Irish Property Prices Rise 7% as Market Enters 2026 With Renewed Momentum
Ireland’s residential property market continued its upward trajectory into 2026, with the latest CSO Residential Property Price Index (RPPI) showing a 7.0% annual increase in prices to January 2026. The figures point to a market still characterised by strong demand, rising prices, and notable regional differences in growth patterns.
National Price Growth Strengthens
The RPPI shows that national property prices rose 7.0% year‑on‑year, slightly higher than the 6.9% annual growth recorded in December 2025.
- Dublin: +6.1%
- Outside Dublin: +7.7%
The median price of a home purchased in the 12 months to January 2026 stood at €389,986, underscoring the continued upward pressure on affordability.
Dublin Market: Strong but More Moderate Growth
Dublin property prices increased 6.1% annually, with house prices up 5.6% and apartment prices rising 7.8%. Within the capital:
- Dublin City recorded the strongest house price growth at 8.0%.
- Fingal saw the slowest increase at 3.8%.
The median price paid for a home in Dublin reached €500,000, with Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown remaining the most expensive area at €680,000.
Regional Markets Outpace the Capital
Outside Dublin, property prices rose 7.7%, with particularly strong growth in several regions:
- Midlands: +15.9% (fastest in the country)
- Border counties: +10.2%
- Mid‑West: +5.6% (slowest outside Dublin)
Apartment prices outside Dublin surged 12.3%, highlighting strong demand for more affordable housing options.
Wicklow and Kildare Lead as Most Expensive Regions Outside Dublin
Wicklow continues to hold its position as the priciest market outside the capital, with a median price of €455,000, followed by Kildare at €440,040. At the other end of the scale, Donegal remains the most affordable county, with a median price of €195,000.
Eircode-Level Insights: Blackrock Tops the List
The most expensive Eircode area in the country was A94 (Blackrock, Co. Dublin), where the median price reached €840,000. Other notable high‑value areas include:
- A41 (Ballyboughal): €756,500
- D06 (Dublin 6): €750,000
Outside Dublin, A63 (Greystones, Co. Wicklow) was the most expensive Eircode, with a median price of €574,999. The least expensive Eircode nationally was F45 (Castlerea, Co. Roscommon) at €153,000.
Sales Activity: Slight Decline in Volumes
In January 2026, 3,781 household dwelling purchases were filed with Revenue, a slight 0.5% decrease compared with January 2025. Breakdown of purchases:
- Existing homes: 2,686 (–4.9% YoY)
- New homes: 1,095 (+12.1% YoY)
The total value of transactions reached €1.66 billion, with new homes accounting for €516.9 million of that figure.
First-Time Buyers Remain Active
First‑time buyers continue to play a major role in the market:
- 1,566 FTB purchases were recorded in January 2026 (+4.1% YoY).
- Purchases were split between 751 new homes and 815 existing homes.
Across the full year to January, first‑time buyers accounted for 39% of all household purchases.
Long-Term Trends: Prices Now Above Celtic Tiger Peak
The national RPPI has reached 205.0, meaning prices are now 25.3% above the 2007 peak.
- Dublin prices are 10.7% above their previous peak.
- Prices outside Dublin are 27.5% above their 2007 high.
Since the market trough in 2013, national prices have risen 179.4%.
Outlook
The January 2026 data confirms that Ireland’s property market remains robust, with strong price growth driven by limited supply, high demand, and continued activity among first‑time buyers. Regional markets—particularly the Midlands and Border counties—are seeing the fastest growth, while Dublin continues to rise at a steadier pace.
As the year progresses, affordability pressures and supply constraints are likely to remain central themes shaping the market.