52% of mortgage brokers expect to do more buy-to-let business in 2010 than they did last year, according to research from NatWest Intermediary Solutions.

However, 22% believed that they would do less, with 26% saying they expected to do about the same amount.

The poll, which was conducted amongst those brokers that had attended one of the lender’s Forum events over the last three years, also found that the buy-to-let market was one of the key sectors of the market that brokers said they required more support on to be successful.

The first-time buyer sector was the most nominated with 41% of intermediaries saying it was the one needed most support on. This was followed by the buy-to-let market at 38% and remortgages at 37%. Advisers also felt more support was needed on current account mortgages (18%), home movers (16%) and shared equity schemes (15%).

Graham Felstead, head of intermediary channel, NatWest Intermediary Solutions said: “The buy-to-let market seems to be attracting more attention from investors and brokers this year as a potentially lucrative sector. Many brokers’ exposure to this market will have reduced over the past couple of years so it’s not surprising to hear that they would like more support on it. We have continued to support our business partners in this sector with a variety of buy-to-let mortgages targeting clients with smaller portfolios and will continue to do so this year.”””