Loans for house purchase at a near 2 year low in January according to CML

March 15, 2017

New data for January released yesterday by the  Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) headlined ‘Home buying activity declines in January’.

In January, home buyers borrowed £8.4bn, first-time buyers borrowed £3.6bn for home-owner house purchase, home movers borrowed £4.9bn.

In the report CML stated: The number of loans advanced for house purchase in January was at its lowest monthly level since February 2015 – a near two year low.

Paul Smee, director general of the CML, commented: “January gives the impression of a flattish market overall, albeit one with a resurgent remortgage sector. We expect a seasonal dip in activity in the winter months and this appears to be the case in January. However, the lull in moving activity appears stubbornly persistent, and we have commissioned research on the reasons why the number of transactions seems in secular decline.

“Buy-to-let house purchase activity continues to be weak, despite strong buy-to-let remortgage levels. This will likely remain so going forward as lenders tighten affordability criteria ahead of the PRA mandated stress tests, and the introduction of tax changes in April”.

Read the CML news release with data for January 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

New anti-money laundering rules now in effect: what landlords need to know

New anti-money laundering (AML) rules came into effect this month, marking a significant change for landlords and the lettings industry as a whole. The new rules mean financial sanctions checks are now required for all lettings, regardless of how much rent is charged. Here, Steve Bond, managing director of residential lettings for Beresfords, explains what…
Read More →
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 4/06/25

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Stanmore Contractors announces new Stanmore Design House division Stanmore Contractors, the UK’s leading specialist contractor, has today announced the launch of Stanmore Design House, a new division that will provide RIBA Stage 4 and onwards technical design services to its clients – alongside integrated…
Read More →
Breaking News

£200 increase in void period penalties for landlords

The latest analysis by Dwelly, one of the UK’s leading lettings acquisition and success planning experts, has found that landlords have been hit with a 26% increase in the cost of void periods in the past year, equivalent to lost income of almost £200. Dwelly analysed average void period data from March 2024 and March…
Read More →
Breaking News

37% of homebuyers see purchases delayed

The latest research by GetAgent Exchange, a new platform enabling agents to monetise out-of-area applicant leads, has found that whilst the majority of homebuyers also have a property to sell themselves, 41% don’t consider selling their current property until having started the viewing process for their new home, at the very least. The survey of…
Read More →
Seaside Properties UK
Breaking News

Isle of Wight best sun-seeking hotspot for homebuyers

Isle of Wight ranks as most affordable sun-seeking hotspot for homebuyers The latest research from over-50s property specialists, Regency Living, reveals that in the UK’s sunniest county, homebuyers are paying an average of £835 for every minute of daily sunshine. For some homebuyers, living in a place that offers warm weather and sunshine is a…
Read More →
Coastal and sea front property
Breaking News

Coast to city cuts property values by £4,300 per minute

Commuting from coast to city can save homebuyers as much as £4,300 per minute New research from Yopa, the full-service estate agents, has revealed where the nation’s homebuyers can secure a coastal lifestyle whilst also remaining within commutable distance of a major city, saving themselves hundreds of thousands of pounds in the process. Yopa analysed…
Read More →