House prices are climbing in the west of Ireland at almost twice the rate in Dublin, new figures show.
More people working from home combined with high prices in the Dublin area are pushing many to opt for better-value locations.
Prices in September were up almost 17% in the counties of Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, but in Dublin the increase was just over 9%, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reported yesterday.
People are simply finding better value in those western counties, according to housing campaigner David Hall.
He said: "There's value and the whole new working-from-home trend means there are far more options. Post-Covid, you're going to get a lot more people doing it. There's going to be a lot more attention to those areas. With broadband and the local hubs that were made available post-Covid and prices being more affordable and coming from a low base, the percentages always look better."
In Association with
Property Industry Ireland director David Duffy said of the strong rise in prices in the west: "We are seeing increased demand from people wanting to work from home."
Galway's median price was €250,000, Mayo's was €180,000 and Roscommon's €155,000.
The median price across the country was €280,000 - up from €260,000 a year ago.
In Dublin, house prices increased by 9.8% and apartments were up by 7.5%. The highest house price growth in Dublin was in South Dublin at 11%, up to a median of €385,000, while Dublin city saw a rise of 9.2% to €408,600. The most expensive local authority area in the capital, and the country, was Dún Laoghaire- Rathdown, where the median price was €615,000.
In Dublin 4, long regarded as the most expensive postcode in the area, the median price was €650,000, while the neighbouring district of Blackrock pipped it at €725,000.
The least expensive county was Longford at €148,500.
Outside Dublin, house prices were up by 12.1% and apartment prices rose by 9.7%.
The slowest price growth was in Cork and Kerry which saw a 9.5% rise. The median price was €295,000 in Co. Cork and €220,000 in Co. Kerry.
Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers chief Pat Davitt said: "There are still sizeable increases happening, particularly in the midlands at nearly 14% and the west at almost 17%. However, we would expect the overall level of increase for the year as a whole to come in at around 8%. With interest rate increases and more properties coming on the market, this is as would be expected.
"But of course there is a very serious issue with people on average wages being unable to borrow to acquire a home as previous generations were enabled to do."
