Deals are still moving but they’re getting harder to land

By Tony Sanchez 5th May 2026

It’s been another active period across the bridging and specialist property finance market, with a steady flow of deals, refinances and development funding continuing to come through.

Based on activity published on Bridging Loan Directory, there is no shortage of transactions progressing.

But the process behind those deals is becoming more demanding.

Across recent activity, there are clear signs that execution is taking more time, more coordination and more structuring than it might have done previously.

Even deals that appear straightforward at the outset are requiring closer management as they progress. Lender appetite can shift, structures may need to be adjusted, and timelines are not always as predictable as they once were.

This is not necessarily a reflection of reduced demand. Instead, it points to a market where the margin for error is narrowing.

Lenders continue to deploy capital, but with greater focus on exit clarity, borrower experience and the overall structure of each case. At the same time, external conditions, including ongoing uncertainty around inflation and interest rates, are feeding into a more cautious and reactive lending environment.

As a result, brokers and borrowers are having to work harder to keep deals on track.

This is particularly evident in cases involving refinancing or development transitions, where timing, valuation and exit assumptions are playing a more critical role in determining whether a deal completes.

The overall picture is one of a market that remains active, but where outcomes are increasingly dependent on execution.

For well-structured deals with a clear path forward, funding is still available and transactions continue to complete.

But for others, the process is becoming less predictable.

In practice, this means that the difference between deals that land and those that stall is no longer just about appetite.

It is about how well the deal is structured, how clearly the exit is defined, and how effectively it is managed from start to finish.