Owner-occupier housing finance commitments were down in the month of January by 23.5 per cent to only 355, a new government report shows.

The NT had the fourth smallest decrease for the month of January of all the states and territories, with NSW reporting the highest decrease of 30.4 per cent of new commitments.

The Territory’s housing finance commitments increased by 36.8 per cent to 3,566 in the year to January 2022.

The numbers of first home owners were also are up for the year to 2022 with a 3.9 per cent increase to 1,205, in comparison to  non-first home buyer commitments in the Territory increased by 63.3 per cent  to 2,361 in the year to January 2022.