Mortgage market set for slow, steady recovery

In spite of recent statistics showing mortgage lending has made slight improvements lately, one expert has urged homeowners not to get carried away.

While some may be looking at the market deciding whether it is best to move or improve with the likes of a conservatory or garden studio, brokerage and advisory firm Alexander Hall suggested the figures be absorbed with a dash of realism.

A spokesman for the company explained the first three months of 2009 showed the approval rate has been improving, but has been slow to do so.

Chief operating officer Andy Pratt stated improvements were likely to remain small, with a fair chance they could drop at some point in the next six months.

"There is still not a massive amount of funding out there from lenders, so there is a limit on how much can be done," he claimed.

Mr Pratt added it will take confidence from buyers to enter the current market, but said a slowly growing number are begining to do so.

Meanwhile, recent Bank of England figures show mortgage approval rats had grown for the past five consecutive months.