Story by: Gemma Westacott, FTAdviser
Housing equity withdrawal has fallen into negative territory for the fourth successive quarter, as homeowners continue to shun cashing in on property equity to fund spending.
The number of live mortgage schemes available to intermediaries has plummeted to an all time low, following a 16 per cent drop in live products in June.
A modest expansion in the number of higher loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages is expected in coming months, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).
Almost 90 per cent of borrowers are now fixing their mortgage rate, according to Legal & General.
Interim regulation of the sale and rent back market came into force today (1 July), with the industry quick to welcome the initiative.
The number of mortgage products available to intermediaries fell by 6.45 per cent during May to just 2,673, as direct only products continue to rise.
The recent trend for mortgage borrowers to opt for fixed rate products has slowed this week, after
Gross mortgage lending declined a further 2 per cent in May despite signs of improvement in the housing market, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
IFAs already fighting for business are increasingly facing competition from mortgage advisers who are branching out and stepping on their toes, according to Leadbay.
Abbey for Intermediaries has changed its mortgage application process in an attempt to manage volumes and turnaround times by rooting out and declining those applications which are unsatisfactory and incomplete.
This week's mystery shopper heads to Chelmsford to find out about getting on the property ladder
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