Thinking of moving? Why it could be worth exploring your options

If you’ve been thinking about moving home but wondering whether now is the right time, you’re certainly not alone.

Buying and selling a home can feel daunting when the wider market is challenging, particularly if you have an existing property to sell. But new mortgage figures suggest there could be more options available than you might think.

Data from New Homes Mortgage Helpline shows that more than half of its new-build customers so far in 2026 have taken mortgages at between 81% and 90% loan-to-value (LTV), compared with just 21% five years ago.

The number borrowing at even higher LTV levels has also grown, with 10% now taking mortgages at between 91% and 100% LTV, compared with around 1% in 2021.

More options for buyers with smaller deposits

The figures reflect changes in the mortgage market over the past five years, including the growing availability of products designed to support buyers with smaller deposits.

There are encouraging signs for new-build buyers when it comes to mortgage rates too. New Homes Mortgage Helpline’s August figures show that customers choosing a five-year fixed mortgage on a new-build home accessed an average rate of 4.98%, compared with 5.05% for those buying second-hand properties.

Ben Crawford, Group Commercial Director at New Homes Mortgage Helpline, said: “The level of borrowing being used to purchase new homes has changed markedly over the past five years. More than half of the new-build customers we are seeing are now borrowing between 81 per cent and 90 per cent of the value of their property, while the proportion borrowing above 90 per cent has increased tenfold.

“Changes in house prices and affordability, buyer appetite and, importantly, the growing availability of mortgage products designed to support people with smaller deposits have moved borrowing patterns over this period.”

Don’t automatically put your move on hold

At Cavanna Homes, around 85% of the people currently speaking to our sales teams have an existing property to sell, so we understand that finding your next home is only one part of making a move happen.

Hannah Newnes, Sales Director at Cavanna Homes, said: “There is no doubt that the market remains challenging, and we don’t want to understate that. What we are seeing, though, is that people haven’t stopped wanting to move.

“Around 85 per cent of the leads we’re currently speaking to have a property to sell, so for many buyers the question isn’t whether they want to move, but how they can make that move work.

“It can be easy to look at the wider economic headlines and assume now isn’t the right time, but everyone’s circumstances are different.

“That’s why we would always encourage people who are considering a move to come and talk to us rather than automatically putting their plans on hold. There may be options available that they haven’t considered, and our sales teams can help them understand what their next step could look like.”

Start your next move with Cavanna Homes

Whether you’re a first-time buyer, moving up the property ladder or looking for a home that better suits your lifestyle, our sales teams are here to help you explore your options.

We can talk you through the homes currently available, the buying journey and the support that may be available to help make your move possible.

Explore our developments across the South West and speak to your local Cavanna Homes sales team to find out more.