After a significant fall in activity during the first lockdown last spring, more positive news came later in 2020 for the equity release market.
According to data from the Equity Release Council (ERC), in Q3, £963m was released by new and returning customers. Although a 38% increase on Q2, activity in the third quarter was 3% down on Q3 2019.
Plans increased by 41% on Q2’s levels to reach 10,351, buoyed by an extended pipeline, with some plans due to have been completed earlier in the year only coming to fruition in Q3.
Looking to the future, ERC Chairman David Burrowes says the key market drivers remain in place:
“People are living longer and retirement finances are increasingly squeezed as generous final salary pensions edge further to extinction. Many older households are already facing a situation where their expenses outweigh their disposable income, which makes access to property wealth an important pillar to support later life living standards.”
If you’re considering equity release, it’s important to think it over carefully and take advice as it’s not the right option for everyone.
A lifetime mortgage is a long-term commitment which could accumulate interest and is secured against your home. Equity release is not right for everyone and may reduce the value of your estate
Catch up on our other blog posts:
Are you protected from canine chaos?
If you have a dog, you’ll know that they can be cute, loving… and a whole heap of trouble! Aviva1 recently backed this up when it revealed some of the company’s more noteworthy pet-related claims. From the pooch who turned on a tap and flooded his owners’...
Save by living just outside hotspots
By choosing to live just outside highly sought-after locations, analysis has shown that homebuyers could benefit from savings of up to 55%1, without forsaking their preferred location. Average savings come in at around 34% when locating five or ten minutes from a...
The money taboo – it’s good to talk it out
Are you worried about your finances? If so, you’re certainly not alone. According to a recent survey, 90% of households are worried about rising prices1. Financial worries can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety. In fact, nearly one in five people say they have...
Wellbeing benefits of income protection
Income protection insurance can be a cost-effective way of protecting yourself financially if you are unable to work due to illness or injury. What many people don’t realise is that taking out an income protection policy can have benefits beyond the financial....
Plan to avoid home buying stress
Job interview, driving test, family life… the list of life’s stresses is, unfortunately, long and varied. New research has revealed, however, that buying a home comes out on top. Can’t Buy Me Stress 37% of recent UK homebuyers said that buying a house was one...
Seeing protection in a new light
Nobody wants to think something bad happening to them. Perhaps it’s why so many people shy away from protection insurance – after all, it’s all too easy to think ‘it’ll never happen to me’. Unfortunately, ‘it’ can and does happen, whether ‘it’ be injury,...
Back to normal? Property update
Amid the backdrop of war in Ukraine and the spiralling cost of living, unpredictability is at the forefront of many people’s lives right now. The outlook for the housing and mortgage markets is no less uncertain. Taking a step back, however, it is possible to...
Sandbanks dream home
This month we were pleased to help clients buy their dream home in beautiful Sandbanks. With one eye on retirement they wanted to live in style, and we were able to use their company profits in order to maximise their mortgage borrowing potential. This enabled them to...
Equity Release for home improvements in Redditch
We were so pleased to receive a mortgage offer for an equity release client this month. She came to us asking for help in obtaining funds because her boiler had packed in, leaving her with no hot water or heating in the middle of winter. Not ideal for anyone, let...
Rental market boom likely
Historically, a decline in property sales has also led to a boost in private rental market stock. This is based on research1 looking at both sales and rental markets during the 2008-09 financial crisis and recent pandemic downturn. In 2008 property sales volumes...
(Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage)
We charge a fee for arranging and advising you on the mortgage. The fee will be dependent on your circumstances but will not exceed £499. (Our typical fee is £299.)
For Lifetime Mortgages/Equity Release the fee will be £799.
Our mission is to provide honest mortgage advice, whilst helping you save money.
Get in contact
Flexible appointments
Or call —02380224925