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

Breaking News

Smaller deposits and higher LTVs mortgages drive FTB activity

Gen Z optimistic about homeownership in 2026 amid rising demand for cheaper homes, smaller deposits and higher LTVs Barclays data reveals that 22 per cent of first-time buyers purchased homes with deposits under £20,000 in December, up 8 percentage points year-on-year 44 per cent of first-time buyers opted for 85-90 per cent LTV mortgages in…
Read More
Breaking News

Improved affordability provides boost to first-time buyers

Nationwide Housing Affordability Report Continued improvement in affordability helped support first-time buyer activity over 2025 Considerable variation in affordability remains across occupational groups, with affordability most challenging for people working in sales & customer service, but easier for those in managerial and professional roles Affordability most stretched in London and South of England, while North…
Read More
Breaking News

UK rents fall for first time on record

Hamptons Monthly Lettings Index – December 2025 Rents end 2025 below where they started for the first timeon record. Rents in the capital return to 2023 levels as five of 11 GB regions see rents fall in 2025 Newly agreed rents dipped by 0.7% across Great Britain in 2025 – the first time rents fell…
Read More
How to add value to your home
Breaking News

London boasts most slow-to-sell properties

The latest research from Yopa has found that while the housing market has shown signs of turning a corner since the Autumn Budget, sellers across the more inflated regions, in particular, are still struggling with slower market conditions, with almost one in five homes classed as slow-to-sell found in London. Yopa analysed current market listings…
Read More
to let sign 2025
Breaking News

Rental availability rises 25%

Rental availability rises 25% in Q4, pointing to slower tenant movement New analysis from Inventory Base, a leading provider of inspection and compliance technology, reveals that rental availability in England increased by 25% in Q4 2025. While seasonality will have played a role, a 15.4% year-on-year rise suggests a larger-than usual build-up of available homes.…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

From loft insulation to lower interest rates: How energy efficiency really pays off

Homeowners could cut up to £2,000 a year from their energy bills this Energy Savers Week, by combining targeted home improvements with simple efficiency changes and, in doing so, they could improve their mortgage affordability by qualifying for a green mortgage – further boosting the savings on offer from taking a greener approach to homeownership.…
Read More