Number of cash buyers drops; pace of home sales picks up

The number of cash buyers in the housing market has dropped in the second quarter of the year.

A housing market report published by the Society of Chartered Surveyors shows around 35% of transactions between April and June involved cash buyers, down from about 50% in the first quarter.

First time buyers accounted for 44% of transactions.

Movers made up 29%, which is thought to be due to some houses lifting out of negative equity and the fact that some lenders are allowing people to keep their trackers.

Policy director with the society of chartered surveyors Conor O'Donovan said: "The pace of sales activities - inquiries from buyers, sales agreed and sales completed - all increased in the second quarter of the year."