Scottish borrowers 'the least affected by credit crunch'
Published on : 04/06/2008
Start here..
Compare all energy suppliers
9 out 10 can save money!
Mortgage borrowers in Scotland are the least affected by the credit crunch in the UK, according to a new study.
The research by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) found that while the number of home loans supplied in the country at the start of this year was 20 per cent lower than last year, the UK overall suffered 40 per cent falls.
It was also revealed that borrowers in Scotland tend to borrow less money relative to their income, while mortgage interest payments also accounted for less of their salary.
The cost of homes in the country is also 25 per cent lower than the average UK price.
Kennedy Foster, policy consultant at CML Scotland, said the shortage of mortgage funding has had a "dramatic impact" across the UK.
He added: "However, to date, there has been less of an impact in Scotland than the rest of the UK as affordability is better here, meaning borrowers have been less affected by the tightening in lending criteria."
The CML is the UK's trade association for the mortgage lending industry.
