Mortgage lending in Northern Ireland reached a 10-year high of £480m during the third quarter of the year, according to the latest figures.
Industry body UK Finance – formerly known as the Council for Mortgage Lenders – said borrowing by home-buyers rose 12% to reach £480m, up 20% on the third quarter of last year.
And borrowing by first-time buyers was up 24% to reach £260m in the third quarter.
Loans taken out by home-movers were also up 16% year-on-year at £220m.
Derek Wilson, the chairman of UK Finance’s Northern Ireland mortgage committee, said: “Lending for house purchases picked up again in the third quarter and is now at its highest level for a decade.
“First-time buyers continue to borrow more than movers, with lower house prices helping to boost activity in what remains the most affordable region in the UK.
