Mortgage deals are disappearing from the market at their fastest sustained pace on record, leaving buyers and brokers scrambling to secure rates before lenders change their offers.
New figures from Moneyfacts show the average mortgage product remained available for just 13 days in September, down from 14 days in August.
The average shelf-life so far this year stands at just 15 days. That compares with 20 days in 2025 and 43 days in 2019.
The figures highlight the continuing instability facing the mortgage market as lenders respond to sharp movements in wholesale funding costs.
In April, mortgage deals lasted an average of just eight days, the shortest period on record. The collapse followed market disruption linked to the conflict involving the US and Iran.
Although product availability has since recovered, lenders continue to reprice or withdraw deals at short notice.
Mortgage rates rise despite more deals on offer
The latest figures also reveal renewed upward pressure on mortgage pricing.
The average two-year fixed mortgage rate increased from 5.59% in September to 5.93% in October.
Meanwhile, the average five-year fixed rate climbed from 5.63% to 5.95%.
The Moneyfacts Average New Mortgage Rate also rose, reaching 5.83% in October compared with 5.55% a month earlier.
However, borrowers have more products to choose from.
The total number of available mortgage deals increased from 7,516 in September to 8,696 in October.
Despite the wider choice, higher rates and frequent product changes continue to complicate affordability calculations for buyers.
For estate agents, the volatility creates additional uncertainty around mortgage costs and the time buyers have to secure finance.
‘Deals available today may not be here tomorrow’
Adam French, head of consumer finance at Moneyfacts, said: “Brokers and borrowers are navigating the most challenging mortgage market in modern records. Not only have rates been jumping up and down but the deals available today may not be here tomorrow either.”
He said the prolonged instability had made 2026 particularly difficult compared with previous periods of disruption.
“The average mortgage product is lasting just 15 days on the market so far this year,” French added.
“That leaves borrowers with a much tighter window in which to find, compare and secure a competitive deal compared to any other on record.”
French attributed much of the volatility to uncertainty surrounding the conflict in the Middle East.
Changes in swap rates have forced lenders to repeatedly adjust mortgage pricing or withdraw products altogether.
As a result, borrowers can find that a competitive mortgage deal disappears before they are ready to proceed.
Buyers urged to act early
Moneyfacts warned that borrowers approaching the end of fixed-rate deals should review their options well before their current mortgage expires.
Many lenders allow customers to secure a replacement product three to six months in advance.
French said borrowers should also consider arrangement fees and other conditions rather than focusing solely on headline rates.
For agents, the figures underline the importance of establishing buyers’ mortgage position early in the transaction.
With products changing so frequently, delays in securing finance could leave purchasers facing different borrowing costs from those originally anticipated.
