June saw the highest number of mortgages taken out by first-time buyers in 10 months, according to data released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). There were 18,100 loans to first-time buyers, worth £2.2bn, 24% higher by volume and 29% higher by value than in May. June’s first-time buyer numbers were exactly the same as in last August, but 8% lower by volume and value than in June 2010.

Home movers took out 28,600 loans, worth £4.6bn, in June - up from 23,800, worth £3.7bn in May, but down from 32,800 loans, worth £5.3bn, in June 2010.

Overall, there were 46,700 loans for house purchase, worth £6.7bn, in June, up 22% in volume and value from May, but down 11% by volume and 13% by value on June 2010.

Lending for house purchase increased in the second quarter. Between April and June, there were 122,000 loans for house purchase, worth £17.6bn, up from 97,200, worth £14.1bn, in the first quarter. But lending for house purchase was lower than in the second quarter last year, when there were 138,300 loans, worth £20bn, so lending in Q2 this year was down -12% on Q2 2010.