image source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/9857771/Fixes-at-record-low-in-mortgage-price-war.html
According to the Bank of England’s ‘Credit Conditions report’, mortgage availability is expected to increase in the fourth quarter of the year after a previous sharp contraction in the market.
Lenders are fighting to win back the market share following significantly lower mortgage availability over the summer months due to house price concerns, the new affordability rules introduced in April and the possible impact of restrictions on loan to income ratios.
The mortgage price war could intensify in the last 3 months of 2014 and we have already seen a flurry of activity from lenders in recent weeks with price cuts and new launches. Some lenders are even offering free iPads with mortgage deals and Council Tax payments.
Andrew Montlake, director of mortgage broker Coreco, believes that consumers should benefit from the new atmosphere:
“What is encouraging is that we are now seeing more availability of mortgages as lenders look to hit targets they have fallen behind on by the end of the year. This has led to a mortgage rate war breaking out as competitive pressures help to cut mortgages rates in every part of the mortgage market.”
For house-hunters who have struggled to secure a mortgage over the summer months, due to the changing appetite for risk and lenders concerns about house prices, this will be welcome news. Savvy consumers should keep an eye on the mortgage market in the next few weeks as expert insiders predict there will be some exceptionally good deals being introduced by a variety of lenders.
Franki Chaffin-Edwards
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