What are the best and worst P2P loans right now? Edition #14

Our pick of the best P2P loans

This post is part of a regular series where we highlight what we think are some of the best P2P loans available in the UK and Europe. These loans may sell out very quickly. Even if they do, it is likely that similar opportunities are available on each platform.

Our goal is to help highlight the types of opportunities that are available on various platforms, and which types of loans offer the best balance of risk and reward.

Description

Why we like it

Link

Interest rate: 14% 
LTV: 32%
Term: 12 Months
First Lien mortgage
Riga LATVIA
 

This is a great example of the loans that Bulkestate does very well. The loan has a low LTV of 32%, has a high interest rate of 14%, and the collateral quality is excellent. There really isn’t much not to like about this loan. Bulkestate is only a small site, but we think it is definitely worth including some of their loans within a European P2P investment portfolio. 

bulkestate logo

Dzirnavu apartments

Interest rate: 11% 
Term: 24 months
personal loan
BUYBACK GUARANTEE
latvia

Several loan originators at Mintos have been suspended recently. This is mainly due to the impact of COVID-19. Some have had other issues such as loss of licences. For several years we have been recommending selecting loans from the highest quality loan originators, rather than trying to chase the highest interest rates. We think Delfin Group is one of the best loan originators available right now at Mintos (with a score of 77/100 in our ratings). Delfin has been very solid over the last few months, with minimal/zero ‘pending payments’ outstanding. We also like the high quality, regular financial information that they publish, and that the markets they operate in have been less impacted by COVID-19 than many other countries.

Loan 34626661-01

Interest rate: 4.5%
Super Senior loans
UK

During this period of economic uncertainty, many investors are looking for safe places to put their funds, but still earn a reasonable return on their investment. If that sounds like you, then we think that Loanpad is definitely worth looking into. We think that Loanpad offers the safest investment product available to P2P investors right now. Investor funds are automatically spread across several secured loans, in a ‘super senior’ position. This means that investors have an average loan-to-value position (‘LTV’) on their investments of only 26%. Funds can be withdrawn at 60 days notice. Loanpad has remained solid throughout the last few months, and has been growing the funds it manages. Welcome bonuses of up to £150 are also available.

Loanpad logo

Premium account

Interest rate: 10%
Term: 20 Months
Secured loan
LTGDV: 59%
UK

Blend Network specialises in funding small, fairly simple developments in the UK. This loan is a good example. The development is a conversion of an old office building into residential apartments. The developer has been making excellent progress so far and has a strong track record with similar projects. The development seems to have high profit potential. This means that the developer should be highly motivated (and able) to complete the project even if there are some cost over-runs. A return of 10% is attractive relative to the risk. 

Blend network logo

Crown House

Interest rate: 7.4%
Term: 20 Months
Secured loan
LTV: 66%
London, UK

Capitalrise specialise in funding ‘super-prime’, very high quality projects. This project is a typical example, being located in Chelsea, one of London’s premier residential districts. We have been impressed so far with the  high quality of information and analysis provided by the Capitalrise team on each of their loans. The project involves a total refurbishment of an existing building to a very high standard, and the construction of a new out-building to provide home office and gym space. In this age of remote working, we think there will be high demand for a property with this type of feature. The developer also has a good track record. Overall, we think the returns offered are about right, for this level of risk and collateral quality. Note – Capitalrise is only open to High Net Worth, and Sophisticated Investors.

Capitalrise logo

Elm Park Road

And here are two loans we DON'T like....

Interest rate: 6.6%
LTV: 65%
Term: 4 months
1st lien 
Lincoln, England
 
 

We are big fans of British site Kuflink, but it is important to select loans carefully. The risks can vary a lot from loan to loan. We think this loan is much riskier than it appears to be. The LTV seems reasonable at only 65%.  So why do we say that? Valuing land is very difficult. There are often no comparable sales to use. Instead, valuers often derive a value by assuming a development takes place. We won’t go into the full technical details – what’s important to understand is that land valuations rely on a huge number of modelling assumptions, any of which can be wrong. The lower the quality of land, the more sensitive the value is to these assumptions. That’s why we think this loan is risky – the land is in a secondary location, is difficult to value, and may be difficult to sell if needed.

Kuflink logo

Lincoln Road

Eurocent SA insolvency
Interest rate: 9.5%
Term: 1-3 months
unsecured
Buyback guarantee
Mexico
 
 
 

This loan perfectly captures perfectly all the features that P2P investors need to avoid on Mintos right now. It has high country risk, very high loan originator risk and even a low interest rate. The loan comes from the Mexican subsidiary of Sun Finance Group. Despite promises from Mintos in November 2019, Sun Finance decided not to provide any group guarantees to its subsidiaries, like this one in Mexico. We are not surprised – many of them are tiny and loss making. Sun Finance Mexico scored only 9/100 in our Mintos lender ratings. On top of this, Mexico has implemented measures giving borrowers up to 6 months of payment deferrals, and is having difficulties combatting COVID-19. Avoid.

Loan 34507888-02

If you are interested in any of the loans above, please make sure to read all the information provided by each investment site and make sure that they are suitable for you. While we aim to highlight potentially interesting opportunities, you must perform your own assessment of the risks and make your own independent decision on whether to invest, and whether these, or similar loans offered on each site are suitable for your investment objectives. All information is supplied in good faith based on information which we believe, but do not guarantee, to be accurate or complete; we are not responsible for errors or omissions contained therein. Explore P2P is not a financial advisor and no content can be or should be considered to constitute financial advice. All content provided is for informational purposes only.

2 thoughts on “What are the best and worst P2P loans right now? Edition #14

  1. Jmn Reply

    Too late for the Delfin load, it bought it all 🙂
    Good the best/worst publications are back.

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