There are times in our lives when we can all use some help and guidance. Buying a home is one of those major steps that is much easier to take if you are well- informed and get some good advice. Whether you are a first-time buyer or someone who has moved before, things change, so it’s useful to understand the mortgage market.

Each year, thousands of consumers finance the purchase of their homes with a mortgage or re-finance existing mortgages. With mortgage debt accounting for over 80% of total UK household liabilities, finding a suitable mortgage is an important financial decision. Most mortgages in the UK are provided by building societies, banks and specialised mortgage corporations. There are currently around 200 different financial institutions offering mortgages in Britain. The mortgage market is very competitive, with a wide range of products and rates available, making it challenging to understand what is on offer.

Change in the market
The mortgage market is continually evolving to meet the needs of a changing customer base, with new developments in intergenerational lending, lending into and in retirement, buy-to-let mortgages and support for first-time buyers. Over the last 15 years the UK mortgage market has journeyed through some key changes and seen many new regulatory requirements, as a result of the Mortgage Market Review and the implementation of the Mortgage Credit Directive.

Who does what?
The professional conduct of mortgage providers is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). There are strict rules and guidelines, to protect the consumer. Regulations set out in the FCA Mortgage Market Review (2014) aim to crack down on poor lending services by building societies and banks, with requirements outlined for stricter affordability checks, amongst other revisions.

The Bank of England sets the interest rate, which impacts mortgage repayments and it is also responsible for ensuring banks are able to meet potential losses on their mortgage lending, meaning you can save and borrow money safely. The Prudential Regulation Authority determines the amount of money that lenders need to hold and that they have sufficient risk controls.

New challenges
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, in March the FCA published ‘Mortgages and coronavirus: our guidance for firms’. Advisers are working hard to stay informed about what is available from the government, so they can provide this guidance to their clients. In such a fast-changing environment, many lenders have responded by withdrawing deals from the market, mostly those in the higher loan-to-value range.

We’re here to help
We are responsible for advising you on a suitable mortgage for your circumstances, whether you’re moving up the ladder, looking to downsize, purchasing another property or remortgaging, please get in touch. We are specialists with in-depth knowledge of the market and are able to look at a whole range of mortgage products. Getting a mortgage is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make, so it’s important to get it right.

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT.