Mayo housing prices rise seven percent in three months

Housing prices in Mayo have risen seven percent in three months, that is according to a national survey by Real Estate Alliance.

The price of the average second-hand three-bed semi in County Mayo has increased to €206,000 from €192,500 since March. The average time taken to sell this quarter decreased by four weeks to a total of three, the Q2 REA Average House Price Index shows.

The survey shows that across the county, three-quarters of purchasers were first-time buyers, and 10 percent of purchasers were from outside the county. 

A total of 20 percent of sales in the county this quarter were attributed to landlords leaving the market.

“With the outlook for interest rates looking positive from an affordability perspective, it looks like the trend will be for increased prices in the months and years ahead,” said Robert McGreal of REA McGreal Burke.

The REA Average House Price Index concentrates on the sale price of Ireland's typical stock home, the three-bed semi, giving an accurate picture of the second-hand property market in towns and cities countrywide.

The actual selling price of a three-bed, semi-detached house across the country rose by over percent in the past three months to €315,352.

Prices in Dublin city rose by over one percent in the last three months, meaning that the average three-bed semi in the capital is now selling at €525,500, a five percent increase since last year.

Homes in commuter counties rose by 1.81 percent over the past three months to an average of €327,500, trebling their increase from the first three months of the year.

Major cities outside the capital rose by an average of over €5,000 in the last three months.

Homes in the country’s large towns continue to show the biggest growth, up nearly 9 percent on last June.

A feature of the market is that many houses coming to the market are ex-rental stock, needing substantial refurbishment and upgrading, according to REA spokesperson, Seamus Carthy.

"While we are seeing a slight improvement in stock, a lot of what is coming on the market in the capital is ex-rental and needing substantial refurbishment,” he said.

Mr Carthy continued: “Those intending to purchase a doer-upper are subject to different lending rules, and their bank may look for proof that there are sufficient funds in place to renovate.

"There are huge issues sourcing people to do extensive repairs where multiple people are required, with construction companies telling multiple interested buyers at one recent property that it could be a year before they could do the job.”

He concluded: “As a result of this, people looking to trade up are opting for smaller extension work in their existing properties, where it is easier to source labour.”