" First-time buyers and others with smaller deposits will be delighted to see similar buyers dominating the market across many UK regions."
Its research shows that first-time buyers capitalised on low rates across the market in October, with 24.6% of all loans going to borrowers with small deposits.
As a result, lending to large deposit borrowers continues to fall, seeing a steady decline from July to 29.6% in October.
Four regions recorded a greater number of loans to small deposit borrowers than their large deposit counterparts this month.
Yorkshire was the area with the highest market share for small deposit borrowers at 33.7%, compared to just 21.1% for large deposit borrowers.
Elsewhere, the North West saw 31.2% of loans go to small deposit borrowers versus 23.3% for those with large deposits while in Northern Ireland this was 29.5% against 24.7%.
The final region to follow suit was the Midlands, where 27.1% of loans went to small deposit borrowers compared to 25.7% for those with large deposits.
As usual, London was the part of the country most dominated by those with larger deposits, though the proportion dipped below 40%, while just 14.7% went to first-time buyers.
Richard Sexton, director at e.surv, commented: “Most agree there appears to be little prospect of another increase in the Bank of England’s base rate between now and the end of the year, yet that is no reason for potential remortgage customers to halt their search.
“With rates still at historically low levels across the board, there are great deals to be found at both high street mortgage lenders and more specialist banks.
“Whilst a decline in purchase activity in general has been evident since the summer, first-time buyers and others with smaller deposits will be delighted to see similar buyers dominating the market across many UK regions.
“Those in Northern Ireland, Yorkshire, the North West and the Midlands are all operating in a fertile market for small deposit borrowers.
“Even those people looking to buy in other regions have a better chance of obtaining finance and getting on the ladder than previously, as the country-wide picture moves away from those with large deposits.”
