First Time Buyer lending back to 2007 levels

First-time buyer lending hit £12.1bn during the third quarter of 2014, the highest level since 2007, Bank of England figures have revealed.

The PRA/FCA Mortgage Lenders and Administrators Statistics found that £55.9bn was advanced during Q3, up 13% on last year.

Fixed rate mortgages dominated the market and accounted for 82.6% of all mortgages.

Brian Murphy, head of lending at Mortgage Advice Bureau, said the figures show that there is still plenty of lie left in the post-MMR market.

He said: "Lenders are firing on all cylinders to record the largest total advances in any third quarter since Q3 2008.

"This is a positive sign for consumers, who are benefiting from improved access to mortgage finance despite tougher affordability checks.

"Lenders are currently tripping over themselves to win business, with many of the major providers locked into a mortgage rate war.

"This is providing consumers with historically low pricing: it's therefore unsurprising that so many are choosing to lock into preferential deals, with MLAR statistics showing the proportion of advances at fixed rates is at its highest since tracking began in 2007.

"This preference for fixed rate deals is likely to increase as consumers seek to protect themselves from an expected interest rate hike in 2015."

Murphy added that he thought 2014 had been a good year for the UK mortgage market and consumers.

He said: "The signs certainly look positive as we approach the end of what has been a restorative year for the UK mortgage market. While there are still a number of economic uncertainties on the horizon, and we may be yet to see the full impact of regulatory changes, consumers are now in a better position to access affordable mortgage finance than they were a year ago."