Financial Mirror (Cyprus)

Improved mortgage lending in most of the UK in 2Q

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Lending to home buyers improved across the UK in the second quarter of 2017, with mortgages in London bouncing back and in Scotland first time buyers driving the most growth since 2007, according to a report published by the news portal PropertyWi­re.

The latest data from UK Finance shows that home buyers borrowed GBP 6.1 bln in London, up 11% quarter on quarter and 17% year on year. They took out 18,000 loans, up 6% compared to the previous quarter and 8% on the second quarter 2016.

First time buyers in London borrowed GBP 3.1 bln, up 10% on the first quarter and 8% on the second quarter of last year, equating to 10,600 loans, up 5% quarter on quarter and 3% year on year.

Home movers borrowed GBP 3 bln, up 11% quarter on quarter and 28% compared to a year ago, some 7,400 loans, up 7% quarter on quarter and 18% compared to the same quarter in 2016.

“Home buying in London bounced back from the traditiona­lly subdued beginning of the year, with both first time buyer and home mover lending showing growth both on the first quarter of 2017 and on the same period a year ago,” said Paul Smee, UK Finance head of mortgages.

“The housing market in Greater London has some unique characteri­stics compared to the rest of the UK with more first time buyers, but lower overall levels of home ownership. Affordabil­ity and the supply of housing remain critical factors to manage for the London market if positive activity is to continue going forward.”

In Scotland home buyers borrowed GBP 2.5 bln in the second quarter, up 35% quarter on quarter and 18% year on year. They took out 18,800 loans, up 30% compared to the previous quarter and 15% on the second quarter 2016.

First time buyers borrowed GBP 1.1 bln, up 29% on the first quarter and 17% on the second quarter last year. This totalled 9,500 loans, up 25% quarter on quarter and 15% year on year.

Home movers borrowed GBP 1.5 bln, up 39% quarter on quarter and 20% compared to a year ago. This totalled 9,300 loans, up 37% quarter on quarter and 16% compared to the same quarter in 2016.

Remortgage activity totalled GBP 900 mln, down 7% on the first quarter but up 7% on the same quarter last year. This came to 7,300 loans, down 10% quarter on quarter but up 4% compared to a year ago.

“There were more home buyers in Scotland in the second quarter of 2017 than any other quarter since 2007. First time buyers have been a key driver of this, with two years of year on year growth,” said Carol Anderson, chair of the UK Finance Scotland mortgage committee.

“With an economic climate of low interest rates, government schemes and competitiv­e mortgage deals, the Scottish market is in a good position and open to business going forward,” she added.

In Wales home buyers borrowed GBP 1.1 bln, up 26% quarter on quarter and 19% year on year. They took out 8,100 loans, up 23% compared to the previous quarter and 14% on the second quarter of 2016.

First time buyers borrowed GBP 490 mln, up 26% on the first quarter and 17% on the second quarter of last year, totalling 4,200 loans, up 24% quarter on quarter and 14% year on year.

Home movers borrowed GBP 580 mln, up 26% quarter on quarter and 21% compared to a year ago. This totalled 3,900 loans, up 22% quarter on quarter and 15% compared to the same quarter in 2016.

Remortgage activity totalled GBP 470 mln, down 10% on the first quarter but up 4% on the same quarter last year. This came to 4,100 loans, down 11% quarter on quarter but up 2% compared to a year ago.

“It is very positive to see growth among both first time buyers and home movers, making this the strongest second quarter for home buying activity in Wales since 2007. Affordabil­ity continues to be better in Wales than the UK overall, and with attractive mortgage rates and a wide range of choice in the market currently; we expect this level of activity to continue going forward,” said Julie Ann Haines, chair of the UK Finance Wales mortgage committee.

According to Toby Whittome, London sales director at Jackson-Stops & Staff, strong levels of lending activity are almost certainly emanating from the lower to mid-levels of the greater London regional property market.

“If stamp duty levels weren’t causing so much harm in the million-plus market, which is focused in London, I think we would see this health and fluidity spread to the higher end of the market too. If London was firing on all cylinders at every level, just imagine how positive it would look to the rest of the world,” he pointed out.

Richard Sexton, director at e.surv, some parts of the country prove to be more fruitful for small deposit buyers while at the other end of the spectrum, London is seeing more demand from large deposit buyers, where 41% of all mortgages granted in the region are to those with a large deposit.

The majority of British people plan to introduce more smart technology into their homes to save time and money and become more energy efficient, new research suggests. However, while 73% would like to do so, many do not understand the benefits, with one in five thinking that solar panels, for example, only generate electricit­y when the sun is shining and one in 10 thinking they don’t work when it is cold.

The research from E.ON also found that once common household items are now considered obsolete because of new technology. Some 52% said that CD and DVD stands are no longer needed, 48% have no need for a photo album, 34% said bookshelve­s are not required and 26% said cables and wires.

While overall the majority of people have already taken steps to make their homes smarter, the research found that 34% are planning further technology upgrades, although 27% have yet to adopt smart technologi­es in their homes and 21% of home owners are uncomforta­ble with using smart technology.

Those who’ve already implemente­d technology upgrades cited saving money as the top driver with 59% saying so, while 55% were motivated to be more energy efficient and 38% by saving time.

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