The figure for sales to first-time buyers was up 1% from the previous month.
On average estate agents branches had 297 house-hunters registered per branch in March compared with 293 in February.
Sales levels were consistent with February with branches selling seven properties on average.
Anecdotal evidence from NAEA agents suggested that the increase in interest from first-time buyers in the last weeks of the stamp duty holiday helped to support this figure.
Wendy Evans-Scott, president of the NAEA, said: “As our member agents predicted, the termination of the stamp duty Holiday helped to fuel a last minute rush from people hoping to escape this tax on aspiration.
“It is clear that significant demand existed for this important tax break for those seeking to buy their first home.
“In light of these new figures, the government’s decision to remove such vital financial support for what is an extremely fragile part of the housing market seems short-sighted.
“The slight drop in reported supply levels suggests some caution amongst sellers, who were waiting until the full facts of the Budget were established and how that might affect house prices.
“In addition the recent move by some major lenders to severely limit the availability of interest-only mortgages is no doubt dampening the levels of supply in the market.”
