The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) has revealed that mortgage advisers processed more cases in the 12 months to Q4 2021 than at any other point since 2015.
The results from IMLA’s Mortgage Market Tracker show that, on average, the typical intermediary now places 103 cases per year, a 32% increase on the yearly average determined in Q4 2020.
With intermediaries keeping busy in the remaining months of 2021, confidence in the business outlook for their own firms also remained strong. 62% of intermediaries said they were ‘very confident’ about the outlook for their firm, while 98% were confident overall. Furthermore, confidence in the outlook for the broader intermediary sector stayed at a high level, with 96% either ‘very confident’ or ‘confident’ compared to 97% in Q3 2021.
However, outright confidence in the outlook for the mortgage industry dipped very slightly in Q4 2021, with the proportion of advisers feeling ‘very confident’ decreasing from a record high (46%) in Q3 to 42%.
The average number of Decisions in Principle (DIPs) that intermediaries processed in Q4 decreased in November (26 per intermediary) but rebounded strongly in December (32 per intermediary). This rise comes alongside homeowners returning to the market, aiming to secure new fixed-rate mortgages before rising inflation and interest rates begin to make products less attractive and affordable.
Across 2021 as a whole, the business mix advisers handled remained broadly consistent, with residential mortgages taking up 65% of all cases throughout the year, Buy-to-Let accounting for 27% of cases, and specialist lending 8%.
Kate Davies, executive director of IMLA, said: “The Stamp Duty holiday might have come to a close in September last year, but all signs point towards advisers keeping busy in the final months of 2021. The positive findings of our latest report clearly reflect this strong level of activity and the demand that underpins it. As caseload volumes increased to set new records in Q4 2021, despite the months following the conclusion of the Stamp Duty Holiday expected to be quieter compared to 2021 as a whole, advisers have a solid foundation to begin 2022.
“With inflation potentially reaching 7% by April this year, and interest rates continuing to rise, we expect demand to remain strong in the mortgage market as borrowers try to lock into new fixed-rate deals and those with more complex financial situations seek support. Independent financial advice will be crucial for these customers, and advisers will play an important role in helping them to find the most suitable, and affordable, deal.”
