Research reveals mortgage advisors still crucial

March 20, 2026 by Brendan O'Neill

Mortgage Advisors

The latest UK mortgage market research has found that advisors are still vital to those who are buying a home.

That is one of the findings of the Broker Perception Barometer published by mortgage lender Santander. This survey is conducted during each quarter and Santander speaks to 500 people who have a mortgage. The results for the first quarter of this year show 63% of them feel they would not have been able to navigate the buying process without professional mortgage advice.

The findings were highly encouraging for advisors when it comes to repeat usage too. 83% of those who took part in the survey indicated they would get the help of an advisor if they wanted to buy again in the future or switch to another lender.

The survey did highlight some differences based on age though. 90% of buyers who are 35 or over considered their advisor to be ‘responsive’. The figure drops to 75% for those between 18 and 34, although this is still a clear majority.

People in this age range were more inclined to talk to their advisor using social media apps like WhatsApp, as 42% said that. By contrast, half of older buyers had never utilised WhatsApp for advisor communications.

Speaking to Mortgage Introducer, Graham Sellar from Santander said:

“During a time of global economic uncertainty, more than ever, borrowers look for guidance and a sense of security that they are getting the best possible outcome for their mortgage needs.”

This shows why levels of demand for CeMAP training courses are so high.