Home sales up almost 20 pct in February

Last month the number of sold homes in the Netherlands was almost a fifth higher than in February last year, according to figures from the Land Registry. Compared to January, home sales increased by 7 percent, AD reports.

Last month the Land Registry recorded 17,708 sold homes. Sales increased for all types of housing. The biggest increase was in the sale of detached homes, 35 percent. The smallest increase, 14.7 percent, was in apartment sales.

Home sales increased in all provinces except Noord-Holland, where there was a decrease of 2.8 percent. Gelderland saw the biggest increase with more than 34 percent.

In February a total of 26,580 mortgages were registered, almost 21 percent more than the same month last year.