Mortgage applications from homebuyers and remortgaging homeowners reached their highest point of 2014 last month, according to the National Mortgage Index from Mortgage Advice Bureau.
Total applications via brokers were up 13% in October compared with September to record double-digit growth for the second successive month, having also risen 13% from August to September.
October’s monthly total was up 21% year-on-year and 3% higher than in March – the previous peak of 2014 and the final month before the Mortgage Market Review (MMR) took effect.
Mortgage Advice Bureau said the data indicates consumer appetite for mortgage finance remains strong despite reports of cooling house prices and tighter affordability checks. Applications for Jan-Oct 2014 were up 32% on the equivalent period of 2013 and have now exceeded the 2013 year total by 11% after passing this milestone in October.
Remortgage applications during October were up 17% in the month and 34% year-on-year, while homebuyer applications were up 11% in the month and 17% year-on-year.
October’s National Mortgage Index also reveals that intermediary product numbers grew by 270 in October compared with September to reach 8,812, while direct-only products rose 136 to 3,663.
In the six months since MMR took effect in April, broker products have risen 11% (870) compared to a 5% (189) growth in direct-only products.
The total of 8,812 broker products has only been bettered once (November 2013) in the five years since November 2008. It meant more products were available via brokers last month than across the whole market at any point in 2012.
New product launches in October pushed the overall total to 12,476, exceeding the previous post-recession high of 12,265 (August 2014) by an extra 2%.
Brian Murphy, head of lending at Mortgage Advice Bureau, said: “The direction of house prices, interest rates and wages are giving consumers plenty to think about, and these figures show that growing numbers of borrowers are focused on progressing their house buying or remortgaging plans and seeking independent advice to make it happen.
“After seeing the Bank of England flirt with a first interest rate rise in 7½ years, more people will be conscious that change is coming and looking for opportunities to make the most of today’s low prices. With product numbers continuing to rise, they have more choices at their disposal than at any point since the market recovery began.
“House price rises have also improved the outlook for many homeowners experiencing low or negative equity – giving them a better chance of moving home or finding a new deal on their existing property.”
Mortgage Advice Bureau said its index suggests that MMR affordability tests have had some impact on borrower profiles: October’s average loan to value (LTV) for homebuyers was 69.7%, dropping for a third successive month to the lowest figure for a year – since October 2013 (69.1%) – having reached 71.8% in March.
It means borrowers are putting up more funding as a percentage of their house purchases, and the average purchase mortgage has also dropped by 4% – over £7,000 – since it peaked at £165,463 in June.
The proportion of homebuyers opting for fixed rates grew to 94% in October, from 92% in September, despite reports that the Bank of England base rate may remain at 0.5% until after the general election.
Murphy said: “The potential delay on a base rate rise has prompted a dip in mortgage pricing across the board, and there is a good chance that rates and product choices will continue to improve as mortgage lenders look to end the year on a positive note.
“The months ahead will be a crucial window for new and existing borrowers to judge how and when to make their move. The fall in the average purchase LTV over the last year makes the presence of affordable schemes like Help to Buy, shared equity and shared ownership even more important. Policies to support house building and homeownership are sure to be a dominant theme of the upcoming election.”