Asking prices across Ireland are continuing to fall, and more significantly in the most expensive areas of the country, according to a new report.

Daft.ie, Ireland's largest property website, today released the latest Daft House Price Report, covering the first three months of 2008. The report shows that the most drastic asking price falls in the three months have declined by up to 7% - in South County Dublin and Wicklow.

It revealed that nationally, over the past three months, asking prices decreased 1.2%.

The fall in asking prices in early 2008 marks a change from late 2007, when asking prices remained static, but many sellers accepted offers below the advertised price.

"Sellers appear to have accepted that the downturn in the housing market may last a while," said Ronan Lyons, economist with Daft.ie. "With huge numbers of property for sale in many parts of the country, sellers are now finding they have to reduce the asking price in order to attract interest from buyers."

-- Advertisement --

The nationwide average fall of 1.2% hides significant regional variation over the first three months of 2008.

Prices fell in almost all parts of Dublin and Leinster – by up to 7% in the case of South County Dublin and Wicklow. Prices also fell in Cork city (down over 5%) and Limerick city (down 2.4%).

Other areas saw asking prices that were static or even slightly rising. In Galway city, where asking prices had fallen sharply in late 2007, they rose 1.2%, suggesting that the substantial correction in asking prices in 2007 has had an effect.

In parts of Munster, including Kerry, Waterford county and Cork county, asking prices have held up.

Dermot O'Leary, Chief Economist at Goodbody Stockbrokers said that the number of properties for sale will be a key indicator of the property market over the coming months.

"Figures indicate that the total number of properties for sale stands over 50% ahead of last year's levels. Prices won't begin to stabilise again until the stock for sale begins to fall more normal levels," he said.

The average increase in the number of properties on the market hides differences around the country. In Dublin, of all the properties that have been put on the market since January 2007, just one in five was still on the market in March 2008.

In Connacht and Ulster the figure is almost one in two, suggesting that the correction will take longer in these areas.

(VB/JM)