Your Mortgage Awards

2011 - 2012

Widely regarded as the UK's definitive consumer mortgage awards, for 21 years the Your Mortgage Awards have recognised and rewarded those lenders and providers that have offered the very best products and services to mortgage borrowers over the preceding 12 months.

Mortgage borrowers and lenders alike had another difficult year in 2011, with ongoing economic uncertainty and funding challenges continuing to restrict the mortgage and housing markets.

Massive Government spending cuts and concerns regarding the future of the eurozone continue to undermine consumer and business confidence. Lenders have little appetite for risk, although the number of higher loan-to-value mortgages sought after by first-time buyers has been picking up. Some lenders have also been proactive in introducing innovative guarantor deals for first-time buyers, and schemes which allow family members to help out.

However, with lenders continuing to insist on squeaky-clean credit records, getting hold of first-time buyer homeloans remains difficult for many.

Interest rates, and mortgage lenders' standard variable rates, remain at an all-time low, which has been a great relief for borrowers, in many cases keeping the wolf from the door.

But with rates possibly set to rise at some point next year, many borrowers are wary of taking on too much debt. Indeed, British homeowners have paid off a record amount of mortgage debt in the last 12 months, taking advantage of the low interest rates.

Happily, the buy-to-let market recovered strongly in 2011, with a number of established players returning to the sector and some new entrants launching products too, all of which increases consumer choice.

Winning a Your Mortgage Award in these challenging conditions is a highly impressive achievement, and all of this year's victors deserve particular praise for their ongoing commitment to mortgage borrowers.

Click here to view the winners of the 2011 - 2012 Your Mortgage Awards