As the number of affluent individuals relocating to Jersey rises, Santander International is responding with tailored mortgage solutions designed to meet the needs of globally mobile clients. Estelle Armour, the company’s Head of Mortgage Sales, tells us more

Jersey’s High Value Residency (HVR) programme has seen an 88 per cent increase in uptake this year. In the first quarter of 2025, there were 22 approvals and arrivals — up from just five during the same period last year, according to official figures. The numbers may be small in absolute terms, but they reflect renewed momentum in high-value relocation to the island.

“The housing market here offers opportunities for buyers at all levels – from luxury apartments to country estates,” Armour explains. “With financial solutions available to make it easier than ever to add a new property to your portfolio, we’re seeing substantial interest from a broad range of clients.”

As Head of Mortgage Sales at Santander International, Armour leads a specialist team focused on delivering flexible financial solutions, particularly for those arriving through the HVR scheme. It offers a route for individuals with significant worldwide wealth to establish residency in Jersey, subject to meeting minimum income and investment thresholds.

These clients often bring with them global assets, complex income streams and tight relocation timelines. Many are still in the process of liquidating assets abroad or awaiting business proceeds when they arrive. For that reason, the bank often provides short-term, interest-only lending solutions that give new residents breathing room while securing a property.

“Standard forms don’t necessarily work for High Value Residents with worldwide income,” she explains. “So, we aim to be flexible and make the process as simple and straightforward as possible. We have a local team of underwriters who can make decisions quickly, looking at an individual’s unique circumstances. This means we offer an experience which is more like a mortgage with a private bank, but with retail pricing.”

In recent years, at least 74 families have moved to Jersey under the HVR programme — and, increasingly, Armour says, new clients are coming via personal recommendation.

“Many High Value Residents come to us through word of mouth,” she adds. “Jersey is a small island, with a nimble network of professionals who can make moving here and buying a home very straightforward.”

That agility also extends to the mortgage process itself. “People are surprised how quickly a property transaction can take place here,” she says. “It’s sometimes just a matter of weeks compared to the UK, where it can take several months. We work at the speed a client needs for a transaction — and often that has more to do with the timeframe of their global commitments than the Jersey side.”

With more new arrivals on the horizon, Armour believes the island’s mortgage market will continue to flourish — but flexibility, she says, will remain essential. “Our role is to understand each client’s situation and make the solution work around them. For many, this isn’t just about financing a home — it’s about enabling a new chapter.”

Further information

Produced with support from Santander International. For further information about its tailored mortgage solutions, visit www.santanderinternational.co.uk/island/products/mortgages/