Property prices in Ireland still rising but growth has slowed compared to a year ago

Residential property prices in Ireland increased by 7.4% in the 12 months to March 2016, down slightly from the 8% recorded in February.

The latest data from the Central Statistics Office also show that while house prices are still rising the growth has slowed. In March 2015 the annual rise was 16.8%.

Month on month property prices increased by 0.3% compared with no change recorded in February and an increase of 0.9% recorded in March of last year.

In Dublin residential property prices increased by 0.9% in March and were 3.9% higher than a year ago. Dublin house prices increased by 1.2% in the month and were 4.1% higher compared to a year earlier. 

Dublin apartment prices were 1.6% higher when compared with the same month of 2015. However, it should be noted that the sub-indices for apartments are based on low volumes of observed transactions and consequently suffer from greater volatility than other series.

The price of residential properties in the rest of Ireland decreased by 0.2% in March compared with an increase of 0.7% in March of last year. Prices were 10.5% higher than in March 2015.

It means that house prices in Dublin are now 34.3% lower than at their highest level in early 2007. Apartments in Dublin are 41.2% lower than they were in February 2007. Residential property prices in Dublin are 36.3% lower than at their highest level in February 2007. 

The price of residential properties in the rest of Ireland is 35.4% lower than their highest level in September 2007. Overall, the national index is 33.6% lower than its highest level in 2007.