The latest figures from Permanent TSB and the ESRI show that growth in house prices continued to ease in September.
Their house price index shows that prices rose by 0.5% in September, compared with growth of 1.1% in July and 0.8% in August.
The annual rate of growth slowed to 13.8%, compared with 15% in the 12 months to August. Prices have risen by 9.4% since January, roughly in line with the 9% growth recorded in the same period last year.
Permanent TSB's Niall O'Grady said the very strong rate of increase in prices seen in the first half of the year was not continuing in the second half. He said the moderation was particularly evident in the Dublin area. Mr O'Grady is now predicting growth of 10% to 11% for 2003 as a whole.
The figures show that house prices in Dublin have risen by 16% in the last 12 months, compared with 11.9% outside Dublin. Prices in Dublin actually fell 0.6% in September, while the figure for the rest of the country showed 0.7% growth.
The average price of a house in Dublin in September was €296,454, compared with €195,439 elsewhere.
House prices for first-time buyers increased by 0.9% in the month, with those for second-hand buyers rising 0.2%. The annual figures showed growth of 13.2% and 14.1% respectively.
New house prices increased by 1.8% in September, while second-hand prices were up just 0.1%. The annual increases were 12% and 14.6% respectively.
