top of page

Who is Robbie Banks? aka Banksy's 'Achoo' Artwork: How a Mortgage Advisor's Perspective Shifts

In the fast-paced world of real estate, where property values fluctuate with market trends, one unexpected factor can send shock waves through the industry: Banksy's art. The recent saga involving the 'Achoo' mural, and its astonishing impact on property value, highlights a fascinating intersection between art, real estate, and the essential role of a mortgage advisor.


Picture this: a property scheduled for a £300,000 sale, a decent figure by most standards, suddenly sees its value catapult to an estimated £5 million, all thanks to the appearance of Banksy's 'Achoo' mural. For a mortgage advisor, this isn't just a change in figures; it's a monumental shift in the financial landscape of the property.


The 'Achoo' mural, portraying a woman sneezing vigorously and causing nearby buildings to tremble, isn't just a stroke of artistic brilliance; it's an investment game-changer. Mortgage advisors, tasked with assessing property values for lending purposes, now find themselves navigating uncharted waters. What was a straightforward valuation process for a moderately priced property suddenly becomes a complex evaluation of an asset that transcends traditional metrics.


The decision by the property owners to withdraw from the £300,000 sale underlines the perplexing dilemma faced by mortgage advisors. How does one assess the value of a property that houses an artwork by an artist as influential as Banksy? How does this unexpected surge in value impact lending decisions and mortgage calculations?


The 'Achoo' mural's emergence not only adds a layer of artistic and cultural significance to the property but also introduces financial complexities that challenge the conventional methods of property valuation. Mortgage advisors are tasked with reconciling these complexities, ensuring that lending decisions align with the true market worth of the property, now transformed by an iconic piece of street art.


As the story unfolds, it prompts mortgage advisors, real estate professionals, and financial institutions to reassess their approaches to valuing properties with unconventional assets like Banksy's art. It's not merely about bricks and mortar anymore; it's about acknowledging the intangible value that art adds to a property and incorporating this into the financial calculus.

The 'Achoo' saga serves as a poignant reminder of the evolving nature of real estate and the critical role played by mortgage advisors in navigating these unanticipated shifts in property values. It opens a dialogue on how to integrate the value of art into the assessment of property worth, ensuring a balanced and informed approach in an ever-changing market landscape.


What are your thoughts on how mortgage advisors should assess the value of properties with such unexpected artistic assets?


Ape head mortgage advisor
bottom of page