Over 20% of all mortgage approvals went to small deposit buyers according to e.surv

Latest e.surv Mortgage Monitor February 2018 headlines ‘Small deposit mortgages kickstart new year.’

The February Mortgage Monitor revealed a positive start to the year for the UK mortgage market, with an increase in the number of small deposit mortgages being approved.

The latest Mortgage Monitor from e.surv found that 21% of all approvals went to small deposit buyers, well above recent months. In December 2017, 18.2% of loans were to this part of the market while the month before it was just 17.2%.

Richard Sexton, a Director of e.surv Chartered Surveyors, comments were:

“We are now starting to see the effects of the Bank of England’s decision to increase the base rate filtering through to the market.

“While it is now two months on from the base rate rise, we are starting to see those who were alarmed by the talk of increased rates finalise new mortgage deals, whether with their existing lender or elsewhere.

“First-time buyers and others with smaller deposits have experienced a strong start to the year, with the proportion of loans rising compared to the end of 2017.

“While other types of borrowers have been squeezed, the larger overall mortgage market means that more people are getting approved than a month ago.”

Richard Sexton, a Director at e.surv Chartered Surveyors, concluded:

“We know that raising a deposit is one of the most difficult tasks would-be homeowners face. House hunters in London face an uphill struggle to get themselves a big enough deposit to buy, but there are places in the UK which offer much more fertile ground.

“In the North West and Yorkshire there are more mortgages approved to buyers with smaller deposits than those with a large cash pile, both are ideal places to get your foot onto the property ladder.”

Read the e.surv Mortgage Monitor report February 2018 in full click here.

 

Allen Walkey

Highly experienced businessman with a successful career in property sales and investment both in the UK and abroad. Now a freelance writer and blogger for the property and Investment Industry, keeping readers up-to-date with changes and events in a rapidly changing world.

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agent Talk

Hertfordshire emerges as strongest performing London commuter county

New research from UK Property Development reveals that while London property prices fell by more than -3% in the past year, prices in some of the capital’s surrounding counties have enjoyed positive growth, none more so than the premium commuter county of Hertfordshire.   In the past year, London’s average house price has fallen by…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

Second homes losing appeal among the rich

New Survey Reveals Ongoing Maintenance Is the Biggest Barrier to Second Home Ownership   62% say upkeep and hassle would stop them from buying a second home, even if money were no object   A new survey conducted by luxury co-ownership platform Equity Residences has revealed that the practical realities of owning a second home…
Read More
Letting Agent Talk

How to build a property portfolio with buy-to-let mortgages

One of the reasons property is such a popular asset choice for investors is that you don’t need to invest all the money yourself; you can leverage funds from the bank. Here’s a very simplistic example of how borrowing via a buy-to-let (BTL) mortgage allows you to multiply your returns versus owning a property all-cash:…
Read More
Home and Living

2026’s Fastest-Growing Bathroom Trend Is the Wet Room

“Wet rooms have become one of the standout bathroom upgrades of 2026, moving from luxury extra to everyday renovation choice as more homeowners prioritise space, style and easy cleaning. The momentum is only building as spa‑style bathrooms stay in demand.” “Wet rooms used to be a niche request,” says Ant Langston, Marketing Manager at Heat…
Read More
Home and Living

Homebuyers could cut energy bills by £400 a year

As the energy price cap keeps rising, the latest research from Yopa reveals that buying a new-build home could save homebuyers as much as £450 a year on their energy bills. With the energy price cap forecast to increase again over the coming year, many households are preparing for further pressure on their finances as…
Read More
Breaking News

Zoopla House Price Index Reaction

The latest index from Zoopla shows that: – First-time buyers are targeting homes worth £10,000 more than a year ago, with average prices up 4.3% to £254,750 – nearly 3x the rate of UK house price growth There are 6% fewer first time buyers in the market than this time last year, but those that…
Read More