2011 saw a rise in the amount of mortgages agreed for first-time buyers, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).
In December 2011, there were 18,700 home loans granted for first-time buyers. This was an increase of 7% from November, and an increase of 14% from the same time last year in December 2010.
The CML has commented that the increase may be down to first-time buyers looking to grab a property before the end of the 1% stamp duty in March.
When looking at the total amount of mortgages in 2011, the total number did fall from last year by 6% to 509,500.
"We have been expecting a flow of first-time buyers on to the market, as the stamp duty exemption ends in March, and December's figures appear to show this has now begun," said Paul Smee, the CML's director general.
"With the eurozone problems still rumbling on, however, we believe there is still a real risk that this year's lending levels will be lower than those seen in 2011."
A rise in first-time buyers is good news for the housing market, which has previously seen new buyers priced out of the market, due to high deposits and hesitant lending.
First-time buyers are still facing high deposits, with the average first-time buyer having to put down a deposit of 20% of the property's value.