Spring Momentum: seizing opportunities in a shifting market
Welcome to the March edition of Mortgage & Property Investment Magazine.
With brighter mornings and longer evenings just around the corner, there’s a renewed sense of energy building across the mortgage and property market. Spring has always been synonymous with movement, and in 2026 that feeling is translating into cautious optimism, practical innovation and a market that appears ready to gather pace.
Technology and the race to reduce homebuying stress
We begin this month’s edition with one of the most persistent challenges in property: the pace of the homebuying journey.
David Castling, Head of Intermediary Distribution at Atom bank, examines why transactions remain stubbornly slow, with the average time to exchange stretching beyond four months in many parts of England. The solution, he argues, lies not in working harder, but also smarter by fully utilising technology.
A spring pause in prices – but confidence holds firm
Next, we direct our focus to the latest data from Rightmove, which shows that asking prices were virtually flat in February, down by just £12 to £368,019. Yet far from signalling weakness, encouragingly for buyers, wage growth has significantly outpaced house price growth over the past three years, and lenders continue to innovate. As activity builds through the spring months, preparation and decisiveness may prove key.
Deposit dynamics and the rise of the bank of family
Finally, competition in the first-time buyer market is heating up, with a mortgage price war putting deposit strategy in the spotlight. Deposit size still matters, and Key Partnerships explores how more families are using later-life lending or housing wealth to top up deposits, reducing LTVs and making mortgages more affordable.
For advisers, it’s a reminder that thinking holistically really pays off. Conversations about family wealth, lifetime mortgages and property as part of wider planning are becoming key to helping clients make the most of their options.
IFA Talk Podcast: spotlight on the near prime market
Don’t miss this month’s special Mortgage & Property Investment episode of IFA Talk, featuring Richard Harrison, Head of Mortgages at Atom bank, releasing Monday, 16th of March.
In this episode, we explore the growing Near Prime mortgage market and what’s driving increased activity in this segment, with many advisers reporting a rise in clients just outside traditional Prime criteria. As expectations build for further momentum in 2026, understanding how to support these borrowers is becoming increasingly important.
Keep ahead this March
That’s just a glimpse of what’s inside this month’s Mortgage & Property Investment Magazine. From reducing homebuying friction through smarter technology, to understanding price resilience, deposit strategy and the evolving Near Prime landscape, there’s plenty to help navigate the busy months ahead.
As the market steps into spring, momentum is building, and those prepared to adapt, collaborate and think holistically will be best placed to capitalise on it.
For regular updates, fresh insight, expert commentary and all the latest industry news, make sure you’re checking in with us often at: https://ifamagazine.com/category/mortgage-and-property/
We’ll be right here throughout March and beyond, helping you stay ahead of the conversations that matter most to you and your clients.
Meg Bratley
Social Media and Content Manager
Mortgage & Property Investment Magazine
