Dublin house prices now double the rest of the country
The price of a house in Dublin is now almost twice that in the rest of the country, a study released yesterday shows.
It found the average price of a resale property in Dublin is just over €613,000 compared to almost €583,000 a year earlier.
However, nationally, excluding the capital, the average price of a second-hand home is just over half that amount at €321,600, according to agents DNG.
The price is up from €299,500 a year earlier.
The rate of increase in the capital has almost halved to 5.2%, but further bumper rises outside the city are expected this year.
The report also found a “worrying increase” in the number of small landlords cashing in on the strong market and leaving the sector, which will put further pressure on rents.
DNG director Paul Murgatroyd said: “Across Dublin there was a welcome moderation in the rate of house price inflation last year compared to 2024.
“In the 12 months to December 2024, the DNG House Price Gauge recorded annual price growth of 9.2%, but by December last, the annual rate had almost halved to 5.2%.
“Outside the capital price appreciation was stronger last year at around 7.4% and a similar trend is anticipated in 2026.”
He expects strong price growth this year as the number of new homes “is by no means at a level to satisfy demand in the market”.
All regions recorded “robust growth” in prices last year, with DNG figures showing them strongest in the Mid-West region at 9.9%, followed by the Midlands up 9.4%.
The Border and Mid-East regions saw the lowest rate of growth outside Dublin at 6.3%. Dublin second-hand house prices were up 5.2% in 2025, according to DNG.
However, the rate of increases in Dublin was lower than DNG recorded in 2024, when the average price of a home in the capital rose by 9.6%.
South Dublin saw the highest small/medium size landlords leaving the Dublin rental market in the second half of last year after the proposed rental sector reforms, due to come into effect this March, were announced.
In the first half of last year, a fifth of second-hand sales in Dublin were investors selling investment properties.
But it rose to over a quarter in the second half.
The report explained: “This had risen to 27% of sales, as more investors decided to exit the market post the announcement of planned reforms in the sector.
“To sustain a functioning rental market, the Government needs to review its proposed reforms as a matter of urgency to halt the exodus of landlords... and to implement meaningful measures designed to attract new landlords into the market.”
Worryingly, the group expects the exodus to grow.
The report found a “worrying increase” in the number of small landlords cashing in on the strong market
DNG chief executive Keith Lowe said: “Legislative changes due in March for buy-to -let properties are expected to accelerate the already strong trend of small landlords exiting the market.
“This will prove to be very negative for supply in the rental sector as the year progresses. However, on the flip side, it will lead to a further increase in the number of properties available to purchase by owner occupiers.”
