A larger share of remortgage customers researching deals on Moneyfactscompare.co.uk considered variable or tracker mortgages in October, according to figures reported by Mortgage Strategy on 4 November 2026.
The reported share was 24%, compared with 14% in February. That is a ten-percentage-point increase in the share of searches described by the analysis. For home movers, the corresponding figures were 10% and 8%. These figures concern people researching on the comparison website; they should not be treated as completed mortgage sales or a representative survey of every UK borrower.
The distinction matters because looking at a product does not establish that it is suitable, affordable or ultimately chosen. A person can examine several options before applying, and an application can differ from the initial search.
Understand what changes the payment
MoneyHelper explains that fixed-rate mortgage interest stays unchanged for the deal period, while variable mortgages include trackers, standard variable rates and discounted variable rates. A tracker’s specified link and a lender’s own variable rate are different mechanisms. Read the actual product terms to understand what could change and when.
Before comparing an initial payment with a fixed-rate alternative, ask your adviser to show how the proposal behaves under several rate assumptions. Include an example in which rates remain higher for longer, rather than considering only the outcome you hope for. The purpose is to test the budget, not to pretend that future interest rates are known.
Compare the cost and the flexibility
Prepare the same information for each comparison: loan balance, intended period, fees, repayment basis and any features important to your plans. Ask what happens if you move home, repay early or need to change the arrangement. Do not assume all tracker products have identical restrictions.
A useful written comparison should make clear which figures are contractual and which depend on assumptions about future rates. Keep those assumptions visible when discussing the apparent saving. An attractive opening payment does not answer the question of what you could comfortably manage later.
The Moneyfacts figures show changing research behaviour on one website. They provide a reason to ask informed questions, rather than a recommendation to follow other searchers. The right comparison depends on your circumstances, the current offers available and suitable mortgage advice.
Sources: Mortgage Strategy, 4 November 2026; MoneyHelper, Understanding mortgages and interest rates.