The market for UK mortgages has greatly expanded over the past few decades. In the past there were only a few high-street lenders who offered home loans in the UK.
Today, however, there are thousands of different UK mortgages available from dozens of different lenders many of which are specialist lenders operating in niche markets.
A gradual change in the composition of the UK’s workforce over the past few decades has lead to substantial changes in the market for home loans. Applicants of UK mortgages now range from standard, full-status, clean credit individuals, to those who may be unable to prove their income or who may suffer from adverse credit.
In addition to the vast array of home loans available to individuals seeking finance for their own homes, there is an increasing range of buy-to-let products on offer to property investors.
Property investment has become an extremely popular way for UK residents to start their own businesses and provide for their retirements. The market for UK mortgages that are available to buy-to-let investors has become a large and sophisticated niche of the overall home loan market.
It is safe to say that the market for home loans in the UK has come a long way in recent years. Gone are the days of begging hat-in-hand for a home loan from an overbearing bank manager. Instead, many applications for UK mortgages are now carried out online or over the phone and in some cases applicants never even meet their mortgage broker.
People move home approximately once every seven years, which means that home owners rarely hold on to the same mortgage product for the full term of the loan.
Additionally, home owners often remortgage their properties in order to take advantage of special offers on home loans such as discounted interest rates.
Basic mortgage products for owner-occupied properties have also become more complicate of late. Flexible home loans are becoming more common in the UK mortgage market which offers borrowers the ability to over and under pay on their monthly repayments.
Additionally, these products combine the home loan with other finance products such as secured loans, credit cards, and current accounts. There are various types of flexible home loans so care must be takes to apply for the right product before it is secured against an individual’s home.
It is fair to say that the market for UK mortgages has become very large and extremely complex and for this reason professional advice should be sought from an independent broker or IFA in order to help you select the right product based on your individual circumstances.
Borrowers should also be aware that the market for home loans in the UK is regulated by the Financial Services Authority in order to offer borrowers protection against unscrupulous brokers.
If applicants feel their broker is not acting honestly, they should contact the FSA for advice. UK residents should also note that whilst most UK mortgages are regulated by the FSA, buy-to-let products and commercial mortgages are not.
+ There are no comments
Add yours