Latest figures from BPFI show continued growth in first-time buyer mortgage approvals amid general slowdown
Mortgage activity remains at historically high levels with almost €1 billion in approvals for FTBs and mover purchasers in April
Thursday 15th June 2023 – Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) has today published the latest figures from the BPFI Mortgage Approvals Report for April 2023. The following are the key elements:
- A total of 3,899 mortgages were approved in April 2023 – first-time buyers (FTBs) were approved for 2,417 mortgages (62.3% of total volume) while mover purchasers accounted for 877 (22.5%).
- The number of mortgages approved fell by 13.7% month-on-month and by 9.4% compared with the same period last year.
- Mortgages approved in April were valued at €1,116 million – of which FTBs accounted for €701 million (62.9%) and mover purchasers for €297 million (26.6%).
- The value of mortgage approvals fell by 14.3% month-on-month and by 4.2% year-on-year.
- Re-mortgage/switching activity fell by 63.5% in volume terms year on year and by 64.6% in value in the same period.
Speaking on the publication of the data, Brian Hayes, Chief Executive, BPFI stated: “Our latest mortgage approval figures point to a continued slowdown in the market across almost all customer segments with the exception of FTB approvals which continue to grow, increasing by 5.3% year on year in April to 2,417. FTB mortgage approval values increased to €701 million representing a growth of 10.5% year-on-year in value terms and is the sixth highest monthly approvals value since the data series began in 2011.”
“Consistent with trends seen in recent months, switching activity reduced sharply again in April 2023 and accounted for only 7% of approval volumes, down from the most recent peak of almost 32% in October 2022.”
“Despite the overall slowdown, however, mortgage activity remains at historically high levels with almost €1 billion in approvals for FTBs and mover purchasers in April.”
Data Series:
All mortgage approvals data from January 2011 onwards is available in Microsoft Excel format (*.xls) in the BPFI Mortgage Approvals report data series. The BPFI Mortgage Approvals report data series is available to download here.
ENDS/
Editors’ Note: Approvals and drawdowns data for the period January to March 2023 have been revised based on new data reported by members.
Note: Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) represents the banking, payments and fintech sector in Ireland. Together with its affiliates, the Federation of International Banks in Ireland, and the Fintech & Payments Association of Ireland, BPFI has over 125 member institutions and associates, including licensed domestic and foreign banks and institutions operating in the financial marketplace here.
Contact: Fiona Murphy, Head of Communications, 087 9740046, fiona.murphy@bpfi.ie or Jillian Heffernan, Director of Communications, 087 9016880, jillian.heffernan@bpfi.ie.
