The Five Minute Interview with David Dean, Portfolio Manager, Dragonfly Property Finance

By Tony Sanchez 25th May 2016

Dragonfly Property Finance, are 100% committed to providing their key partners and clients with exceptional service and a flexible, highly competitive product range. Dragonfly Property Finance are a principal lender, self-funded and have a genuine appetite to lend.

We speak to portfolio manager, David Dean:

What is the best thing about being in the development finance business?

Having worked in number of areas within financial services, it’s the unique nature of residential development finance that gets me out of bed.

No one development is the same and no one developer will approach a development in the same way as another.

In addition, watching the progress of the developments and seeing them become people’s homes adds a lot of meaning to what we do.

What keeps you focused?

Knowing that I play a central role in the success of a development. Other than that it is the clear end goals that really help me focus.

What qualities do you look for in your employees or colleagues?

Diversity and people with a friendly nature. I also look for confidence rather than arrogance, which is something I learnt very early on.

And no matter how good you think you are, there is always someone better or someone with more experience than you.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

I would say I’m half and half. My first role in real estate was just after the recession and a number of developers were finding it very tough.

It was a world where it was very easy to turn into a total pessimist, but instead it taught me to spot the early warning signs and red flags. The key is to turn negatives into positives.

What did you want to be as a child?

A professional golfer. I still play a lot of golf but in my old age I have decided that I wouldn’t have liked all the travel, which is also my go-to excuse when asked why I didn’t get there.

What will be the greatest challenge facing the development finance industry in the coming months?

In my opinion, the biggest challenge facing the development finance industry is making sure that the fear caused by the possibility of future recessions and referendum doesn’t prevent good and perfectly viable developments from getting underway.

Who or what makes you laugh?

I’m a big fan of satire.

Do you dread Monday mornings?

I’ll be honest – yes I do. I have a fairly mammoth commute and I hate trains, but I’m attempting to combat that through getting my scooter license.

When I have that Monday mornings will be like a scene from Alfie (the Jude Law one), only I won’t look anywhere near as cool.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Hole more putts!

With whom would you most like to have dinner?

My family first and foremost.