House prices in Northern Ireland increased by 10.9% in the year to September, new figures show today.
Northern Ireland house prices there are now 45.2% below their peak reached in August 2007, with the average price now at £143,000.
The average for the whole of the UK is £273,000.
According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, the average price for properties bought by first-time buyers increased by 13.3% over the year.
This is the highest annual increase in prices for first-time buyers since March 2005.
Overall UK house prices increased by 12.1% in the year to September 2014, up from 11.7% in the year to August 2014. Prices in London again showed the highest growth.
