Knowledge Bank’s July 2026 data showed “Time in current employment” rising to third among mortgage brokers’ most-searched residential criteria, while “Maximum age at end of term” and “Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor” held the top two spots.
Searches tied to credit stress kept climbing: “Mortgage/Secured loan arrears or defaults” rose for a third straight month to 14th from 26th, while “Defaults registered in the last three years” slipped from third to fifth.
“Lending in Scotland” continued its ascent after entering the top 10 in June, suggesting brokers are tracking more lenders entering or expanding in the Scottish market.
Other shifts pointed to changing demand, with “Interest only” falling to 17th after starting 2026 in the top five, and “Ex-local authority flats” jumping to 80th from just inside the top 100.
Lenders also updated criteria at pace in July, making more than 3,000 amendments and adding another 1,500 entries, underscoring how quickly broker priorities and product rules are changing.