Knowledge Bank’s monthly ‘criteria activity tracker’ shows brokers are looking for higher LTV loans, alongside mortgage deals for the self-employed.
This research shows the top five most searched for criteria used by brokers during November across eight different mortgage types.
In the residential market the top search once again was for lenders that would accept self-employed applicants with just one years’ accounts.
This has been the top search for the past three months showing the self-employed market is a sustained borrower segment.
It is clear there is also a desire for higher LTV loans. This was the second most searched for criteria in the residential sector, but it was also in the top five in a number of other product categories: including buy-to-let, second charge mortgages, self-build, bridging and commercial lending.
Within the residential sector Help to Buy loans and equity loan schemes were also among the top five searches for the first time this year. Knowlege Bank says this shows the diversity of borrower requirements that brokers are faced with on a daily basis.
In the buy-to-let market the focus was on those entering this sector, with searches for mortgages eligible for first-time landlords and first-time buyers taking two of the top five spots.
However, the most popular search within the buy-to-let sector was for lending to limited companies – suggesting that borrowers are looking for the most tax efficient ways to enter this market.
In the equity release sector, the most popular search was for early repayment charges. Knowledge Bank says this shows the growing product choice in this market and the desire for borrowers to understand the restrictions should they find an alternative loan in the future.
Knowledge Bank’s chief executive Nicola Firth says: “Once again the criteria tracker shows activity at the coal-face of broker activity.
“As you can see from this month’s activity tracker although some searches remain popular from month-to-month, new search topics are regularly breaking into the top five.
“This is partly due to changing borrower requirements but it is also as the result of product innovation from lenders that opens up borrowing opportunities.”
