Demand for new build homes rockets 66%
Caz Blake-Symes • July 6, 2020
Attractive First-time buyer mortgages are still out there-call us today!
Adapted from a Zoopla Property News team July 1, 2020
Zoopla analysis shows interest in newly built properties has bounced back to a higher level than before coronavirus struck Demand for new build homes has soared by 66% since the housing market reopened, surpassing levels seen before lockdown.
The upsurge seen in the six weeks since 13 May is a continuation of the trend recorded at the start of 2020, when the new build market enjoyed its strongest start to the year since 2016. Persimmon Homes, one of the UK’s largest home builders, has seen a massive 215% month-on-month jump in demand through Zoopla buyer leads during the past six weeks. Leads are generated by buyers requesting more information from home builders via property listings.
The recovery in the new build homes sector significantly outpaces the revival in the market for older properties, where demand is currently 46% higher than before lockdown. The surge in demand for new build properties has been particularly strong among first-time buyers, growing by 87% compared with levels during lockdown.
Alex Rose, director of New Homes at Zoopla, said: “While the industry has undergone an unprecedented period, the new homes market has shown itself to be geared towards a rapid rebound.”
Why is this happening?
The resilience of the new build market is likely to be down to two factors. On the one hand, developers are used to having to sell homes when physical viewings are not possible.
At the same time, demand is also likely to have been supported by the fact that the Help to Buy scheme can only be used to purchase a new build property. With many lenders withdrawing their 90% and 95% loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages in the face of the pandemic, more first-time buyers in particular are likely to be turning to the scheme in a bid to get onto the property ladder. The Help to Buy initiative tops up a 5% deposit with a five-year interest-free loan worth 20% of the property’s value
What’s the background?
First-time buyers are often described as being the lifeblood of the housing market, so it is good news for the new build sector that demand is so strong among this group. Going forward, it is expected that the initial spike in demand for new properties seen since the housing market reopened to 'settle' as the summer progresses and sales are agreed.
This research comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled plans for more than 180,000 new affordable homes to be built. He also announced changes to the planning system to make it easier to convert commercial buildings into residential ones, and to demolish vacant buildings and use the land to build homes. Property owners will also be able to build additional space above their properties through a fast-track approvals process.
Despite challenges and changes in the first-time buyers’ mortgage market, we have access to a number of lenders offering attractive first-time buyer mortgages.
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Adapted from Zoopla’s April 2025 Housing report I mage: The analysis uses average house prices from the house price index and for first-time buyers to assess mortgage payments at different mortgage rates applied to a 30- year mortgage, at different loan-to-values. One emerging trend that we expect to positively support market activity in the coming months is a relaxation in how lenders assess the affordability of new mortgages. While buyers focus on the mortgage rate they will pay, lenders also check whether the borrower can afford a 'stressed mortgage rate' at a higher level than the borrower will pay. While the average 5-year fixed rate mortgage is around 4.5% today, many lenders are currently 'stress testing' affordability at 8-9%. This makes it harder to secure a mortgage without a large deposit. If average mortgage stress rates were to return to pre-2022 levels of 6.5% to 7%, this would deliver a 15-20% boost to buying power. An average first-time buyer with mortgage repayments of £1,020pcm at a 4.5% mortgage rate would typically have to prove they could afford monthly repayments of £1,550pcm at an 8.5% stress rate. If the stress testing is relaxed to 6.5%, repayments would fall to £1,275pcm, boosting buying power. It's a similar pattern for the average homeowner, while the actual impact will vary by lender and type of borrower. This change would consequently supporting demand and sales volumes, helping to clear the stock of homes for sale, rather than boosting house prices. Other existing rules and regulations that remain in place will continue to impact the availability of mortgage finance. Comment from Phil Clark “This is potentially very exciting news and will give borrowers a greater choice of products if these rules are relaxed. Regardless of whether you are a First-time Buyer, Looking to move, remortgage or invest in property, there are a huge range of competitive mortgage deals on the market. I will be delighted to discuss your specific requirements and offer you the most suitable deal!” Please call Phil on 0117 3251511 or email info@swmortgages.com For more information about the Mortgage and Protection products we offer, please visit www.bristolmortgagesonline.com Your home/property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other debt secured on it.
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Adapted from BBC Article by Kevin Peachey, Cost of living correspondent 13 February 2025 Two major lenders launched mortgage deals on Thursday with interest rates of less than 4%, as competition picks up in the sector. The prospect of further cuts in the base rate by the Bank of England has given mortgage providers confidence to reduce their own rates. But the attention-grabbing sub-4% deals by Santander and Barclays will not be available to all borrowers, particularly first-time buyers, and may come with a hefty fee. The return of such deals might prompt other lenders to follow suit after a period of tepid competition. Nationwide, the UK's biggest building society, has said it will reduce some of its rates on Friday. Mortgage deals with interest rates below 4% have not been seen since November. Across the whole market the average rate on a two-year fixed deal is 5.48%. The typical rate on five-year deals is 5.29%, according to latest figures from Moneyfacts. Time to decide Some tracker and variable rate mortgages move fairly closely in line with the Bank's base rate, which was cut to 4.5% a week ago. However, more than eight in 10 mortgage customers have fixed-rate deals. The interest rate on this kind of mortgage does not change until the deal expires, usually after two or five years, and a new one is chosen to replace it. About 800,000 fixed-rate mortgages, currently with an interest rate of 3% or below, are expected to expire every year, on average, until the end of 2027. That means a higher monthly bill for many homeowners on their next renewal, but there are signs that the rate they could pay is on its way down. Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey said the interest-rate setting committee expected to be able to cut rates further "but we will have to judge meeting by meeting, how far and how fast". This will affect savers who are seeing lower returns, but could bring better news for borrowers. The Bank's next rates decision is on 20 March. Message from Phil Clark “Regardless of whether you are a First-time Buyer, Looking to move, remortgage or invest in property, there are a huge range of competitive mortgage deals on the market. I will be delighted to discuss your specific requirements and offer you the most suitable deal!” Please call Phil on 0117 3251511 or email info@swmortgages.com For more information about Mortgage and Protection please visit www.bristolmortgagesonline.com