China ’s home sales rose by 69% in the first quarter as buyers rushed into the market before local governments implemented property curbs.

The value of homes sold climbed to 1.2 trillion Yuan ($194 billion) from a year earlier, which according to China’s statistics bureau represents the biggest first-quarter increase in three years.

Overall real estate sales, including commercial buildings, rose 61% to 1.4 trillion Yuan from last year.

Thirty-five city governments issued details of property measures by the deadline on April 1, a month after former Premier Wen Jiabao ordered the central bank to raise down-payment requirements for second mortgages in cities with excessive cost gains and told local governments with the biggest price pressures to tighten home-purchase limits.

China ’s economy grew 7.7% in the first quarter from a year earlier, the government stated on 15 th of April. Slightly lower than the 8% that was forecasted.