UK Mortgage Market

After 9 months of uncertainty the fallout from the Northern Rock debacle finally hit the mainstream mortgage market in May. During the early Post Northern Rock months it was those with adverse credit history and mortgage brokers that needed Sub Prime mortgages who felt the squeeze. But mortgage lender’s started to tighten their lending criteria and, one by one, retired from the market.

Mainstream mortgages became more expensive and criteria less flexible during the first four months of 2008. Borrowers became increasingly aware that mortgages were becoming more difficult to arrange. And finally, in May, the whole of the UK’s mortgage broking community juddered to a halt as the market hit the bottom of this cycle. read more