In the third quarter of 2013, the 13,100 loans advanced to first-time buyers in London marked an increase of 24% on the previous quarter and a rise of 32% compared to the third quarter of 2012, according to latest data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).
Strong house price growth in London, and the knock on effect on the typical loan amount has resulted in stronger growth in the value of lending to first-time buyers. In total, £2,960 million was advanced in the third quarter of 2013, a 25% increase compared to quarter two and up 42% compared to the same period last year.
In the third quarter, first-time buyers typically borrowed £198,000, an increase from £192,700 in the second quarter this year. While first-time buyers took out larger loans, the initial affordability of these loans was almost unchanged as a result of higher incomes and falling interest rates. On average first-time buyers who bought in this period spent 20.8% of their income on mortgage payments, unchanged from quarter two and less than the 21.3% in the same period in 2012.
First-time buyer affordability in London remains tighter than in the UK overall. First-time buyers in London borrowed an average of 3.74 times their income in the third quarter compared to 3.67 in the second quarter and 3.59 times their income in the third quarter of 2012.
There was a shift in the mix of properties bought by first-time buyers in London towards in this period. In quarter three, 53% of first-time buyers bought properties priced at more than £250k, up from 47% in the same period last year. In London only 3% of first-time buyers bought a property for less than £125k and therefore did not have to pay any stamp duty. At the other end of the scale 11% in London bought properties valued at more than £500k.
First-time buyers make up a larger proportion of house purchase loans in London – 55% of house purchase loans advanced in London in quarter three were to first-time buyers compared to 44% in the UK overall – a trend that has consistently been observed historically and is likely to be a function of demographics in London, with proportionately more younger people.
Home mover lending in London has shown growth in the third quarter of 2013. In total, 10,900 loans worth £3.4bn were advanced to home movers in London which was an increase of 28% compared to quarter two and a 38% increase in value of the loans. This however is a smaller growth on the third quarter of 2012 representing a 6% increase in the number of loans compared to a year ago but a 16% increase in value.
Total house purchase lending in London was boosted by the increase in lending to first-time buyers and home movers showing an increase of 26% compared to the second quarter and 19% compared to the third quarter of 2012.
There were 24,000 house purchase loans advanced in London worth £6.4bn in total, a 32% rise in value compared to the second quarter of 2013 and up by 27% compared to the third quarter last year.
Home mover lending in London has shown growth in the third quarter of 2013. In total, 10,500 loans worth £3.4bn were advanced to home movers in London which was an increase of 28% compared to quarter two and a 38% increase in value of the loans. This however is a smaller growth on the third quarter of 2012 representing a 6% increase in the number of loans compared to a year ago but a 16% increase in value.
Remortgage lending in London has started to continue growth following over a year of subdued activity. There was £2.9bn advanced to borrowers remortgaging their houses in the third quarter of 2013, which was up by 25% compared to the second quarter and an increase of 42% compared to the third quarter of 2012.
CML director general Paul Smee said: “The increase in lending for house purchase in London seems broadly consistent with UK-wide upward trends. First-time buyers were the key driver in the first half of the year in London but remortgagors and home movers have shown greater signs of life this quarter. As the Mayor of London’s housing strategy shows, the London housing market has especial challenges and we will work with the Mayor in tackling them.”
