27pc of purchases above £250,000 in 2012

Over 145,000 properties above £250,000 were sold in 2012 with almost two-thirds (59%) being in Greater London.

Unsurprisingly the South East had the next highest percentage of sales at 39% whilst the least were made in the North (9%) of the UK.

Ian Wilson, head of sales at Halifax Intermediaries, said: “It is no surprise that a large proportion of purchases above £250,000 are in Greater London and the South East.

"Traditionally we generally see a spike in clients reviewing their finances in the first quarter of the year, with this year being no exception.

“High value mortgages can be quite complex, with borrowers having multi-faceted income streams, with bonuses, business profits and investment income often forming part of the overall income picture.

"Due to the nature of these types of cases, lenders need to be flexible and understanding of the requirements of brokers and their clients and provide a knowledgeable specialist team to support them.”