The index revealed average house prices were 0.3% lower over the quarter to April compared with a quarterly decrease of 0.4% over the previous quarter, and that the average UK house price was £204,439.
When looking at the various regions in the UK, the East, South East and London, all saw house prices rise with London showing the largest growth of 3.6%. All other regions displayed a fall in house prices with Northern Ireland showing a 15% drop.
The CLG survey stated the average price for properties bought by first-time buyers decreased by 1.6% to £150,419 over the year to April 2011, compared to an annual decrease of 0.3% in March. During April prices paid by first-time buyers fell by 1.1% on average, compared to a 0.6% monthly increase in April last year.
The CLG sourced their information based on a sample of mortgage completions data from the Regulated Mortgage Survey as collected by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and Matrix Solutions.
Niholas Ayre, director of UK buying agent Home Fusion, said: “Despite a few negligible monthly rises, the underlying trend in the property market remains resolutely downward. It's still dogged by low buyer confidence and the banks' reluctance to lend.
"What this data drives home once again is just how fragmented the property market is across the UK.
"House prices are steady in England, which has been buoyed by demand in the London property bubble, while vast decreases in Northern Ireland show the full scale of market turmoil.
"The figures suggest that, for first-time buyers in particular, there are bargains to be had.”
