The latest report from the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) found that, in Q1 of 2022 the average number of mortgages placed per year by intermediaries has reduced slightly from the previous quarter. The number on average fell from a peak of 103 at the end of last year to 97, matching the rates for Q3 2021 which at the time was a record year.
Despite a slight reduction in the number of average cases, the confidence of intermediaries in the business outlook for their own firms remained high. 62% of intermediaries said they were ‘very confident’ about the outlook for their firm, maintaining the same rates of confidence reported at the end of Q4. 98% of intermediaries were confident overall with only a very small minority (2%) describing themselves as ‘not very confident’.
Furthermore, more intermediaries in Q1 reported higher rates of confidence in outlook for both the broader intermediary sector and the mortgage industry. When asked about the intermediary sector, 54% of intermediaries were ‘very confident’, improving from last quarter’s 52%. Likewise, a ‘very confident’ outlook for the mortgage industry grew to 45% of intermediaries in Q1, nearly matching the record high of 46% achieved in Q3 2021.
Conversion rates
The average number of Decisions in Principle (DIPs) that intermediaries processed in Q1 rose by 2 when compared to the final quarter of 2021. Despite a drop in January (to 28 per intermediary), the following two months saw a strong rebound with February reaching 32 per intermediary and March hitting 37, a two-year high. This rise comes alongside homeowners returning to the market, aiming to remortgage or secure new fixed-rate mortgages.
In Q1, the conversions of DIPs to completions fell slightly by 2% and was seen across almost all business segments. The largest decrease, of 10%, was seen in mover specialist business, suggesting a greater shift in focus towards remortgages which saw 72 cases of conversion from full application to completion, a rise of 3 from Q4 2021.
Kate Davies, Executive Director of the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association, comments
“Q4 of 2021 was a record peak for the average intermediary case load and evidence from Q1 suggests that, despite a slight drop, advisers are maintaining their momentum. The data from the first quarter of 2022 shows a strong level of activity and a solid underlying demand underpinning the mortgage market.
“With inflation expected to reach 8% by the beginning of summer and possibly even higher later in the year, and with interest rates raised to their highest in 13 years, demand in the mortgage market should match the rates of 2021 as borrowers aim to secure new fixed-rate deals. Throughout 2022, as volatile macro-economic trends impact personal finances, advisers will continue their work and play a crucial role in helping borrowers to find an appropriate, affordable and sensible deal.”
For further information please contact:
Tom Stewart-Walvin, Rostrum
Tel: +44 (0)7855 689 302
Email: t.stewart-walvin@rostrum.agecy
Dan Edwards, Rostrum
Tel: +44 (0)7492 062 571
Email: d.edwards@rostrum.agency
Notes to Editors
IMLA’s Mortgage Market Tracker is powered by the BVA BDRC, a leading research agency. For more information and previous reports, visit: http://www.imla.org.uk/
About IMLA
The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) is the trade association that represents mortgage lenders who lend to UK consumers and businesses via the broker channel. Its membership of 50 banks, building societies and specialist lenders include 18 of the 20 largest UK mortgage lenders (measured by gross lending) and account for about 90% of mortgage lending (91.6% of balances and 92.8% of gross lending).