November was the strongest month for house purchase lending since January 2008, as the number of home loans topped 70,000 for the first time since the financial crisis.
This is the prediction from LSL firm e.surv, based on its own valuations activity last month.
It forecasts that last month, house purchase lending will have been 34% higher than a year ago, when approvals came in at 53,539, and 6% higher than in October.
Richard Sexton, director of e.surv, said November had defied expectations, with Help to Buy driving the market forwards.
He said that lending had improved in every region of the UK apart from three –Northern Ireland, the south-west, and south Wales.
He added: “Help to Buy is an essential component in the nationwide recovery in lending. In London and the south-east, house prices are rising rapidly, and many borrowers struggle putting together a reasonable-sized deposit.
“Here, Help to Buy helps them access lower rates, with less of a deposit.
“In the north, there are fewer equity rich buyers, and more people are in need of a hand to get on the first rung of the housing ladder.”
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