Queries about lenders’ visa requirements were the most searched-for aspect of criteria in March, while demand for interest-only deals dipped 8%, according to data from Legal & General Ignite.

The sourcing platform says much of brokers’ search activity related to borrowers with complex circumstances as the second most-searched-for term after “visa” was “default satisfied”.

Echoing figures from CACI and First Direct, published today, showing a boom in lending to those getting their first foot on the housing ladder, “first-time buyer” was the third-most searched for phrase on Ignite.

At the other end of the market, searches for “maximum age” grew by 6% and became a top four search term (up from 9th in February).

Demand for “shared ownership” and “joint borrower sole proprietor” products remained robust, with these terms ranking 11th and 12th in March.

Meanwhile, searches on behalf of buyers seeking a second home grew by 7% in March, despite the Spring Budget announcement of a reduction in capital gains tax on second homes to encourage owners to sell.

L&G Mortgage Services head of products and transformation Jodie White says: “While the mortgage market isn’t entirely out of the woods, the March data gives good reason to be cautiously optimistic.

“Overall, activity remains robust, and searches for some of the more concerning criteria searches (such as debt management plans) are starting to drop.

“The stabilisation of swap and interest rates has played a big part in this – while the average fixed rate buy-to-let product was priced at 6.88% in August, it now sits at a much lower 5.52% according to Moneyfacts.”