New research by Koodoo has revealed that despite the government’s rumoured three month extension to stamp duty relief, buyers will have to start mortgage application procedures before 29 March if they are to be exempt. Koodoo – a company that powers mortgage comparison for price comparison websites – has revealed that the volumes of first-time buyers trying to start the home buying process in January and February this year are at record highs. Data from Fluent Mortgages shows that the average time between first receiving advice and completing on a mortgage today stands at 93 calendar days, longer than the stamp duty extension, meaning that consumers will need to have started the mortgage process by Monday 29 March at the latest to meet the extended deadline.