Purchase mortgage searches were down 4.5% in February 2024 compared to January 2024 and were up 11.3% compared to February 2023.

The latest data from Twenty7Tec also shows that remortgage searches were up 5% compared to January 2024 and were up 38.9% compared to February 2023

Buy to let mortgage searches were up 0.8% in February 2024 compared to January 2024 and were up 12.5% compared to February 2023

Searches by first time buyers were down 9.5% in February 2024 compared to January 2024 but were up 7.1% compared to February 2023.

Two-year fixed mortgages accounted for 48.72% of all fixed product searches (compared to 40.84% in February 2023)

Three- to five-year fixed mortgages accounted for 32.57% of all fixed product searches (compared to 34.06% in February 2023)

Five- to ten-year fixed mortgages now account for 18.71% (compared to 25.10% in February 2023)

Commenting on the latest numbers Twenty7Tec director Nathan Reilly said: “February was another remarkably busy month and would have surpassed the records set in January 2024 but for its fewer working days.

“Volumes were driven by the remortgage market in particular, perhaps seeking certainty ahead of this week’s Budget and the interest rate decision later this month? Unsurprisingly, in light of those two imminent public policy decisions, February 2024 also set the record for the busiest-ever month for fixed mortgage searches”.

He added: “We saw a drop off in First Time Buyer activity to levels not seen since April 2020. Hopefully activity levels will come back when the Bank of England and Treasury have made their announcements.

“Lenders have been amending rates quite a lot this month and we have also seen an increase of 2.4% in total products available – very close to our all-time highs set in February 2020.”