Adviser-only deals leap almost 20% in August

The total number of mortgage deals available via mortgage advisers and direct from lenders increased by 16% in August, rising from 5,208 in July to 6,050 last month.

According to software provider TrigoldCrystal, which supplies the systems via which many intermediaries access mortgage deals, there were seven times more mortgage deals on offer via advisers than direct from lenders in August.

The number of products available direct from lenders rose by 7% between July and August, from 1,401 to 1,505; however intermediary products numbers increased by 19% from 3,807 to 4,545 last month.

David Aylmer, business development and marketing director of TrigoldCrystal, said:

"The fact that seven times as many more intermediary products than direct have been introduced into the market over the last month does lend itself to the view that things are changing for the better."

With greater competition in the market, the likelihood of reduced pricing in the housing sector seems evident, bringing parity between intermediary and direct pricing.

Alymer added: "Although the majority of our clients now offer a fee-paying option to include advice in direct products, the message that good advice is essential when selecting a mortgage is far better underlined when advisors are not squeezed out of the best deal by banks selling products on a non-advised basis.

"The sooner that equitable pricing between direct and intermediary products returns to the market, the happier we will be."