The rate of growth in house prices continued to ease slightly in February, according to the latest Permanent TSB house price index, compiled with the ESRI.
During February house prices nationally grew by 0.9%. House prices had grown by 0.8% in January and this compares to an average monthly growth of 1.2% over the six months to December 2002.
The index also reveals that house prices nationally grew by 15.4% year on year to February 2003, representing a very slight increase on January's year on year rate of 15.2%.
Permanent TSB's Niall O'Grady said that following six years of exceptional growth, he expects that the more moderate rate of growth seen so far this year will continue through the rest of the year.
Today's index reveals that the average price paid for a house in February of this year was €209,321. This compares to a price of €181,386 the same time last year.
The index also shows that Dublin house prices rose by 0.9% in February while growth of 0.3% was recorded for houses in the rest of the country. In February 2002, increases of 0.3% and 0.7% were registered.
The average price paid for a house in Dublin in February was €278,247 while the equivalent price for a house outside of Dublin was €181,500.
House prices for second time buyers increased by 0.6% in February, while prices rose by 1.1% for first time buyers. The average price paid by a first time buyer and a second time buyer was €180,593 and €237,549.
