“With August’s gross lending figure streets ahead of last year’s figure by over £3.5bn, conditions are ripe for growth to continue with more funding, favourable interest rates and a swell of public demand. The mortgage market is clearly fulfilling its side of the bargain in supporting the recovering economy. With over 12,500 reservations for the Help to Buy equity loan scheme, there is extra incentive for housebuilders to do likewise and increase the supply of new homes firm in the knowledge this will be backed by mortgage availability.
“IMLA’s latest market research found both lenders and brokers have higher expectations for market performance in 2013 following a busy first half of the year. Many lenders will be engaged to a race to the finish to meet their target volumes. But with the Mortgage Market Review implementation looming, they will be careful not to overstretch the mark: long-term affordability remains just as important as short-term access to mortgage loans.”