Meath house prices have dropped

Meath house prices drop 3.3 per cent over the past 12 months

The price of the average three-bed semi in County Meath fell by 1% over the past three months according to a national survey carried out by Real Estate Alliance.

Meath prices fell by 3.3% overall over the past 12 months to €237,500, the REA Average House Price Survey found.

The survey concentrates on the actual sale price of Ireland's typical stock home, the three-bed semi, giving an up-to-date picture of the second-hand property market in towns and cities countrywide to the close of last week.

“We are seeing that buyers are more cautious due to the unknown circumstances of Brexit,” said Paul Grimes of REA Grimes in Ashbourne.

The price of the average three-bed semi-detached house in Ashbourne remained at €300,000 this quarter, with the average time on the market rising from four weeks to five.

“We have seen the market has slowed down for three and four-bed semis in the past quarter. I am not sure if Brexit is causing this. There is still interest in one-off properties,” said Cara Gavigan of REA T&J Gavigan in Kells.

Kells prices were static this quarter with three-bed semi-detached houses priced at an average of €180,000. The average time taken to sell in the area increased from six weeks to seven.

“Prices are back here. The market is very quiet with buyers holding off and sales taking longer to get over the line,” said Thomas Potterton of REA TE Potterton in Trim.

The price of an average three-bed semi-detached house in Trim fell by 4% this quarter to €240,000, and the average time to reach sale agreed rose from 10 weeks to 12.

“Property prices in Navan are stable and manageable at present. No major growth has been witnessed this year, however our sale levels remain strong with genuine buyers in the market,” said Michael Gavigan of REA T&J Gavigan of Navan.

The price of the average three-bed semi-detached house in Navan remained at €230,000 this quarter, with the average time on the market falling from 10 weeks to eight.

The average semi-detached house nationally now costs €235,009, the Q3 REA Average House Price Survey has found – a drop of 0.43% on the Q2 2019 figure of €236,028.

The price of a three-bedroom semi in Dublin’s postal zones fell by an average of €4,500 in the past three months as Brexit uncertainty affects buyers.

Three-bed semi-detached houses in Dublin city registered a third consecutive quarter fall (-1%) since the end of June and have decreased by -3.3% to €428,500 compared to September 2018.

Prices also fell by 1% in the commuter counties in the past three months, with the average house now selling for €246,611 – an annual fall of 0.7%.

After a year of rises to June, agents are citing an uncertainty surrounding Brexit hampering viewing numbers.

Prices in the country’s major cities outside Dublin – Cork, Galway, Waterford and Limerick – remained unchanged in the past three months.

“The highest annual price increases (3.3%) were once again seen in the rest of the country’s towns which rose in selling price by an average of €5,000 in the past year and 0.36% in the past three months to €161,724,” said REA spokesperson Barry McDonald.