Three quarters (77%) of brokers reckon mortgage lending will recover to pre COVID-19 levels within 9 months, while half (51%) believe it will happen within 6 months, research from Smart Money People has found.
Appointed representatives are more optimistic than directly authorised brokers, with 59% of ARs predicting that lending levels will recover within six months, compared to just 37% of DAs.
Michael Fotis, managing director of Smart Money People, said “Tentative steps are being taken to get the economy moving, and many lenders are talking loudly about their appetite to lend.
“That said, with job security likely to be a concern for many consumers, and predictions that house prices may decline by up to 13%, it’s really hard to see customer appetite for new mortgage lending returning until 2021 at the earliest.”
Brokers focused on the equity release market proved to be particularly sceptical of a full recovery, as just 19% felt lending levels will bounce back within six months.
BY RYAN BEMBRIDGE
Source: Property Wire