Archive for the ‘ Market Survey ’ Category

Today Prosper released December 2009 statistics and second half 2009 marketplace performance metrics. Continue reading Prosper Releases Peer-to-Peer Lending Market Survey

Finally… the moment we and so many supportive and loyal Prosper community members have been waiting for…

after nine long months of navigating the rapidly changing regulatory landscape, we are thrilled to announce that Prosper’s registration statement with the SEC has been declared effective. Continue reading Prosper is Back! (We mean it this time)

Prosper, America’s largest people-to-people lending marketplace for personal loans, released results for September 2008.

Chris Larsen, discusses what role Prosper will play and what trends we are seeing in the wake of this full blown crash of the global financial system.

Market Commentary By Prosper Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Larsen

In the midst of one of the greatest economic crises America has ever faced, and on the heels of last week’s Federal Reserve report indicating that for the first time in over a decade consumer borrowing significantly contracted, people are naturally asking what role Prosper will play and what trends we are seeing.

Although it’s a bit too soon to point to Prosper data that correlates directly with the financial meltdown that has only begun to unfold, there are some noteworthy trends that have accelerated since the credit crunch began 14 months ago that are relevant to the current environment.

The biggest trend that continues in the Prosper marketplace since the credit crunch began last summer is that the percentage of borrowers with sterling credit that are listing and getting funded on Prosper remains at record levels (See “Mix of Funded Borrowers” Table). We expect this trend to continue particularly as more lenders on Prosper have become more conservative in their bidding strategies; and as more people, even those with the very best credit, are having their credit card limits reduced and home equity lines cancelled, and are being turned down for auto loans and other personal loans.

Another key trend we’re experiencing is that as consumer borrowing from traditional financing sources is shrinking, Prosper is experiencing solid growth. Year-to-date, the number of loans in terms of units is up 24% over the same time period last year, and up 37% in September 2008 compared to September 2007. At the same time, loan originations year-to-date in terms of dollars have increased 8% over the same period last year, and are up 7% in September 2008 compared to September 2007.

At a time when every sector in the economy seems to be under pressure and shrinking, the growth Prosper has experienced is very respectable. However, some may wonder why there is a disparity between unit growth and loan dollar volume growth. The answer lies in the average loan amount being funded on Prosper. Year-to-date the average loan amount is $6,047, down 13% or $925 compared to the same period last year. In September 2008 the average loan amount was $5,544, down 23% or $1,631 from September 2007. This indicates that lenders on Prosper are being more cautious by directing their bids toward listings with lower requested loan amounts.

All of these trends on Prosper are significant and interesting, but far more important in this time of economic upheaval is the opportunity for Americans to revitalize the spirit of It’s A Wonderful Life; to channel the essence of Bedford Falls and George Bailey; and to “do well by doing good.”

September 2008 Prosper People-to-People Lending Market Survey

Chris Larsen is Prosper’s Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer

When we first introduced the monthly market survey one year ago, we noted that the impact of the credit crunch on the Prosper marketplace was broadly constructive. At that time we noted that as consumers began experiencing the evaporation of introductory credit card rate offers and home equity loan options, Prosper was becoming an increasingly attractive financing alternative, especially for borrowers with good and excellent credit. We also discussed that lenders on Prosper were steering their bids toward the listings of higher credit quality borrowers.

As may be gleaned from the “Mix of Funded Borrowers” table below, the trends we observed at this time last year remain in full force today, particularly as the pervasiveness of the credit crunch is extended even further in the wake of the Federal government’s bailout of mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

Mix of Funded Borrowers

The table above also indicates that as lenders on Prosper have become more conservative in their bidding strategies and can be more selective as more prime (720+ credit scores) and near prime (600 - 719 credit scores) borrowers turn to Prosper, sub prime (520 – 599 credit scores) borrowers listing on Prosper may need to leverage “social capital,” such as inviting friends and family to bid to fund a portion – if not the majority – of their requested loan amount, in order to improve their chances of getting funded.

Very broadly, friends and family bidding activity demonstrates to lenders in the marketplace that borrowers are bringing more to the table than their credit data; they’re bringing people who are willing to put their money on the line because of their belief in that individual’s integrity and ability to repay the loan. In this tough economic climate, Americans’ social capital may be more important than ever.

For more details on the August 2008 Prosper People-to-People Lending Market Survey click here.

Prosper’s People-to-People Lending Market Survey results are released the second Tuesday of every month. To register to automatically receive the survey, send an email with “SUBSCRIBE” in the subject line to: p2plendingmarketsurvey@prosper.com.

Today we release results for August.

Prosper, America’s largest people-to-people lending marketplace, today released results for July 2008. For the first time, the survey includes statistics showing how borrowers who list and get funded in the Prosper marketplace indicate how they plan to use their personal loans. Also noteworthy, the percentage of prime borrowers (borrowers with 720+ credit scores) hit an all time high in July, accounting for 47% of funded loans.

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July 2008 Prosper People-to-People Lending Market Survey

Purpose of Personal Loan Listings and Fundings

Borrowers who post listings in the Prosper marketplace are asked how they intend to use their personal loan. The following reflects borrowers’ statements of intended use of loan proceeds with regard to both listings and loans. Prosper does not verify or confirm after funding how loan proceeds are used.

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