E.surv believes the UK mortgage market appears to have reached a ‘new normal’, as although approvals dropped dramatically in the immediate aftermath of the vote, the market rebounded in August and this level of activity has remained steady into September. Additionally, the proportion of loans made to borrowers with a deposit of less than 15% remains above the level seen a year ago.
Some 17.9% of loans were made to borrowers with smaller deposits in September, higher than the 17.3% recorded in the same month last year, suggesting that first-time buyers are not bearing the brunt of lenders’ reduced activity.
Richard Sexton, Director of e.surv, commented: “Despite many predicting a post-Brexit slump in the mortgage world, the market appears to have already levelled out and there is now a platform for growth in future months. Policy statements from government and the Bank of England appear to have restored confidence to the market and, while activity is lower than a year ago, it is far from the disaster some had predicted. Low mortgage rates are likely to entice more people back into the market in the coming months.
In fact, for first-time buyers the mortgage market is looking much healthier than last year. Rates are lower and lenders are approving a higher proportion of loans to small deposit borrowers than they did 12 months ago. This is great news for those trying to make their first step onto the property ladder."
