A panel of industry experts warned it may be years until the full impact of Brexit is felt.
The UK’s housing and mortgage markets are unlikely to feel the full impact of ‘Brexit’ for a number of years, according to a panel of experts speaking at today’s Financial Services Expo London.
The individuals on the panel – Gary Salter (Nationwide Building Society), Adrian Moloney (One Savings Bank), John Coffield (Paradigm Mortgage Services) and Jason Berry (Uinsure) – were asked their views on the post-EU referendum market and whether there had been significant changes.
John Coffield said: “As far as we’re concerned its business as usual in terms of transaction flows. July was our second best month of the year in that regard, and while we did see the seasonal turndown in August, this happens every year and I don’t think you can pin that on ‘Brexit’. My view is that it will be two to three years until we start to see the full effects of the EU vote on our market.”
Moloney agreed that the market had yet to see a Brexit effect. “The good news is that lenders are looking to lend,” he said. “There is no shortage of funding at the moment, which is obviously a positive.”
Uninsure’s Berry however cautioned against an overly optimistic view. “Housing is in crisis in my opinion,” he said. “The new Housing Minister, Gavin Barwell, has a big job on his hands. The fact we do not have enough housing stock will affect the number of housing transactions.”
Despite the EU vote, all panellists suggested that this period was a strong one for mortgage intermediaries and that, for the rest of 2016, and into 2017, there were a number of opportunities to be grasped.
The FSE is taking place today (14 September) atOld Billingsgate, London.
