Daft Property - Irish Property News

LAST WEEKEND estate agents cheerfully reported that the “top end” of the residential market was showing signs of improvement, as, since the beginning of the year, they had sold 50 houses at €1 million plus and a certain percentage of those sales had even exceeded the €2 million mark. Given that, a mere five or six years ago, well-located but modest three-bed terraced houses were selling for that amount and considerably more, they hardly expected us to jump up and down with excitement at the news. And considering that a certain percentage of these properties would have been purchased within the last decade for approximately three times the figure they have recently achieved, their vendors are unlikely to be thrilled either, since despite selling their home many are probably still up to their necks in debt. But the estate agents did at least confirm that many of the trophy properties are being snapped up by ex-pats, who are now returning to the Irish property market a

Don't bet your house on end of price falls... Lenihan says we can buy in confidence now prices are realistic -- not according to some valuation models. THE speed of the housing market crash is slowing, the Daft.ie house price report has suggested. It may be losing pace -- but contrary to Brian Lenihan's upbeat take on it, few people think that the market has bottomed out yet. "The residential property market will now be stabilised at a realistic level," Mr Lenihan said after the 47 per cent Nama discount was announced. "You can now buy in confidence that the price is realistic." The wider view is that prices could get a whole lot more realistic before they completely floor. Is there much worse to come? By some calculations house-price values could have far further to fall. One internationally recognised valuation model reveals potential overvaluation in the Irish market of up to 60 per cent -- even after the massive price drops that have already occurred. Du