Member in Focus - A conversation with Tom Cantor (West One Loans)
Priya Rawal, Founder and CEO of The Luxury Property Forum sits down with esteemed member
Thomas Cantor. Co Head of Short Term Lending, West One Loans
West One Loans is well-known in the industry, but for those who might not be familiar, what sets your company apart from others in the lending space?
We are one of the UK’s largest non-bank lenders and providers of specialist finance. We provide a range of different financing options for property developers and/or investors who are underserved by the mainstream mortgage market.
Your path to becoming Co-Head of Short Term Lending is impressive. How did you get to where you are today?
Working hard and learning! I trained/worked in investment banks and had an opportunity to join Enra Specialist Finance – the parent company of West One. Although the role I was initially hired for was not the role I am doing now, I worked hard and made sure I learned as much as I could so when the opportunity arose I was able to be considered. Having led the bridging finance proposition for over 2 years, I am now co-head of our new short-term finance business. The business recently merged our development and bridging finance into one more effective short term lending function and I work alongside Guy Murray serving a much wider audience with a more compelling proposition for the entire property lifecycle.
It sounds like you’ve had a dynamic career. What does a typical day look like for you in your role now?
My day consists of a variety of different things including (but not limited to): a) speaking to brokers/introducers, b) speaking to direct borrowers either to strike up new relationships or to maintain communication with our existing borrower base, c) managing our sales and operational teams, d) thinking strategically about how we differentiate and can continue to innovate our business and product offering to make sure people continue to borrow from us.
With so much variety in your day-to-day, are there any exciting projects you're working on right now?
We are always working on lots of exciting projects – whether that is people that we are lending to or business enhancements to refine our proposition.
Reflecting on your career so far, is there a particular highlight that stands out?
Completing the largest single transaction that the business has ever done.
That is so incredible and what an achievement. For those looking to follow in your footsteps, do you have any advice for someone hoping to enter the luxury property finance industry?
Be reliable and dependable. For someone financing these assets, borrowers desire certainty of execution over most other things. It is so important they are working with a finance provider that they know can deliver, especially given the sums of money often involved.
You’ve clearly seen a lot in this industry. What do you love most about working in the luxury property sector?
The intricacies of the design and the thought that goes into every single detail regarding a luxury property. No two luxury assets are the same and the creativity/imagination that people have when designing and building these properties is truly mind-blowing sometimes!
Luxury is often defined in many ways. What does “luxury” mean to you personally?
Luxury means something unique – something that takes imagination, skill and craft to both think about and design/bring to reality that isn’t found every day. And it commands a premium!
GET IN TOUCH
Thomas Cantor. Co-Head of Short Term Lending at West One Loans