Billions in the Markets and No Sign of Recovery

I can fully appreciate and completely understand whythey have had a up to date reality check. For the past
some people may possibly be in turmoil by the currentseveral years, their lending has been surplus of 95%
financial situation. In spite of the colossal amount ofwith many borrowers being allowed to borrow on a
cash poured into the banking system, propertyself certification basis.
purchasing and development is alluding people, due toThis means that fundamentally they are disinclined to
the fact that they cannot borrow money from thecontinue their lending business in this high risk fashion to
lenders. Even simple purchasing on the high streethigh risk clients and herein lays the problem. Because
appears to be a thing of the past because credit isthey have such enormous amounts of people whom
impossible.they have lent enormous amount of money too, it is
Furthermore, we are seeing unprecedented reductionsnow very complex for them to come across clients
in the interest rate those of which we have neverable to provide full proof of income and not least with
seen before, all in the attempt to persuade lenders toa low loan to value mortgage.
lend and borrowers to borrow. Nevertheless, all theseAll this means that while we may currently have the
attempts to motivate the consumer to spend theirlowest of interest rates and the banks may have a
money has been a non starter and this can only begcache of money to lend all of us, can we really dig
the question; "why ?"deep to unearth a lender who is content with lending
The answer comes as no huge surprise really. Due to90% to 95% or 80% on a self cert basis. In all sincerity
the fact that lending establishments are currentlyI think absolutely not.
unsure of their assets leading them to be very unsureIn conclusion, my personal opinion is that the mortgage
of their liabilities has caused them to plunge intomarket, if it returns at all, could well take some years
somewhat of a crisis.before we see a any changes. These changes may
For the most part this has been caused through theirbe in the way we mortgage our properties leaving
indecisiveness as to which will be a sound loan andbehind high loan to values and self certification. Indeed,
which will not. In other words, they are trying to avoidthe ease with which these mortgages have been
liability to their businesses caused through a badrecently been churned out has resulted in the inflation
lending, with the obvious consequence that they areof the property market over the last few years. It's
reluctant to lend for fear of what will happen.arguably a good reason why many of these
It is an easy mistake to think this is the only reasonmortgages should never have been obtained. Our
why banks do not want to lend and that they arefuture prospects could be about biding our time till
clueless as to where they actually stand. However, theincomes and deposits reach levels compatible with
full story is more likely that they have frankly come tohouse prices or a more a chilling thought is to simply
the conclusion they cannot carry on doing business inwait till property prices decrease.
the same way as they did before. Or in other words