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

February 21, 2018

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

Overseas Property

Why 2026 is the Best Year to Invest in Dominican Republic Land

If you’re eyeing Caribbean real estate, 2026 offers an exceptional window to invest in Dominican Republic land. The country has emerged as the fastest-growing Caribbean economy, creating ideal conditions for land investors. Tax incentives, infrastructure projects, and rising international interest are converging at just the right moment. Whether you’re searching for beach land for sale…
Read More →
Breaking News

Property expert on how to bag the BEST mortgage deal in today’s market

Finding a good mortgage deal in today’s market demands more than just comparing rates. While the average 2-year and 5-year fixed mortgage rates have gone down this year, they’re still higher than rates pre-pandemic. This means those in their current homes will have to pay more than they once were each month, and new buyers…
Read More →
Breaking News

Halloween Named the UK’s Most Popular Moving Day of 2025

Halloween was the most popular day to move house in 2025, breaking the long-standing trend of summer being the busiest time for home moves. We analysed the data and spoke to industry experts to understand why the peak moving day has shifted and why it fell on an international holiday.  Compare My Move reviewed more than 170,000 house moves made in 2025 and…
Read More →
for sale sign london
Breaking News

Industry Response to Halifax House Price Index

Industry response to the Halifax House Price Index December 2025 The latest index shows that: – On a monthly basis, house prices fell by 0.6% between November and December of last year. Annually, house prices were up 0.3% versus this time last year, although this annual rate of growth had slowed from 0.7% the previous…
Read More →
Breaking News

Halifax House Price Index December 2025

House prices in December 2025 were 0.3% higher compared to the same month a year earlier. UK house prices dipped in December • House prices dipped by -0.6% in December, following a -0.1% fall in November • Average property price is now £297,755, the lowest since June • Annual growth slowed to +0.3%, down from…
Read More →
Breaking News

Homebuyer demand returns following Autumn Budget

New research from Property DriveBuy reveals that Bristol, Tyne & Wear, and South Yorkshire emerged as the UK’s most in-demand areas of the housing market following the Autumn Budget, with as many as 61% of homes listed for sale successfully securing a buyer in Q4 2025. Property Drivebuy analysed residential listings data across the nation…
Read More →