to protect clients from themselves, to navigating lenders who bid high and let the valuation do the damage. One of the most candid conversations you’ll hear in this space. Guest: Ashley Hammond, Director, Academy Consulting Guest Socials: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-hammond-39188853/ Sponsored by: Avamore Capital https://avamorecapital.com #SpecialistFinance #PropertyFinance #BridgingFinance #DevelopmentFinance #SpecialistLending #Bridging #Development #Business #Leadership #Fintech #PropertyDevelopment #RealEstateFinance #BusinessStrategy #TeamBuilding #SalesLeadership #BrokerRelationships #PropertyFunding #LendingTechnology #AvaMoreCapital #CertaintyOfFunding

James Varley spent a decade managing corporate communications for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Then he quit, bought a couple of holiday lets in Yorkshire, and built one of the fastest-growing media platforms in the short-term rentals space. In this episode, he walks us through how the STR market actually works: the platforms quietly controlling it, the regulations threatening to break it, and the branding playbooks of the operators quietly dominating it. He also talks honestly about what it takes to build a media business from scratch in a niche sector, why AI is about to reshape property management entirely, and what a decade in corporate comms taught him about cutting through the noise.Guest: James Varley, Founder & CEO, Host PlanetGuest Socials: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdsvarley/Sponsored by:Avamore Capitalhttps://avamorecapital.com#SpecialistFinance #PropertyFinance #BridgingFinance #DevelopmentFinance #SpecialistLending #Bridging #Development #Business #Leadership #Fintech #PropertyDevelopment #RealEstateFinance #BusinessStrategy #TeamBuilding #SalesLeadership #BrokerRelationships #PropertyFunding #LendingTechnology #AvaMoreCapital #CertaintyOfFundingChapters:00:00:00 – What Is Host Planet00:07:10 – From Qatar to Yorkshire: The Origin Story00:14:00 – Direct Bookings and Platform Dependency00:20:15 – BTL vs STR: The Real Numbers00:25:50 – Scaling With Brand: The Beach Retreats Story00:31:00 – Regulation, Licensing and the Community Tension00:37:15 – Scotland, Wales and the Licensing Fallout00:43:15 – AI, Agentic Tech and the Future of Property Management00:52:15 – Building an Ecosystem: Content, Trust and Community01:02:00 – What’s Next for Host Planet

Sam Hutchins is a specialist property finance advisor at Blueberry Specialist Lending and the founder of Fitness in Finance, an online coaching platform built specifically for people working in financial services. In this episode, Sam and Michael talk candidly about why the industry’s long-hours culture is quietly burning people out, what drove a 25-year-old broker to launch a fitness coaching business while still working full time, and what a healthier, sharper finance professional actually looks like in practice. From diet, alcohol and sleep to body dysmorphia, wearables and the increasingly divisive topic of weight-loss jabs, this one covers far more ground than your average finance podcast. Honest, practical and genuinely entertaining.Guest: Sam Hutchins, Specialist Property Finance Advisor, Blueberry Specialist LendingGuest Socials: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-hutchins-260917227/ Sponsored by:Avamore Capitalhttps://avamorecapital.com#SpecialistFinance #PropertyFinance #BridgingFinance #DevelopmentFinance #SpecialistLending #Bridging #Development #Business #Leadership #FitnessInFinance #MentalHealth #HealthAndWellbeing #FinanceLife #WorkplaceWellness #BrokerLife #PropertyFunding #AvamoreCapital #FitnessMotivation #SpecialistLendingChapters:00:00:00 - Intro and Sam’s Finance Career00:06:00 - Office Life, Covid and Career Development00:09:39 - The Birth of Fitness in Finance00:15:00 - Credibility Without Qualifications00:20:00 - Training, Nutrition and the Social Media Problem00:26:00 - Alcohol, Motivation and What Actually Sticks00:32:39 - Client Coaching and Working With Different Abilities00:42:49 - Weight Loss Jabs, Steroids and Body Dysmorphia00:49:27 - Mental Health, Sleep and the Social Side of Fitness00:56:54 - Time Management, Business Crossover and What’s Next

Adam Butler, Director of Sales and Marketing at Avamore Capital, returns to the podcast to talk about the lender’s remarkable growth story – a 90% increase in volumes in H2 2025, driven by bespoke in-house tech, an expanded and increasingly diverse sales team, and a renewed commercial mindset. Adam unpacks Avamore’s £250 million lending target for the new financial year, explains how their new broker portal and DIP calculator are set to transform broker efficiency, and shares his take on certainty of funding, geographic expansion beyond the South-East, and why saying no the right way is sometimes the most powerful sales tool. Packed with insights on what makes deals progress well, how to compete with ‘hot lenders’, and why trust will always beat price in specialist finance.Guest: Adam Butler, Director of Sales and Marketing, Avamore CapitalGuest Socials: LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-butler1/Sponsored by:Avamore Capitalhttps://avamorecapital.com#SpecialistFinance #PropertyFinance #BridgingFinance #DevelopmentFinance #SpecialistLending #Bridging #Development #Business #Leadership #Fintech #PropertyDevelopment #RealEstateFinance #BusinessStrategy #TeamBuilding #SalesLeadership #BrokerRelationships #PropertyFunding #LendingTechnology #AvaMoreCapital #CertaintyOfFundingChapters:00:00:00 – Intro and Adam’s Career Milestones at Avamore00:07:40 – Building a Diverse, Knowledgeable Sales Team00:11:54 – Lending Appetite and Core Products00:19:07 – Geographic Expansion Beyond the South-East00:24:26 – Market Dynamics and the Competitor Landscape00:29:15 – The £250 Million Target00:33:04 – Tech That Enables, Not Replaces00:43:39 – What Makes a Deal Progress Well00:52:52 – Staying Focused Amid Market Noise01:02:15 – Scaling the Team and Career Advice

In this episode, Michael sits down with Deepak Ohri, Partner at Merali Beedle and one of the more colourful characters in specialist property law. The conversation is wide-ranging, frank, and refreshingly commercial: from why every lawyer ought to run a business before they can truly understand risk, to the creeping post-COVID decline in legal service quality, the case for and against title insurance and indemnity policies, and a candid dissection of fraud in property transactions — including a shared episode that Deepak and Michael were both involved in. They also dig into the state of the market, why now might be a generational buying opportunity for block purchases, the enduring appeal of HMOs, and why some bridge lenders were never really cut out for development in the first place.Deepak opens up about the commercial instincts he developed long before law — from market stalls to helping his wife build a restaurant business — and why that real-world grounding shapes how he handles risk and client relationships today. He and Michael unpick the hidden cost of using a cheap conveyancer, how lenders’ and borrowers’ lawyers can do more to stop transactions grinding to a halt, and the uncomfortable truth that valuations are far more subjective — and far less reliable as security — than many bridging lenders seem to appreciate. They close with Deepak’s advice to his younger self: get out there, meet different people, and think about things in a wider way.Guest: Deepak Ohri, Partner, Merali BeedleGuest Socials: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepak-o-44b2b33a/Sponsored by:Avamore Capitalhttps://avamorecapital.com#SpecialistFinance #PropertyFinance #BridgingFinance #DevelopmentFinance #SpecialistLending #PropertyLaw #Conveyancing #FraudPrevention #HMO #PropertyDevelopment #RealEstateFinance #TitleInsurance #IndemnityPolicy #DevelopmentLending #ValuationRisk #BuyingOpportunity #MarketOutlook #LegalProfession #MeraliBeedle #AvaMoreCapitalChapters:00:00:00 – Why every lawyer should run a business00:06:43 – Theoretical lawyers and the cost of opportunistic title disputes00:13:02 – The restaurant world, food influencers, and running a service business00:15:41 – Post-COVID legal quality: fees up, service down00:19:43 – Streamlining transactions and the hidden cost of cheap conveyancers00:24:44 – Title insurance and indemnity policies: are they fit for purpose?00:26:39 – Fraud in property transactions and how to mitigate it00:30:34 – Market themes: equity gaps, refinancing pressure, and a tough environment00:35:17 – Generational buying opportunity: blocks, discounts, and stamp duty strategy00:40:52 – HMOs, assisted living, and 2026 market themes00:46:36 – Development lenders pulling back — and the bridging oversaturation problem00:51:47 – Valuation risk: why 65% LTGDV dev might be safer than 75% LTV bridging00:53:43 – Advice to your younger self

Michael Dean sits down with Saam Lowni, founder and director of Maryoaks, to talk about scaling a specialist finance brokerage from a two-person operation to a growing team, the realities of doing 60 deals in 12 months, and why development finance enquiries are finally picking back up. They get into the weeds on AI’s impact on brokers and lenders, whether we’ve hit peak HMO, the case for commercial property investment, and how podcasting has become a genuine business differentiator. Saam also shares a powerful personal perspective on gratitude, identity, and making the most of the opportunities life throws your way.Guest: Saam Lowni – Founder & Director, MaryoaksGuest Socials: www.maryoaks.com | https://www.linkedin.com/in/saamlowni/Sponsored by:Avamore Capitalhttps://avamorecapital.comCHAPTERS00:00:00 – Introduction & Catching Up00:06:04 – Maryoaks: 2025 in Review00:11:18 – Adding Protection & New Revenue Streams00:17:22 – Podcasting as a Business Differentiator00:22:28 – AI, Tech & the Future of Broking00:30:26 – Human vs AI Underwriting – Who Wins?00:38:52 – Tech Platforms & Packaging Applications00:46:22 – Commercial Property & Investment Strategy00:53:31 – Peak HMO, Planning Reform & Development Trends01:00:31 – Family, Gratitude & Perspective#SpecialistFinance #PropertyFinance #BridgingFinance #DevelopmentFinance #CommercialProperty #HMO #AI #PropTech #Brokerage #PropertyInvestment #BusinessGrowth #Podcasting #TeamBuilding #Entrepreneurship #PropertyDevelopment #RealEstateFinance #BusinessStrategy #CreativeFunding #Planning #NPPF

Episode Summary:Adam Stiles, Director and co-founder of Helix Structured Finance, returns to the podcast for a third time to share his unfiltered take on the state of the market heading into 2026. From the psychology of vetting borrowers and why broker-lender relationships still trump rate sheets, to the tech revolution reshaping the industry and why brokers who don’t adapt risk being left behind — Adam covers it all. He also opens up about mental health pressures in the broker community, his decision to give up alcohol, and why commercial property is the most underserved and exciting corner of the market right now. Plus, he doesn’t hold back when asked what the industry needs to stop ignoring.Guest: Adam Stiles, Director & Co-Founder, Helix Structured FinanceGuest Socials: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamstilesuk/Sponsored by:Avamore Capitalhttps://avamorecapital.com#SpecialistFinance #PropertyFinance #SpecialistLending #BridgingFinance #DevelopmentFinance #Bridging #Development #Business #MentalHealth #TechInFinance #BrokerLife #CommercialProperty #PropertyDevelopment #RealEstateFinance #BusinessStrategy #Entrepreneurship #HelixStructuredFinanceEpisode Chapters:00:00:00 – Market Outlook & Business Update00:06:46 – Vetting Deals & Reading Red Flags00:12:30 – Technology & The AI Revolution00:17:05 – Mental Health & Giving Up Alcohol00:23:30 – BDM Relationships & The Death of the Pub Meeting00:29:31 – The Future of Broking00:35:55 – Relationships Over Rates00:42:11 – New Market Entrants & Lender Consolidation00:49:12 – Growing Teams & Young Talent00:56:10 – Looking Ahead & Industry Home Truths

Mark Posniak, Managing Director of Short-Term Lending at Maslow Capital, takes us on a fascinating tour through the complexities of pan-European bridging finance. With operations spanning eight countries from the UK to the Netherlands, Mark reveals why trying to lend across Europe from a London desk is a recipe for disaster, and how Maslow's on-the-ground expertise in each market gives them a unique edge. From navigating Italy's usury caps to understanding Ireland's lightning-fast residential market, Mark shares hard-won insights about the critical differences between European lending markets that most people miss. Plus, we dive into his personal journey with ADHD, what you can learn about someone's character on the golf course, and why Arsenal might finally have the depth to win the league.Guest: Mark PosniakGuest Socials: https://www.instagram.com/pozzy_187/https://www.linkedin.com/in/markposniak/Sponsored by:Avamore Capitalhttps://avamorecapital.com#SpecialistFinance #PropertyFinance #Recruitment #SpecialistLending #Bridging #Development #Business #Leadership #Hiring #TalentAcquisition #FounderSyndrome #Headhunting #FinancialServices #CareerDevelopment #StartupGrowth #PropertyDevelopment #RealEstateFinance #BusinessStrategy #TeamBuilding #Entrepreneurship

In this episode, Michael Dean sits down with Jacob Bouet Andersen, Managing Director at Avamore Capital, to discuss the lender's remarkable turnaround and ambitious growth plans. Nine months into his role, Jacob shares how Avamore has achieved 90% growth in origination while simultaneously cleaning up the loan book and maintaining zero capital losses. Jacob introduces Avamore's "Four Pillars of Credit" framework - product, developer, delivery, and financials - explaining why backing the right sponsor matters more than ever in today's market. The conversation explores their proactive approach to asset management, described as "looking for smoke rather than fighting fires," and how technology investments are streamlining the underwriting process. The discussion also covers Avamore's recently published Residential Market Outlook, touching on the regional renaissance in UK property development, the growing appetite for HMOs and income-generating assets, and why two-thirds of their exits now come through refinance rather than sales. Jacob outlines the team's target of 250 million in lending for the upcoming financial year and the operational changes being implemented to achieve it. Whether you're a broker, developer, or industry observer, this episode offers valuable insights into how a specialist lender is positioning itself for growth while maintaining credit discipline in an uncertain market. Guest: Jacob Bouet Andersen, Managing Director, Avamore Capital Guest Socials: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacobbouet/ Sponsored by: Avamore Capital https://avamorecapital.com #specialistfinance #PropertyFinance #DevelopmentFinance #SpecialistLending #Bridging #Development #CreditManagement #AssetManagement #PropertyDevelopment #RealEstateFinance #BusinessStrategy #LoanBook #Underwriting #HMO #ResidentialDevelopment #RegionalProperty #UKProperty #Refinance #LendingGrowth #PropertyFunder

In this episode, we sit down with Alex Kountourides, co-founder of Valos, to challenge the assumption that all proptech is racing to replace human expertise. Alex shares how his experience as a qualified surveyor revealed a massive gap in the market—valuers were drowning in administrative tasks rather than doing what they're trained for: determining value. Valos flips the AVM model on its head by automating the busywork, not the valuer. We dive into the nuanced future of human valuations across different asset classes, dissect what's broken in the proptech industry (spoiler: oversaturation and chasing VC money), and hear Alex's candid take on why bootstrapping has given them control of their destiny. If you're curious about building sustainable proptech or rethinking automation in real estate, this one's for you.Guest: Alex KountouridesGuest Socials: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexkountourides/Instagram: @akountouridesSponsored by:Avamore Capitalhttps://avamorecapital.com#SpecialistFinance #PropertyFinance #Recruitment #SpecialistLending #Bridging #Development #Business #Leadership #Hiring #TalentAcquisition #FounderSyndrome #Headhunting #FinancialServices #CareerDevelopment #StartupGrowth #PropertyDevelopment #RealEstateFinance #BusinessStrategy #TeamBuilding #Entrepreneurship