The value of new housing loan commitments rose 4.4 per cent in December and has risen 20.7 per cent since the most recent low point in May last year.Growth was driven for demand from owner occupiers, including first home buyers. The value of new loan commitment to owner occupiers rose 5.1 per cent in December, compared with the previous month. It was the seventh consecutive month that the value of loan commitments for owner occupier housing rose.While the value of new loan commitments to investors rose 2.8 per cent. New lending to investors has risen for three consecutive months but is still well below the peak of activity in 2017.The value of new loan commitments to owner occupier first home buyers rose 6.2 per cent in December, accounting for 30.2 per cent of all owner occupier commitments in December.