Compare Mortgage Rates from Octopus Real Estate Against the Market starting at 2.2%

About Octopus Real Estate

Formerly known as Dragonfly Property Finance, Octopus is one of the pioneers of the modern bridging market. Their lending philosophy is built on speed and flexibility. Every application is manually underwritten, allowing them to take a commercial view on complex borrowers or properties that high-street banks reject.

They are a "Lifecycle Lender," meaning they can fund a project from start to finish. For example, lending you the money to buy a site, build a development, and then refinance it onto a long-term Buy-to-Let mortgage.

Mortgage & Finance Products

Octopus lends on properties across England, Scotland, and Wales.

• Bridging Finance:

  • Regulated Bridging: For homeowners who need to break a property chain or raise funds quickly against their own home (maximum 12 months)

  • Unregulated Bridging: For investors buying auction properties, refurbishment projects, or commercial assets

  • Refurbishment: Funding for light and heavy refurbishment, often available up to 75% LTV (Loan-to-Value)

• Buy-to-Let (BTL) Mortgages:

  • Specialist BTL: Designed for landlords who don't fit high-street criteria

  • Foreign Nationals & Expats: They lend to non-residents and expats with no UK credit footprint

  • Complex Ownership: They lend to Limited Companies (SPVs), Offshore Companies, and Trusts

  • Short-Term Lets: They allow holiday lets, Airbnb and serviced accommodation

• Greener Buy-to-Let option:

  • They offer a specialist green mortgage product that rewards landlords for improving the energy efficiency of their properties (EPC A-C) with lower interest rates

• Development Finance:

  • Residential Development: Loans from £1m to £50m+ for developers building new housing schemes

  • Greener Homes Alliance: A joint venture with Homes England offering discounted loan rates for developers building energy-efficient homes

• Commercial Term Loans:

  • Loans for investors buying commercial assets (offices, industrial, retail) with terms of 2–5 years

Pros and Cons of Octopus Real Estate

Here is a balanced overview of choosing Octopus for your finance:

Pros:

• Lifecycle Lending: Uniquely, they can offer a "Bridge-to-Let" solution where you bridge with them to buy/refurbish a property and then seamlessly switch to their Buy-to-Let mortgage without needing new solicitors or valuations

• Speed: As a non-bank lender with huge internal funding, they can issue offers in hours and complete deals in days

• Manual Underwriting: They accept complex risks like foreign income, adverse credit (CCJs/defaults), and unusual property types

• Reputation & Scale: Being part of the massive Octopus Group gives them stability and funding certainty that smaller bridging lenders lack

Cons:

• Cost: As a premium specialist lender, their rates are higher than high-street banks. You pay for the speed and the manual decision-making

• Intermediary-Led: While you can contact them, most of their business is transacted via mortgage brokers who can navigate their specific product criteria

• No Standard Residential: If you want a standard mortgage to buy your home, Octopus is not the right lender. Their regulated lending is strictly short-term (bridging)

Customer Service and Reviews

Octopus Real Estate has a strong reputation.

• Trustpilot: They currently hold an "Excellent" rating (typically 4.4+ out of 5). Reviews often praise the professionalism of their underwriters and the speed of their legal process

• Awards: They are one of the most awarded lenders in the sector, regularly winning "Lender of the Year" and "Best Bridging Lender" titles

How to Apply

1. Through a Broker: For Buy-to-Let and most complex bridging, it is highly recommended to use a specialist mortgage broker. We can submit an application to Octopus on your behalf, as well as searching the market to ensure you’re getting the best deal. Get started to speak to a helpful adviser now

2. Direct Enquiry: You can submit an enquiry via their website for Development Finance or large commercial loans. However, keep in mind that this won’t give you the opportunity to compare their products against other lenders that may be more suitable