Property development funding simplified

I have worked with John and the team and Focus Commercial Finance for well over a decade, a team that is very personable in its approach and prides itself on establishing deep rooted relationships with its clients and partners. A cradle to grave operator who anchors themselves to ensuring that the finance provided is always befitting of every project they help support.

Providing John and his team with geospatial services on some of their developments has been a real pleasure.  Our role is nearly always early in the development cycle and as they fundamentally understand the development process, they value our early input. We hope we can continue to forge a long-lasting working relationship with Focus Commercial

Having worked with Focus Commercial previously, I was confident John, and the team were ideally placed to arrange funding on my latest project. Focus provided an end to  end service from initial application to progressing through to drawdowns, whilst also helping with recommendations for external service providers.

John who is also a successful property developer himself, understands the difficulties faced within the industry, and is in touch right through the process, with initial advice and strategic input through to completion. I have referred Focus Commercial to a number of other property developer colleagues I know, as this would help them with their property development funding requirements, based simply on the team’s proactive approach to get the job completed.

John McNamara and his team at Focus Commercial have been instrumental in advising our property development company on obtaining development finance for a commercial premises we were refurbishing with change of use to residential apartments. 

They are extremely knowledgeable, efficient and helpful and go above and beyond in guiding through every step of the process.

Having a wealth of their own property development experience, their advice is commercial and to the point. Having been a corporate lawyer in domestic and cross border mergers and acquisitions I would highly recommend John and his Focus Commercial to all of my clients.

We would like to thank you for all your help with the purchase of this property. Your service, advice and communication has been excellent, and we are really pleased. We know it’s been a difficult one and we appreciate all your efforts and time to ensure completion, I am sure many brokers would not have gone to the lengths that you did to support us.

I am the managing director of Enervate Property Group Ltd based in Liverpool, Merseyside. I was recommended to Focus Commercial, the well-known development finance brokerage headed up by John McNamara from a couple of property developers in my development network around Liverpool and the North West. John from the Focus team assisted us with obtaining a development funding loan to complete our part built newbuild site in Liverpool, that we had initially self-funded.

The Focus team assisted us not only with the funding but helped us with planning issues we had encountered on the site and introduced us to a planning consultant to successfully navigate us through the planning process and discharge of conditions. Focus also prepared a development appraisal, assisting us by preparing a schedule of works and costs along with a scheme cash flow forecast which included a spend to date and spend to complete.

The scheme reached  practical completion very quickly and Focus also arranged a development exit refinance, which allowed us to release our profits from the scheme early, which we have secured our next development project property purchase with. We have never had development funding up to this point, but the funding, the services and development knowledge has changed the landscape of our property development business.

We have now raised funding for the initial project we introduced to Focus, but also our next projects in our development pipeline that require funding. We highly recommend Focus.

I was recommended to Focus Commercial, who has a fantastic track record as a development finance broker from a respected and well developer we know in the North West. We were  looking for property development funding to construct 9 new build ground up ,4 bed town houses in South Liverpool.

We were struggling to secure the development finance, having previously been to 3 other established property finance brokers in the UK, as they struggled to understand fully, the development finance and development process and could not obtain the development funding facility that we required for our project needs.

When we initially contacted John and the Focus Commercial team, they undertook at site visit, completed a development appraisal in line with local build costs and achievable sales priceson our scheme and advised that project would be profitable, and that they would be able to arrange the development funding, with the most suitable development lender that was compatible our scheme. John also being a developer, assisted us with the local authority freehold issues we had, our contractor, worked with the lender, the lender’s QS, helped us find our own employer’s agent and advised us right from the start of the construction.

John also advised us on the sales, introducing a top plot sales legal law firm, which let us focus on selling the 9 units. The scheme was completed in 12 months, with us selling 9 of the units. Focus arranged the development exit finance to release our profit early to purchase our next site that will require development funding.

Focus is the best around when it comes to arranging development and development exit funding.

John helped us obtain interim bridging finance on a commercial project in order to complete the project security quickly, and then further assisted ourselves with the  commercial refinance at the back end of the project.

John is always willing to go above and beyond any other broker I have met, conducting site visits from start to finish of the property, in order to gain a more intimate knowledge of the property in question, which in turn then assists him with the wider commercial finance aspect of the project. 

This holistic approach helps all aspects of the project to run as smoothly as possible and is unique to John and Focus Commercial, which is why I would not consider using any other broker.

I have been in the construction industry for over 18 years now since leaving school. Initially starting out as a groundworker, and then as a landlord building a small portfolio of rented out residential houses. I have wanted to own my own hotel, and an opportunity came up to purchase a former disused public house, which is near to the new Everton FC stadium based at Stanley Dock. John and the team at Focus was recommended to me, to arrange the funding for the purchase and refurbishment of the property project.

John assisted me with the development appraisal, appraising the build costs, sales figures and prepared a cashflow forecast for the lifetime of the project build, and advising me on what was needed for the project delivery, recommending planning consultants, employers agent and what professional reports were needed. John and the team at Focus obtained the initial purchase and refurbishment loan to complete the project, whilst monitoring the project through the construction term.

John then had a development exit finance product arranged ready for the scheme at practical completion, which was used to repay the purchase and refurbishment loan before the end of the term. This enabled me to work on a long-term tenant for the commercial lease, which I was then in a position to stabilise the asset on a long term commercial mortgage arranged through Focus,  as it was now a completed and tenanted in which I now received a great passive income.

I call John “my financial handyman”, and Focus have now provided finance for my next development sites.

We have been supported by John and the team at Focus Commercial with our funding and the sourcing of the best funding options available to our group.

Being a Care Home Owner and Care Home Operator with Assisted Living, this means we have specific funding requirements in line with the local planning authorities and the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England.

Focus provided invaluable service and advice arranging the development and development exit funding facilities for our project funding requirements.

Impression Health and Support would highly recommend Focus Commercial. We look forward to continuing our working relationship with John and the team at Focus.

We have worked with John and the Focus Commercial team on many projects that have needed both development funding and development exit funding.

Focus have arranged development funding on multiple projects in sectors we specialise such as large residential apartment blocks, retail and the assisted living care and care home sectors.

We are in safe hands, as we know each project that requires funding has been credit underwritten and the correct development lender sourced for that project. They have assisted our company with the development appraisal, and cashflow forecast.

The Focus team work on the lender admin, liaise with the lender valuers, and our solicitors, which is a seamless non-painful process to obtain funding drawdown.

Kuits has worked with John and the team at Focus on several real estate finance transactions, where we represented lenders. John’s and the Focus team’s sector knowledge and dedication to completing deals professionally and within tight deadlines were evident. We have found Focus’s collaborative approach fosters proactivity and efficiency throughout each transaction. We look forward to continuing to work with Focus.

I highly recommend Focus for their exceptional contribution to development finance. Their expertise, effective communication, and responsiveness makes them an invaluable partner to us at Lawrence Stephens.

John McNamara and the Focus team are easy to work with and maintain a professional approach throughout. Additionally, their collaborative spirit fosters a positive working relationship and ensures seamless co-operation.

I’ve worked alongside John and the Focus team in the development finance sector for a number of years now, and they are great clients to work with. We get to assist them in delivering interesting and complex projects and they really have a handle on the lifecycle of the development process, from planning through to handover for occupation.  

I have collaborated with John and all the Focus team now since their inception in 2012. Focus not only know bridging and development finance fundamentals inside out, what makes them different is that they know the property legal process inside out as well.

Focus reviews all the property title legal requirements and understand the AML process fully. We consult closely with our mutual clients together to ensure a quick seamless property loan completion and drawdown for the clients.

We have recommended Focus to new clients who need an experienced and proven broker to ensure that they receive the necessary guidance to enable them to achieve the best possible funding outcome.

I have worked with Focus and their team for several years. Their efficiency and proactivity are unparalleled, ensuring smooth transactions. They consistently go above and beyond for their clients, anticipating required documents for various professions to prevent duplication, and their excellent reputation and strong relationships with numerous companies in Liverpool speaks volumes about their exceptional service.

Dalbergia is delighted to be working alongside John McNamara and the Focus Commercial team. It is a breath of fresh air to be dealing with someone who understands all aspects of the property development process, not only the finance side but with John’s experience as a hands-on developer he understands the nuances of the pre-construction, construction and exit parts of a deal. With Dalbergia acting for lenders on the funding of developments, and with developers on delivering them as project managers, cost managers and Employer’s Agent, this is a great partnership for us.

It is also refreshing to be dealing with like-minded, friendly, responsive people.

It was a pleasure working with John and his team during the construction of their Richmond Row project. Focus has an in-depth understanding of the full development process from inception to completion, which makes them more like development managers rather than finance brokers. This knowledge and attention to detail were key to the successful delivery of the project, which was ahead of programme and on budget.

At Advantage we have had a strong working relationship with John and the team at Focus over the past 10 years, being able to assist and provide the structural defects insurance cover for any clients introduced.

Focus fully understands the importance of procuring the correct insurances for each type of development project that they are involved in and have always been pro-active in making introductions to our services where required. This approach has meant that clients have benefited from the expertise of the Advantage team at the right time, obtaining their structural warranty cover at the correct stage in the development process.

We look forward to continuing the relationship with Focus and assisting with more clients in the future.

CC Geotechnical Limited have worked with John and his team on several projects in conjunction with our clients and property developers. The support, development knowledge and service has been second to none.  

Thanks to John and all the Focus team. 

Greyside Planning has had the pleasure of working with John and the Focus Commercial team on several large and medium scale developments for many years now. The collaboration between the two teams has been professional throughout, characterised by efficient communication and a deep mutual understanding of the importance of each stage of the development process. Focus’s ability to seamlessly integrate financial strategies with the broader development process has been crucial to deliverability of schemes. 

We believe that the synergy between Greyside Planning’s expertise in the field of planning and development and Focus Commercial’s financial acumen ensures that projects for our shared clients are well-coordinated and executed to the highest standards.

We have had the pleasure of working with John McNamara and Focus on various projects within the development finance sector. As an architectural practice focused on delivering complex and large-scale developments, we rely on partners who understand the intricacies of the construction lifecycle.

John and his team maintain a professional, yet personable approach, making them a pleasure to collaborate with.

We look forward to continuing this partnership and working together on future developments.

I have worked with John and his team at Focus for many years. Development Finance proposals are always presented professionally and with the appropriate level of detail. From a lender’s perspective, this allows us to quickly analyse a transaction and provide responses and suggested funding solutions with a higher degree of confidence, ultimately giving the developer clarity without any delay.

Hope Capital have worked with Focus Commercial and John McNamara for over 12 years and have partnered on numerous property transactions together.
It has always been an absolute pleasure and a seamless experience from start to finish. John’s expertise in the commercial property loan sector is unparalleled, and his dedication to his clients is evident in every interaction.

From the initial application to the completion of each loan, John demonstrated exceptional knowledge and professionalism. He meticulously assessed the client’s needs and provided tailored solutions that aligned perfectly with their financial goals. His deep understanding of the market and keen attention to detail ensured that they always received the best possible outcomes. I wholeheartedly recommend John McNamara and Focus Commercial to anyone in need of property finance. John’s combination of expertise, professionalism, and outstanding customer service is second to none. I look forward to working with him on future projects.

As a lender, I have had the pleasure of working with Focus Commercial Finance for many years. Their professionalism and efficiency in packaging deals is truly impressive. The meticulously organised and detailed packages they deliver significantly streamline our approval process, allowing us to complete transactions swiftly. I look forward to continuing our successful partnership and completing many more deals together in the future.

It’s been a pleasure dealing with John McNamara and his team at Focus Commercial.

Over the course of the last few months, they’ve proven themselves to be professional, communicative and driven. All initial enquiries have come through to us containing all the information we require, meaning we’ve been able to structure deals and provide terms and ultimately funds in record speed for the borrower. And their expert knowledge of the property market in Merseyside and beyond seems to be endless.

We’re looking forward to many more deals in the coming months and years.

PMJ Capital have worked with Focus Commercial for a number of years and has completed numerous Development cases with them. They understand the development process and provide fully packaged cases with pre-underwritten credit submissions, which makes the process much smoother from a lender’s perspective. John also has a vested interest in the clients he introduces, which gives the comfort that he is still there at the backend to help with an exit if required.

Having worked with Focus Commercial for several years, they have become a trusted partner with Kuflink. The packaging of applications is always of a high standard, and it’s notable that checks are done prior to submission. The team’s expert knowledge on the development finance process is second to none, backed by consistent, quick drawdowns and a 100% loan redemption rate to date. Kuflink look forward to a continued partnership with John and the Focus Commercial team.

John’s definitely up there in the “best-in-class” category, with particular regard to the quality of the pack of information received, which is both detailed and considered in terms of build costs and sales values, which he typically sensitises. This really assists when a broker puts themselves in a lender’s shoes; similarly, his experience as a developer himself ensures an accurate and honest overview of a given development.

We’re all busy, and when a potential development transaction lands, those easy to understand and well-packaged, such as John’s, ensure they’re the first to be dealt with.

Highly recommended.

John and the Focus team were excellent. The attention to detail during the whole process was exceptional. Most of the loan requirements were satisfied right at the start of the process, which allowed us to get the case funded within a week from solicitors being instructed.

We have assisted the Focus Commercial team with a number of facilities for their clients and have always found them to be extremely professional and a pleasure to work with. John and the rest of the team are able to work on complex cases, as their breadth and depth of knowledge of the property market allows them to assess and understand a client’s situation fully.

They always gather the relevant documents and then provide a funder like us with all of the required information to help us fully understand the case and be able to provide a credit-backed offer. The team at Focus Commercial always stay fully involved throughout the process, to ensure their client is getting the best possible service and ultimately, getting to the end goal of having the funding facility in place as quickly as possible.

We have worked with John McNamara and the Focus team for a number of years and have developed a strong working relationship, providing our full-service legal offering to support them with their diverse legal advice requirements.

We have always found them good to deal with, focused on efficient and effective project delivery, and we look forward to working with them in the future for many years to come, hopefully playing our part in helping them to successfully achieve their growth strategy and aspirations.

Focus’s funding proposals are comprehensive, well-researched, and most importantly, accurate. John and his team understand what is required to secure a development loan, and that whilst a project’s viability is fundamental, it is only one consideration. Their approach is both professional and personable, and their interest in securing a successful outcome for all is evident throughout. I look forward to continuing to work with them. 

Focus Commercial is a business we are proud to be working with. The team are thorough, knowledgeable, and always a pleasure to deal with. Their business values are very much aligned with our own, and they truly are specialists in their field, delivering bespoke solutions to suit their clients’ needs. The Roma team, end-to-end, endorses Focus Commercial and their service. 

We have worked with the Focus Commercial team on several facilities for their clients and have always found them to be extremely professional with great attention to detail on their case proposals. The team have a hands-on approach throughout the process to ensure their client is getting the best possible service and ultimately getting to the end goal of having an appropriate funding facility in place as quickly as possible.

The first time we met John from Focus Commercial was at a Commercial and Development finance event which they were only attending just like ourselves and after listening to them advise other brokers on numerous points we knew they were the right brokers for us.

As soon as we brought a development project their way, we could tell from speaking with John, that he wanted to be part of our company and team rather than just being our broker. Straight away, both John and his supporting Focus Commercial team wanted the best for us and our business. They showed that throughout the whole part of the financing process, even at challenging times they remained ‘focused’ and positive.

When things started to move forward with the development project, we could soon see his knowledge and contacts in the industry were invaluable and because of this, it has made our team even stronger.

As a developer, you can sometimes see through a broker who offers development finance, but does not fully understand it; but with John his Focus Commercial team, it felt the other way round. Their knowledge helped develop ours, and we already look forward to working with them on the next one.

Over the four years I have been working with Focus Commercial, I have been absolutely delighted with every aspect of the services they offer. As a highly experienced builder and developer, with over 38 years in the construction industry, I needed a development finance expert to drive my first project.

I had lost confidence in the banks. John was the project manager of the drawdown process, and he guided me through every stage. His detailed appraisal, costing, viability evaluation and planning gain, and legal knowledge all allied to his overall construction knowledge helped to make my first project a great success. I now have a very successful development and construction company, and still work with Focus Commercial on all my project development funding requirements.

John is both knowledgeable, professional, and very approachable and friendly, and his team are very supportive. The system that Focus Commercial have has got to be the best on the market.

We met John after making contact through the Focus Commercial website, and at our initial meeting he explained clearly what he could do for us to make our project a success. Before he even spoke about acquiring funding, he went through every detail with us to make sure our project was viable.

Acquiring the funding was easy, and as the development progressed, John stayed in touch and even made site visits to make sure everything was running smoothly. He helped us with all aspects from start to finish, even advising us on legal teams, insurance, and sales. It has been an absolute pleasure working with John, and we look forward to more continued success with all at Focus Commercial.