The number of first-time buyers applying for a mortgage reached a five-year high in April, according to figures from market research group HDN. In total, 14,500 first-time buyers requested a mortgage last month, up 2,500 on the same period in 2023.

The average amount they requested – €353,000 – was also a five-year high, HDN said.

In total, buyers applied for some 45,000 mortgages in the fourth month of the year, a rise of 40% on 2023. National statistics office CBS will publish actual sales figures for April later this month.

House prices in the first three months of this year are up over 9% on a year ago, estate agents’ organisation NVM said last month.