According to a new report by the Council of Mortgage Lenders, first-time buyer activity remained strong in March.
Over 19,000 loans (worth some £2.4 billion) were advanced to first-time buyers in March, up from 15,900 loans in February but down on the 24,400 loans advanced in March last year.
However, March 2012 marked the end of the first-time buyer stamp duty holiday and resulted in a significant jump in activity, making meaningful year-on-year comparisons difficult.
Despite the spike in March last year, first-time buyer lending activity over the first quarter of 2013 fell only marginally shy of activity in the first three months of 2012.
Overall, 50,900 loans were advanced to first-time buyers in the first quarter of this year, compared to 51,200 loans in the first quarter of 2012.