An online survey carried out by property website Daft.ie has found that almost two-thirds of people do not think current house prices in their area represent good value.
The consumer attitudes survey of just over 2,000 people also found that the availability of mortgage credit was considered the most important factor affecting house prices this year.
38% of those taking part in the survey intend to buy a property this year.
Only just under 6% of respondents believed house prices across the country would be stable or rise this year. More than half expected falls of between 5% and 15%, and more than 20% expected bigger falls.
Just over 17% expected house prices nationally to be higher in five years' time.
A belief that property prices would fall further emerged as the main reason why people were putting off buying a property.
