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12/02/2010
Loans Boost As Buyers Beat Stamp Duty
The number of loans to first-time buyers hit a two-year high in December 2009, driven by a rush to buy properties in the £125,000 - £175,000 bracket before the year-end stamp duty concession expired, according to figures released today by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).
The CML has also published new analysis showing how affordability, especially for first-time buyers, is complicated by the effect of low interest rates when capital repayments are taken into account.
December saw 24,900 loans to first-time buyers, the highest number since November 2007. At £2.9 billion, first-time buyer loans rose 26% from November both by volume and value.
55% of house purchase loans were on properties costing under £175,000 and therefore exempt from stamp duty, up from 51% in November. 10,300 first-time buyers and 11,200 home movers bought a property of between £125,000 and £175,000 in December, up 63% from 6,300 and 49% from 7,500 respectively from November. This clearly indicates a rush to complete purchases before January, when stamp duty would have added an additional 1% of the purchase price onto the transaction costs.
Bob Pannell, Author of the research, said: "With 90% of loans advanced in December being repayment mortgages, it would seem appropriate to take capital payments into account when assessing affordability.
"Typical capital and interest payments for a recent first-time buyer would represent about 21% of pre-tax income. This is considerably more than the 14-15% that mortgage interest costs alone would be, and demonstrates why using initial mortgage interest costs to assess affordability risks giving an overly flattering picture."
(CD/GK)
The CML has also published new analysis showing how affordability, especially for first-time buyers, is complicated by the effect of low interest rates when capital repayments are taken into account.
December saw 24,900 loans to first-time buyers, the highest number since November 2007. At £2.9 billion, first-time buyer loans rose 26% from November both by volume and value.
55% of house purchase loans were on properties costing under £175,000 and therefore exempt from stamp duty, up from 51% in November. 10,300 first-time buyers and 11,200 home movers bought a property of between £125,000 and £175,000 in December, up 63% from 6,300 and 49% from 7,500 respectively from November. This clearly indicates a rush to complete purchases before January, when stamp duty would have added an additional 1% of the purchase price onto the transaction costs.
Bob Pannell, Author of the research, said: "With 90% of loans advanced in December being repayment mortgages, it would seem appropriate to take capital payments into account when assessing affordability.
"Typical capital and interest payments for a recent first-time buyer would represent about 21% of pre-tax income. This is considerably more than the 14-15% that mortgage interest costs alone would be, and demonstrates why using initial mortgage interest costs to assess affordability risks giving an overly flattering picture."
(CD/GK)
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15 April 2009
House Purchase Lending Edges Up And Remortgaging Declines
The number of house purchase loans ticked up in February, according to new data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). There were 24,300 house purchase loans worth £3.1 billion, compared with 23,400 loans worth £3.1 billion in January - a 4% increase.
House Purchase Lending Edges Up And Remortgaging Declines
The number of house purchase loans ticked up in February, according to new data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). There were 24,300 house purchase loans worth £3.1 billion, compared with 23,400 loans worth £3.1 billion in January - a 4% increase.
12 February 2009
Figures Show Sharp Decline In Mortgage Lending
New data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) shows the sharp decline in mortgage lending activity over the past year. There were 516,000 house purchase loans in 2008, a decline of 49% from 2007 and the lowest level of activity since 1974.
Figures Show Sharp Decline In Mortgage Lending
New data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) shows the sharp decline in mortgage lending activity over the past year. There were 516,000 house purchase loans in 2008, a decline of 49% from 2007 and the lowest level of activity since 1974.
13 February 2012
First-time Buyers Numbers Increase
The number of first-time buyers, who are currently exempt from paying stamp duty on properties up to £250.000, increased in December, according to data released today by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. There were 18,700 loans advanced, worth £2.3 billion, up 7% by volume and 10% by value, from November.
First-time Buyers Numbers Increase
The number of first-time buyers, who are currently exempt from paying stamp duty on properties up to £250.000, increased in December, according to data released today by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. There were 18,700 loans advanced, worth £2.3 billion, up 7% by volume and 10% by value, from November.
13 September 2010
Mortgage Market Still 'Subdued'
Demand for mortgages remained weak in July, according to the latest figures released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. The new figures showed that there were 56,000 loans for house purchase advanced in July, an increase of 7% from the previous month.
Mortgage Market Still 'Subdued'
Demand for mortgages remained weak in July, according to the latest figures released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. The new figures showed that there were 56,000 loans for house purchase advanced in July, an increase of 7% from the previous month.
13 March 2008
Budget Will Help First-Time Buyers
Thousands of first-time buyers and key workers could see their purchasing power boosted by up to 50% with new home loans announced in the Budget. The Chancellor announced that from April this year two new equity loans will be available through the Government's shared equity scheme Open Market HomeBuy (OMHB).
Budget Will Help First-Time Buyers
Thousands of first-time buyers and key workers could see their purchasing power boosted by up to 50% with new home loans announced in the Budget. The Chancellor announced that from April this year two new equity loans will be available through the Government's shared equity scheme Open Market HomeBuy (OMHB).
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