There was a fall in the number of new mortgages lent to property purchasers in Northern Ireland in the first 3 months of this year. According to new figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) 2,400 new mortgage applications were granted in the first quarter of 2015, down 33% on the previous quarter and 11% on the same quarter in 2014. First time buyers continue to be slightly more active than home movers, accounting for 58 per cent of the new mortgages. Despite the decline in lending to property purchasers compared to last year, it is still the second highest total in a first quarter since 2007. If you are buying, selling or remortgaging a house in Northern Ireland and require a conveyancing solicitor please contact Ruth Flinn on 028 9024 3901 or at rflinn@fhanna.co.uk.