R>The number of loans advanced for house purchases in Northern Ireland reached the highest quarterly total so far in 2012 but remain lower than the same period last year, according to new figures released today (Monday 26 November) by the Council of Mortgage Lenders in Northern Ireland.

In the last three months, a total of 2,300 loans were taken out for house purchase in Northern Ireland, a 21% increase on the second quarter but down by 4% compared to the third quarter last year. This rate of growth outstripped that shown in the UK overall where house purchase loans jumped by 16%.

By value,