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First-time Buyers

Buyer deposits drop to lowest this year

vickyhartley
Written By:
vickyhartley
Posted:
Updated:
17/04/2014

Better access to high loan to value (LTV) mortgages is helping keep deposits down despite rising house prices, according to a survey.

The National Mortgage Index from adviser firm Mortgage Advice Bureau, showed the average house purchase deposit fell by 2% between February and March. It tumbled to £61,325, which is the lowest figure for a year.

In March, average buyer prices rose 7% year-on-year, but the return of high LTV mortgages has helped ensure average deposits have grown at less than half of this rate at 3%.

The data suggests applications growth this year has slowed a little to 4%, against a 28% rise between January and February and 19% between February and March last year.

Year-on-year figures suggest the market is cooling slightly ahead of changes to mortgage regulation later this month (MMR), said MAB.

Mortgage product numbers rose to 11,126, which is the highest point this year so far. Deals available through mortgage advisers rose by 3.7% from February to 7,569. In contrast, products sold through bank branches, online or via the telephone fell by 2.4% to 3,557.

Brian Murphy, head of lending at Mortgage Advice Bureau, (pictured) said: “The option to take out a high LTV mortgage has been relied on by generations of first time buyers to get on the housing ladder. In a climate of strengthening house prices, buyers can take heart that deposit requirements are visibly easing thanks to the return of high LTV loans.”