P2P property bosses voice optimism for 2025
P2P property platform bosses have expressed optimism for the coming year, despite the broader geopolitical and economic uncertainty.
Shojin founder and chief executive Jatin Ondhia said his firm will continue to grow next year, with new hires and tech expansion as well as growth internationally.
“Our investor base continues to grow in both the family office and high-net-worth retail sectors,” Ondhia said, “and our international expansion continues with an upcoming office in Dubai to service the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and wider region including India and East Africa, and something is underway in Australia too. It’s been a busy 2024 and will be an even busier 2025.”
Shojin is also about to close its first Sharia-compliant whole loan, opening an entire new market for its products.
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Meanwhile, Relendex executive chairman Paul Sonabend has reflected on a successful 2024, in which Relendex paid its shareholders a maiden dividend.
The firm expects returns for 2024 to be broadly in line with the previous two years after loss adjustments, which will mean that it has consistently returned around eight per cent to investors over the past five years, producing a compounded return in that period of approximately 46 per cent.
“Whilst investing in loans secured on property may not be glamourous, the value of compounding steady returns over time ensures that as an investment class secured lending outperforms nearly all other non-exotic investment sectors,” Sonabend said.
He added: “Relendex is optimistic that the recovering property market, coupled with a greater availability of mortgages will stimulate housebuilding activity next year and looks forward to further growth in our loan book.”
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Ondhia is also optimistic for the UK property market, as lending rates have improved, and prices are supported by persistent low supply.
“Within the housing market, we continue to see an influx of foreign capital, but domestic buying is also improving. The biggest opportunities lie in cities outside of London in my view, with Manchester clearly taking the crown,” he said.
Overall, Ondhia is doubtful that the UK’s Labour government will meet its pledge to build another 1.5 million new homes or fix the planning system, so expects “shortages to continue for the foreseeable future”.
He said businesses are anticipating a better year in 2025, and that the UK could make “a comeback” after a rough few years post-covid. “People all over the world still gravitate to the UK, whether for education, employment or safety and the sound rule of law,” he said.
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