The proportion of first-time buyers who purchased property in the stamp duty exempt band was at its highest proportion since records began in 2005.
Around 35% of first-time buyers in Scotland usually buy property in these bands compared to 50% in the UK as a whole.
Properties under £125,000 were still the most popular option in Scotland in the first quarter but at 58% of first-time buyers buying within this band, this is still the lowest since record began.
There were 4,000 loans worth £380m taken out by first-time buyers in Scotland in the first quarter.
This was a rise of 21% by number and 31% by value compared to the first quarter of 2011.
First-time buyers accounted for 42% of the house purchase loans in Scotland, the highest since 2001 and the same proportion in the UK as a whole.
Iain Malloch, chair of CML Scotland, said: “Despite the fall in lending in Scotland in the first quarter of the year, the end of the stamp duty concession clearly had an effect on the market, mainly with the increase in the proportion of higher priced properties bought by first-time buyers during this period.
“However if Scotland follows the trend expected across the UK, there is likely to be a further drop in activity over the coming months.
“The CML in Scotland looks forward to working with the Scottish government and other stakeholders throughout the rest of 2012 to ensure the housing market is open for business across all tenures.”
