This positive growth saw house purchase loans in Wales up a third in the second quarter compared to the first quarter of 2013.
A total of 2,700 loans were advanced to first time buyers in the second quarter of 2013 which was a significant increase on the 2,000 loans in the first quarter and up from 2,100 in the second quarter of 2012.
The average value of the loans also increased to £93,453 in the second quarter compared to £88,355 in the first quarter. This meant that there was a stronger growth in the total value of lending to first time buyers in Wales which totalled £270 million, an increase of 35% on the second quarter last year and 42% higher than the first quarter of 2013.
The typical deposit of first time buyers in Wales remains at 15%, something that has not changed since the third quarter of 2011 and lower than the 20% typical deposit size seen on average throughout the UK.
Growth in lending to home movers was not as strong as first time buyers although remains positive, 3,400 loans were advanced in Wales, worth £410 million, which was an increase of 31% on the first quarter. However, this was actually a decrease of 3% compared to the second quarter of last year.
Total house purchase lending, covering both first time buyers and movers, in Wales have shown strong growth in comparison to the first quarter of 2013 and last year. Overall 6,100 house purchase loans were advanced in Wales in the second quarter which was an increase of 33% on the first quarter of 2013 and a 9% increase on quarter two last year. This total value of these loans amounted to £680 million which was also up by 11% on the second quarter of 2012.
Remortgage lending increased in Wales in the second quarter with £370 million advanced in total. This resulted in the first year on year increase since the end of 2011 with remortgage lending up by 19% compared to the first quarter of 2013 and up 6% compared to the second quarter of 2012.
‘The positive growth trends we are seeing in Wales this quarter and the increasing confidence are very encouraging. First time buyer levels being at their highest since 2007 is hugely welcome and, along with the growth in all other sectors, suggests lenders are very much open for business,’ said Peter Hughes, chairman of CML Cymru.