"Mortgage lenders are using new services to increase their acceptance rates."
22% of those using pre-qualification websites to find a mortgage meet the initial qualifying criteria for every lender on the market. But this figure falls to just 3.5% once their affordability for their desired loan is considered with an eligibility check.
On average, lenders decline a third of customers (33%) as they don’t meet their full lending criteria.
In addition, more than one in four people searching for a mortgage find they are eligible for a mortgage with at least one lender but will not be able to borrow their desired amount. The analysis shows 27% are eligible for a mortgage but only for a reduced amount to meet the lender’s affordability requirements. The figure rises to 31% for those looking to remortgage with additional borrowing requirements.
Lisa Fretwell, managing director of data services at Experian, said: “People don’t want to leave anything to chance when they’re trying to buy their dream home. Pre-qualification websites strengthen their position, signposting mortgages which they will find affordable and be accepted for, so they can get the loan they want.
“Mortgage lenders are using new services to increase their acceptance rates. Pre-qualification connects them with people who are eligible to borrow from them, while Open Banking services allow them to quickly understand someone’s income and outgoings.
“We are working with more mortgage lenders who want to leverage pre-qualification and Open Banking technology to find eligible new borrowers and give customers the best possible service.”
