A new survey says the housing market in Northern Ireland faces a long and slow recovery, with property prices likely to remain flat for the next two years.
The report also predicts that conditions could worsen after the forthcoming British general election, with public sector spending cuts likely to be introduced by the next Westminster government.
This report from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors says there will be no rapid revival of the housing market in the North because the wider economy is set for a slow and uneven recovery.
RICS spokesman Tom McClelland said housing transaction levels were rising, but only marginally, and were still a long way off what could be called normal levels.
On a brighter note, the survey says home buyers could benefit as the housing market appears to be moving increasingly away from what were abnormal market conditions and into a period of greater stability.
