House prices continue to rise with Donegal ahead of national average in some areas

Sale prices for homes throughout the country in the first six months of 2025 continued their upward trajectory, with an overall increase of 5.05% in the period, a half percentage point ahead of the 4.55% increase in the previous six months.

IPAV’s Residential Property Price Barometer charts prices actually achieved by auctioneers every six months for three and four-bedroom semi-detached homes and two-bedroom apartments.

In Donegal, in the first six months of this year 3-bedroom homes were up by 4.65% to €225,000; 4-bedrooms by 5.70% to €278,334 and 2-bedroom apartments by 5.95 % to €148,334.

In the three and four-bedroom category Roscommon topped the league with increases of 10.49% and 9.24% respectively in the first six months of the year. At the higher end also in the three-bedroom category were Carlow at 9.71%, Waterford at 8.88% and Wicklow at 7.92%.

A number of market segments showed increases of less than three per cent, primarily in Dublin.

In terms of prices Longford had the cheapest homes in the country at €220,000 in the three-bedroom category, followed by Roscommon at €223,750 and Donegal at €225,000.

Commenting on the latest data, Genevieve McGuirk, IPAV Chief Executive said: “Prices have been on the up since the third quarter of 2023. It is not positive from the perspective of aspiring buyers, or indeed for the State, that increases of this magnitude would continue indefinitely.”

She said what’s worrying is “the supply and demand balance has been seriously out of kilter for a considerable period, and latest data is not encouraging.”

Institutional investment in residential property fell by 80 per cent in 2023 and 2024, according to the Central Bank. And while new dwelling completions in Q2 2025 showed a rise of 35% on the same period last year, commencement notices in the first seven months of 2025 are down substantially.

Ms McGuirk said all hope now rests with the Government and its much anticipated new housing plan. “We have to embrace new thinking. Above all, we must see coherence of policy across Government and State agencies to break down impediments so that housing policy better delivers socially and economically.” And she said emergency planning measures would be needed.