The number of owner-occupied housing finance commitments picked up in February, after falling for the previous four months.According to Australian Bureau of Statistics' figures released yesterday, the number of owner-occupied housing loans rose two per cent in January (in seasonally adjusted terms).The value of these loans, at A$13.9 billion, was up 1.2 per cent on the previous month. Over the 12 months to February the monthly value of owner-occupied housing loans has increased by 5.3 per cent. The value of investment housing loans rose 1.8 per cent over the previous month.The value of all housing loan outstandings in February (owner-occupied and investment) was $1.19 trillion. Loan outstandings increased by six per cent over the 12 months to February.Commonwealth Bank economist Diana Mousina said in a statement that the latest data indicates a modest recovery in lending activity. Mousina said: "This is in line with the Reserve Bank's assessment that dwelling investment is slowly increasing."Mortgage aggregator AFG reported that the big banks have increased their share of the business its brokers have written over the past six months.The major banks' share of loans written by AFG has increased from 75.7 per cent, in September, to 79.4 per cent, in March.AFG's general manager of sales and operations, Mark Hewitt, said the growth in the majors' share was a result of the increase in demand for fixed-rate home loans.The major banks' share of AFG's fixed-rate loans has grown, from 76.4 per cent in September to 84.5 per cent last month.Hewitt said: "The scale of the major lenders gives them an advantage when sourcing funding. They've been able to leverage that advantage."Among the majors, ANZ, Commonwealth Bank and its subsidiary, Bankwest, have had the strongest growth in share. And among the smaller lenders, Macquarie and ME Bank have had strong growth in share.The RP Data Mortgage Index for March, which was published yesterday, suggests that the pick-up in housing finance activity will continue. The index, which is based on data in the company's property valuation platform, rose 6.2 per cent in March.RP Data's head of corporate affairs, Craig McKenzie, said: "This strong national result may be indicative of a seasonal lift in mortgage-related activity but also appears to be driven by increased activity from borrowers looking to take advantage of refinancing opportunities, with low interest rates."