Consumer searches for re-mortgage advice hit 36% in July this year, rising from 31% in June, according to unbiased.co.uk’s latest Advice Drivers report.

First time buying advice dropped slightly from 40% in June to 38% (in July) but still remained number one for consumers looking for whole of market mortgage advice.

Searches for advice on personal retirement planning from an independent financial adviser remained in demand, driving 38% of enquiries from consumers in July and investment and savings remained the second most sought after area of advice at 26%.

Consumer searches for advice on ISAs, OEICs and Unit Trusts remain up on last year, driving 11% of the searches using unbiased.co.uk’s ‘find an IFA search’, compared to 8% in July 2010.

Karen Barrett, chief executive of unbiased.co.uk, said: “There are an increasing number of new mortgage products arriving on the market and with the base rate still remaining at 0.5% it’s a good opportunity for homeowners to be looking at their options and our figures are suggestive of this.