Why Are Buy To Let Mortgages Still Popular?

In recent years buy to let mortgages have become a route for those wishing to diversify their investment portfolios. With stocks and shares displaying high levels of volatility, wary investors keen for a more stable environment for their money are relying on the old adage 'safe as houses'. But with a much-heralded rupturing of the property boom on the lips of many commentators, property is not without its own significant element of risk.

Meantime, sliding share values, low interest rates. stock market scandals and global economic downturns have all served to bring about a seachange in attitudes to financial planning. This has occurred because property has invariably been most homeowners' top performing asset. Consequently, the idea of buying property to let - both here in the UK and abroad - has gained an unprecedented foothold among small investors who would never otherwise consider property development and property speculation as an investment option.

Certainly, the latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders suggest this to be the case. According to them, up to 44 per cent of total gross advances will now be for remortgages.