Spanish home sales increased 24.7% year-on-year in the second quarter, data from the Housing Ministry showed Thursday.

Sales increased for the third consecutive quarter. Compared to the first quarter, home sales rose 39.6%. According to the ministry, 149,527 homes were sold during the period.

In the last twelve months, 495,684 homes were sold, representing an increase of 4.8% over the previous twelve months.

New house sales rose 45.3% from the previous quarter and grew 4.6% compared to the same period last year. Sales of used homes rose 35.2% on a quarterly basis and were up 48.3% year-on-year.

Spanish economic growth continued to creep up in the June quarter with the gross domestic product growing 0.2% sequentially. In the first quarter, the country exited its worst recession for decades as the GDP rose 0.1%.