Figures show baby boomers after property bargains

It says these were the highest monthly total since November 2007.

Baby boomers (44-62 years old) in particular appear to be showing a disproportionate interest in the housing market with a 45% increase in mortgage applications on March 2008. Generation X (28-43 years old) experienced a 34% increase, while Generation Y (less than 28 years old) had the smallest growth with a 16% increase on March last year.

"The March statistics show a growing surge of renewed interest in the housing market during the first quarter of 2009," Veda Advantage New Zealand managing director, John Roberts, says. "February grew by 37% on January, with momentum continuing into March with a further jump of 29% over the preceding month."

He says there is a level of activity in mortgage applications that hasn't seen since house prices began falling in late 2007.