Walsall-based Crystal Mortgages has revealed a successful start to 2014, with commercial finance application numbers between January and March higher than both 2012 and 2013 combined.
In its quarterly report, the company disclosed terms issued stood at £143 million, a £48.3 million increase on the same period last year, with completions up 57 per cent.
The average loan size stood at £171,000, a rise of 41 per cent per cent against 2013, with the largest deal a commercial mortgage on a £1.5 million investment property in Glasgow.
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The average case processing time has fallen to 55 days, with development finance showing the largest marked increase in demand.
In January the company announced 2013 as its best financial year in the company's 35-year trading history with terms issued on £479 million worth of applications, 62 per cent up on 2012 and 94 per cent ahead of 2011.
Joe Breeden, managing director at Crystal Mortgages, said: "I can only describe the start of 2014 as blistering, with the volume of applications the clearest indicator to-date that the SME market is not only seeing a sharp upturn in confidence, but also a desire to source commercial finance away from the high street.
"These key factors are being supported by an increase in new products and an exceptional team at Crystal, it is their commitment to customer service that has seen a reduction in completion times, for example the number of cases funded in less than 10 days trebled on 2013 in the first quarter alone."
Crystal Mortgages is an independent commercial mortgage, bridging and development specialist which operates throughout England, Scotland and Wales.