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Ireland’s housing market continued to show steady price growth in May 2026, with national inflation holding firm and regional patterns becoming more pronounced. The latest CSO release highlights rising prices across most regions, strong activity among first‑time buyers, and a notable shift in the balance between new‑build and existing‑home purchases.

National Price Trends

Residential property prices increased 6.2% year‑on‑year in May 2026, unchanged from April’s annual rate . This marks the lowest annual rise since February 2024, when inflation was also 6.2%

  • Dublin: Prices up 4.7% year‑on‑year
  • Outside Dublin: Prices up 7.3% year‑on‑year

Nationally, house prices rose 6.0%, while apartment prices increased 7.2% over the year .

Dublin vs Rest of Ireland

The regional divide remains stark:

Dublin

  • House prices: +4.3%
  • Apartment prices: +6.1%
  • Strongest growth: Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown (+5.0%)
  • Weakest growth: South Dublin (+3.5%)

Outside Dublin

  • House prices: +7.1%
  • Apartment prices: +9.7%
  • Fastest‑growing region: Midlands (+13.2%)
  • Slowest‑growing region: South‑West (+4.2%)

Median Prices: National, Regional & Eircode

The national median price for a home purchased in the 12 months to May 2026 was €395,000 .

By Region

  • Dublin: €500,000 median price
    • Highest: Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown (€689,325)
    • Lowest: Fingal & Dublin City (€480,000)
  • Outside Dublin
    • Highest: Wicklow (€470,000)
    • Second highest: Kildare (€447,876)
    • Lowest: Longford (€198,000)

By Eircode

  • Most expensive: A94 (Blackrock, Dublin) – €850,000
  • Other high‑value areas: A41 Ballyboughal (€823,000), D06 Dublin 6 (€770,000)
  • Least expensive: F45 (Castlerea, Roscommon) – €155,000

Market Activity: Purchases & Values

In May 2026, 3,861 homes were purchased by households, up 1% on May 2025 .

Breakdown

  • Existing homes: 2,781 purchases (72%) — down 4.5% year‑on‑year
  • New homes: 1,080 purchases (28%) — up 18.6% year‑on‑year

The total value of transactions reached €1.71 billion, a 5.5% annual increase .

  • Existing homes: €1.19bn (69.7%) — up 1.3%
  • New homes: €518m (30.3%) — up 16.7%

Buyer Types

In the year to May 2026, 51,224 homes were purchased by households:

  • 40.1% First‑time buyers (20,542 purchases)
  • 50.2% Former owner‑occupiers (25,722 purchases)
  • 9.7% Non‑occupiers (4,960 purchases)

In May alone, 1,630 first‑time buyers purchased homes — a 17.4% increase on the previous year .

Long‑Term Trends

The national RPPI now stands at 206.0, which is:

  • 25.9% above the 2007 peak
  • 180.7% above the 2013 trough

Dublin prices are 10.1% above their 2007 peak, while the rest of Ireland is 29.2% above its 2007 high .

Overall Takeaway

The May 2026 RPPI shows a market still growing, but at a more moderate and stable pace. Dublin’s price inflation continues to lag behind the rest of the country, while regional markets—especially the Midlands and Border counties—are experiencing strong upward pressure. Median prices remain highest in Dublin and Wicklow, with Blackrock topping the national Eircode rankings.

Market activity is increasingly driven by new‑build purchases and first‑time buyers, even as existing‑home transactions soften. With prices now well above pre‑crisis peaks, the data points to a structurally tight market where regional dynamics and new‑build supply play an increasingly important role.