Mortgage Advisers Feel More Positive About Their Businesses

Why It Matters

Strong adviser confidence and higher conversion efficiency signal resilience in the mortgage distribution channel, supporting continued loan growth despite broader market uncertainty.

Key Takeaways

• Intermediary confidence remains above 90% despite market dip
• Average cases per adviser fell to 89, above 2024 levels
• DIP acceptance hit 86%, highest in three years
• Completion rates rose: DIP to completion 40%, full‑app 65%
• Mortgage lending grew 19% in 2025, forecast +11% 2026

Pulse Analysis

The latest IMLA Mortgage Market Tracker highlights a nuanced picture of the UK mortgage sector at the close of 2025. While macro‑level confidence dipped amid budget speculation and economic uncertainty, mortgage advisers displayed remarkable optimism about their own operations. This divergence underscores the pivotal role of intermediaries, who continue to command roughly 90 % of borrower interactions, insulating their businesses from broader market volatility.

Efficiency gains are a standout trend. Decisions‑in‑Principle acceptance surged to 86 %, the highest in three years, and conversion metrics improved across the board. A 40 % DIP‑to‑completion rate and a 65 % full‑application‑to‑completion rate suggest that lenders and brokers are streamlining underwriting processes, reducing friction for borrowers and enhancing pipeline predictability. These operational improvements can translate into lower cost‑to‑serve and higher profitability for both banks and advisory firms.

Looking ahead to 2026, the outlook brightens as fiscal clarity and falling interest rates are expected to lift sentiment. IMLA’s forecast of an additional 11 % loan growth aligns with broader economic projections of a modest recovery. Intermediaries, bolstered by robust confidence and proven efficiency, are positioned to drive this expansion, guiding borrowers through an increasingly competitive lending landscape while mitigating policy‑driven risk.