Data collected by Primis found that 69% of brokers in Wales and the South West expect to write greater volumes in 2026 compared to 2025, a figure that rises to 90% among brokers in the South East.

Overall confidence is even greater in protection, with 82% of all respondents anticipating they will write more business this year, increasing to 89% among brokers specifically in Wales and the South West.

In total, 15% of respondents expect volumes to hold steady, while 4% expect to write less.

Meanwhile, 66% of brokers described themselves as either ‘optimistic’ or ‘somewhat optimistic’ about the prospects for their business over the next 12 months, rising to 71% for respondents in Wales and the South West.

However, while upbeat overall, 36% of brokers listed economic uncertainty and 32% named customer affordability as the two biggest headwinds they may face this year.

With an estimated 1.8 million fixed rate loans expiring in 2026, 57% of total respondents said the remortgage market represents the biggest opportunity in the coming months.

This was followed by income protection, which 20% of brokers in the South East identified as the biggest opportunity, compared with 11% in Wales and the South West.

Of total respondents, 12% saw first-time buyers as the biggest opportunity, followed by 4% for both buy-to-let and specialist mortgages, 3% named home movers, and 2% or lower said insurance and critical illness cover.

Despite industry concern over the Financial Conduct Authority’s removal of the ‘advice trigger’, 71% of brokers surveyed say they are not worried about a potential rise in non-advised sales.

Elsewhere, the majority of brokers anticipate rates will fall in 2026, with 70% predicting cuts of 25 to 50 basis points and a further 22% expecting reductions of 51 to 100 basis points. And only 5% believe rates will remain unchanged.

LSL Financial Services sales director Neil Hoare says: “These findings show a positive mood among brokers in Wales and the South of England. After several years of higher rates, weaker affordability and subdued activity, there is now a growing sense that the market is turning a corner.”

“Brokers are seeing improving affordability, a large volume of fixed-rate mortgages coming up for renewal and a steady return of buyer confidence, all of which is feeding into a much more positive outlook for 2026.”