There has been a drop in the number of Dutch home owners whose property is worth less than their mortgage for the first time since 2008, the national statistics office CBS said on Thursday.

Over 2014, 84,000 households moved out of negative equity as house prices began to rise again, the CBS said.

Nevertheless, 32% of the 4.3 million Dutch home owners still owe more on their mortgages than the property is worth, the CBS said.

The problem is most acute in the under-45 age group, particularly among first-time buyers. In total, 75% of properties bought by people aged 30 to 35 are worth less than the mortgage, the CBS said.