Business ETC uses cookies. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Click here to find out more »
Dublin: 12 °C Monday 20 May, 2013

House prices still declining – but cash sales are growing

A new report also found that the rental market in Dublin grew last year for the first time in three years.

Image: Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

HOUSE PRICES IN Ireland are still in decline but cash sales are increasing, a new report has found.

At the same time the rental market in Dublin grew in 2011 for the first time in three years, showing a 0.8 per cent increase in rental values in 2011, compared to a decline of 4.5 per cent in 2010 and a massive 16.4 per cent in 2009.

The annual survey by the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland found that house prices across Ireland continued to decline in 2011 but at a marginally slower rate than in 2010.

In Leinster, the average selling price for a second-hand semi-detached house with three bedrooms dropped by just under 17 per cent in 2011 – compared to a decline of 17.1 per cent in 2010 and 19.8 per cent in 2009.

Munster saw a decline of 9.3 per cent for the same house type while Connacht saw a drop of 15.2 per cent.

Lack of access to money remains one of the biggest issues affecting the residential property market, according to Roland O’Connell, Vice President of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland.

“Until we see the financial institutions lending to qualified buyers, we will not see a recovery in activity levels in the property market,” said O’Connell.

Confidence in the residential property market remained relatively weak in 2011 due to a mixture of uncertainty around the economic situation and a lack of access to finance, the Society said.

Read next:

Comments (9 Comments)

  • Great time to buy if you have millions. Rich get richer and all that.
    Let’s not forget the estate agents (who rarely get mentioned), driving up house prices by tricking potential buyers into bidding against ‘themselves’. Scumbags.

    There was a programme investigating this practice but I forget what it was called. Maybe someone here remembers.

    Reply
  • PCurley 01/02/12 #

    Good to see that speculators are jumping in with their cash to save us all.God bless them as we have missed them since they deserted us with their bags off cash. Welcome back boys the shop of despair is open

    Reply
    • If you care to look closely.
      The only people that are buying are a few dim novices who missed the boat in the boom.
      I’ve got news for you.
      That ship has sailed.
      The smart money has left town.
      But if you are looking for properties in an economy that will bleed you dry for mere ownership now is your time and Ireland is your only man.

      Reply
  • And again the rich get richer and are benefitting from this situation as they can snap up cheap properties and add to portfolio and charge outrageous prices for rent in sub-standard accommodation…and the gov won’t do anything about that either!

    Reply
    • Cpm 01/02/12 #

      They get rich by taking risks, not sitting on their arse, whinging on the internet about social injustices.

      If these people are prepared to invest in a questionable market, and if that investment works out for them, more power to them.

      If you thought there was money to be made, and if you had the balls or cash to do so, you’d be doing the same yourself.

      Reply
  • Reg 01/02/12 #

    10 to 15% drop in prices this year. You better believe it!

    Reply
  • So SOME estate agents have pretended there was another bid when in fact try themselves were just driving up the price. Immoral Bastards.

    Reply

Add New Comment