Overview
- Barclays, NatWest, Santander and Nationwide have rolled out leading fixed deals, with headline rates reported as low as 3.51% and several offers in the 3.6%–3.7% range.
- Average two- and five-year fixed mortgage rates fell to 4.86% and 4.91% at the start of December, the lowest since September 2022, according to Moneyfacts.
- Low-deposit availability has expanded, with 476 products for 5% deposits and 917 for 10% deposits, the highest counts since March 2008.
- Overall choice widened month to month, with Moneyfacts tallying 7,054 mortgage options in December versus 6,918 in November.
- Brokers cite fierce lender competition and swap-rate moves, with some optimism for first-time and mid‑market buyers, though the sharpest rates are typically limited to lower LTVs around 60% and can include fees.