The Cambridge Expands 98% LTV Mortgage to Entire Market
Market Updates

The Cambridge Expands 98% LTV Mortgage to Entire Market

By Dr. Priya Sharma, Property Markets Analyst · 8 July 2026 · 1 min read

Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Mortgage Solutions. Read the original article for full details.

The Cambridge Expands 98% LTV Mortgage to Entire Market

The Cambridge Building Society has widened access to its 98% loan-to-value (LTV) First Step two-year fixed mortgage, making it available to the whole of the market. The product, previously offered through limited distribution, is now accessible to all intermediaries from 8 July 2026.

The First Step mortgage is designed for first-time buyers and allows borrowing up to 98% LTV on properties valued up to £500,000, with a maximum loan size of £500,000. The product is priced at 5.89% and includes a £499 product fee, as well as a free standard valuation. Borrowers can make overpayments of up to 10% per year.

The Cambridge will lend up to 5.5 times income and accepts gifted deposits. The mortgage is available for new-build houses but not for new-build flats. Self-employed applicants are considered according to the society’s standard criteria. The minimum purchase price for eligible properties is £100,000.

For letting agents and inventory clerks, the expansion of this high LTV mortgage product may increase activity among first-time buyers, particularly those with smaller deposits. The product’s availability to all intermediaries could also broaden the pool of potential tenants entering the property market.


Source: Mortgage Solutions
About the author
Dr. Priya Sharma
Property Markets Analyst

Dr. Priya Sharma writes The Property AI's data-led coverage of UK property markets — rental indices, sold-price trends, mortgage flows, and regional analysis. Articles bylined Dr. Sharma cite ONS, Land Registry, Bank of England, and primary research data.

PhD Economics. Specialises in: ONS Index of Private Housing Rental Prices, Land Registry data, regional rental analysis, mortgage approvals trends.

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