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Irish Property Market Shows Resilient Growth as Prices Rise 6.5% – A Deeper Look at March 2026

Ireland’s housing market continued to demonstrate resilience in March 2026, with the latest CSO Residential Property Price Index showing a 6.5% annual increase in national prices. While this represents a slight easing from February’s 6.7% growth, it also marks the lowest annual increase since February 2024 —a sign that the market may be settling into a more sustainable rhythm after several years of sharp upward movement.

Yet beneath the headline figure lies a complex and regionally varied landscape, shaped by shifting buyer behaviour, strong first‑time buyer activity, and a notable rise in new‑home transactions.

Dublin’s Steady Momentum vs. Stronger Growth Outside the Capital

Dublin’s residential property prices rose 5.7% year‑on‑year , continuing a pattern of moderate but consistent growth. Within the capital:

  • House prices increased by 5.1%, while
  • Apartment prices rose by 7.8% .

Growth was not evenly distributed. Dublin City led the way with a 6.0% rise, while Fingal recorded the slowest growth at 3.4% .

Outside Dublin, the picture was more dynamic. Prices rose 7.2% annually , with apartment prices in particular surging 12.0% . The Midlands region stood out with a remarkable 13.4% increase in house prices , while the South‑West saw the most modest rise at 3.6%.

This divergence highlights a continued shift in demand patterns, with affordability pressures and hybrid working trends still influencing buyer decisions.

Median Prices Reveal a Deepening Urban–Rural Divide

The national median price for a home in the 12 months to March reached €390,461 .

  • Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown remains the country’s most expensive market, with a median price of €685,000 .
  • Donegal and Longford, at €200,000, continue to offer the most accessible entry points for buyers .

At Eircode level, the contrast is even sharper:

  • A94 Blackrock tops the national list at €845,000 .
  • F45 Castlerea sits at the opposite end at €150,500 .

For agents and buyers alike, these figures underscore the widening gap between high‑demand urban areas and more affordable regional markets.

Sales Activity Accelerates Sharply

March saw a significant uplift in market activity, with 4,123 household dwelling purchases filed—up 14% on the same month last year . The total value of these transactions reached €1.80 billion .

Breaking this down:

  • Existing homes: 3,131 sales worth €1.32bn
  • New homes: 992 sales worth €477.1m

Notably, new‑home transactions grew 32.1% year‑on‑year —a sign that supply pipelines may be improving, or that buyers are increasingly turning to new builds for energy efficiency and mortgage incentives.

First‑Time Buyers Continue to Drive the Market

First‑time buyers (FTBs) remain a cornerstone of demand:

  • 1,664 FTB purchases were recorded in March, a 24.6% increase on the previous year .
  • Over the past 12 months, FTBs accounted for 39.5% of all household purchases (20,208 transactions) .

This sustained activity reflects the continued impact of supports such as the Help‑to‑Buy scheme and First Home Scheme, combined with strong household formation rates.

New vs. Existing Homes: Price Trends Stabilising

Price growth for both new and existing homes remained robust:

  • New dwellings: +6.2% in Q1 2026 vs Q1 2025
  • Existing dwellings: +6.9% over the same period

Since their respective troughs:

  • New home prices have risen 145.7% since mid‑2013
  • Existing home prices are up 183% since 2012

These long‑term figures illustrate the structural upward pressure in the Irish housing market, driven by chronic undersupply and demographic growth.

Long‑Term Trends: Prices Now Well Above Celtic Tiger Peaks

The national index now stands at 204.5, which is 25% above the 2007 peak .

  • Dublin prices are 9.9% above their 2007 high
  • The rest of Ireland is 27.8% above its previous peak

This confirms that Ireland’s property market has not only recovered from the post‑2008 downturn but has entered a new phase defined by sustained demand and constrained supply.

What This Means for Buyers and Sellers

For sellers, particularly in Dublin and high‑demand commuter counties, the market remains favourable. Price growth is steady, and transaction volumes are rising.

For buyers, especially first‑time purchasers, competition remains strong—but the stabilisation in annual price growth may offer some breathing room.

For investors and developers, the surge in new‑home transactions and strong regional growth outside Dublin point to shifting opportunities.

Outlook

While the pace of price inflation has eased slightly, the underlying fundamentals—population growth, limited supply, and strong first‑time buyer demand—suggest continued upward pressure through 2026.

Regional markets, particularly the Midlands and commuter counties, are likely to remain the strongest performers, while Dublin continues its steady, sustainable growth trajectory.