The lending market has had strong demand due to the pandemic boosted housing market. Not only are first time buyers anxious to climb onto the property ladder, but home movers and landlords are putting in their offers for properties as well. The result is a busy housing market, as well as a busy lending market. The lending market is not only busy with home buyers, but remortgaging homeowners as well.

According to some recent polls, many homeowners are unaware of why an interest rate is important. It is important, whether in getting the first mortgage by a first time buyer or a home mover or a homeowner obtaining a remortgage. Basically, the interest rate determines how much the borrowing will cost. The interest rate is the cost at which a lender will charge the borrower to obtain a loan.

Homeowners have been busy looking to move home when perhaps they are missing an opportunity right before their eyes. The pandemic led not only first time buyers to the housing market, but homeowners as well. Lockdowns and restrictions made for a new dream home desire to immerge which offered more space in which to work from home, study and learn, workout for fitness goals, and to enjoy a safe outdoor area such as a private garden. However, some homeowners chose to stay put and build their current home into the pandemic lifestyle home of their dreams.

During the pandemic people learned to be as patient as possible. It was understanding with lockdowns that anything that would take time and processing the wait was going to be longer. Home buyers were especially in need of patience as well as homeowners looking to remortgage. The mortgage lending market, which is full of detailed work and collection of information, was slowed by the pandemic and resulting restrictions.

Homeowners are in a very unique situation at the moment. In many years past it would have been obvious for most that staying put would be the right choice. Coming out of a recession, then Brexit, the confidence in the market and what could be around the corner for the economy would make one hesitant to do much more than necessary. Staying put meant one could concentrate on the ability to save money with a remortgage and build a safety net against rising interest rates. During a pandemic staying put would seem the only choice.

The stamp duty holiday was put into place last year in the hopes to keep the housing market in play. It is essential to the UK economy and if the pandemic had shut it down the impact could have been dramatically negative. With the tax discount it was hoped it would help motivate hopeful home buyers to stay interested in the housing market. As everyone knows, the housing market flourished last year and continues even now as not only first time buyers seek to climb onto the property ladder but homeowners chose to move home as well.