It maybe a bit of a surprise to most clients when they are fully aware of the current credit crunch, and the fact that following the bailout of a number of our high street lenders by the government, who are now quite rightly saying that the banks should start lending to businesses to get the economy going again, that the banks would prefer to lend on investment property rather than help the small or new business.

That's a real slap in the face for dear old flash Gordon Brown, having got the BOE base rate down to 1.5% in January 2009, you would have thought that the banks would have shown their gratitude by pumping some money back into the areas where it would help the economy and the businesses that the country needs to survive and prosper if we are to climb away from the abyss.

From purely a banking

point of view the investment

property with a good tenant

on a long term commercial

lease with three year rent reviews and no break clauses, and the mortgage interest payments being covered by a comfortable margin, is very low risk. Yes those magic words in banking, that the dreaded credit committee and bankers just love, low risk.

Having thrown money at the wall like a man with ten arms, in the rush for growth, with common sense and sound banking principals totally disregarded, reality has now come home to roost and we now have to pay for the past sins of our lenders, with higher charges and increased interest rate margins. But investors are very welcome at the Bankers Inn if you fit into the low risk room. There are still some very good deals to be had and you should check with your commercial mortgage broker or Independent Financial Adviser to be guided to the right scheme to suit you.