Dublin house prices set to increase by an average of 5% in 2026 amid ongoing supply shortages, as estate agents strike a more cautious tone than in recent years – The Sunday Times Dublin Property Price Guide

/in /by

  • Property values in Dublin 3,4,9 and North County Dublin forecast to rise by up to 8% this year

 

  • Price growth in the south of the city is cooling, with estate agents anticipating an average increase of 4.65% and rises as low as 3% in Dublin 2,10,14,18 and 20

 

  • In several parts of the capital 80-100% of estate agents’ sales in 2025 exceeded asking prices, with homes selling for an average 10% above guide price

 

  • A continued rise in private landlords exiting the market has coincided with strong activity from first-time buyers holding mortgage approval

 

  • Ballsbridge, Sandymount, Ranelagh, Milltown and Rathmines rank as Dublin’s five most expensive areas for a three-bedroom semi-detached home, while Neilstown, Darndale and Clondalkin are the most affordable

 

  • Demand for turnkey homes with high energy ratings remains strong but rising construction costs and a shortage of builders continues to hinder renovation projects

 

Dublin estate agents expect property values across the capital to rise by an average of 5% this year, driven by continued shortfalls in new housing supply and intense bidding wars for energy-efficient turnkey homes, according to The Sunday Times Dublin Property Price Guide 2026, in partnership with AIB.

 

However, the findings indicate that estate agents are adopting a more cautious outlook for the year ahead than they did last year for 2025, when they predicted average price increases of 6.25%, rising to as much as 12% in some areas.

 

The dedicated 28-page supplement, now in its 24th year, will be published free with The Sunday Times this Sunday, 11 January.

 

The Sunday Times Dublin Property Price Guide is the authoritative guide to the Dublin property market, and features interviews with a number of Dublin estate agents who outline their predictions for the year. It also includes a detailed analysis of property prices for a wide variety of house types across all postcodes in the capital.

 

Key insights include:

 

  • Second-hand three-bed semi-detached homes in Artane have breached the €700,000 mark and are expected to exceed that level in Killester during 2026

 

  • While Ballyfermot remains one of Dublin’s more affordable areas, properties are increasingly achieving prices above €400,000

 

  • Agents in Howth and Sutton and Dublin 16 are the least optimistic about house values rising in 2026. They expect price increases of 2-4% in Howth / Sutton and 2.5% in Dublin 16

 

  • Bidding wars were most common for turnkey properties with high energy ratings – the area of the market also facing the most limited supply

 

  • Many buyers in the second-hand market are couples with mortgage approval, often finding themselves competing for properties in parts of Dublin they had not previously considered buying in

 

  • There is some cause for optimism, however, with the Government’s new housing plan ‘Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030’, alongside measures in Budget 2026 which are expected to improve supply over time. Lower interest rates will also provide buyers with some additional breathing space

 

The Sunday Times Property Price Guide also reveals that the top five most expensive examples of three-bed, semi-detached houses in Dublin are in the following locations:

  1. Ballsbridge                    €1.15 million
  2. Sandymount                 €1.15 million
  3. Ranelagh                      €1.06 million
  4. Milltown                        €1.02 million
  5. Rathmines                    €870,000

 

The top five most affordable examples of three-bed, semi-detached houses are unveiled as:

  1. Neilstown                      €310,000
  2. Darndale                       €330,000
  3. Clondalkin                     €340,000
  4. Ballymun                       €350,000
  5. Springfield, Tallaght       €350,000

 

Sorcha Corcoran, editor of The Sunday Times Dublin Property Price Guide, says: “Once again, this year’s Dublin Property Price Guide shows a market being driven primarily by a mismatch between supply and demand. Although new homes are being delivered, they are absorbed quickly and at high price points, while the exit of private landlords has intensified pressure on buyers. With bidding wars still widespread – particularly for energy-efficient, turnkey homes – estate agents expect prices to continue rising in 2026, albeit at a more moderate pace. There is some hope on the horizon, however, as housing policy reforms and lower interest rates begin to shift the focus towards longer-term solutions.”

The Sunday Times Dublin Property Price Guide, in association with AIB, will be followed by The Sunday Times Nationwide Property Price Guide which will be published on Sunday, 18th January. For full details, pick up a copy of The Sunday Times this weekend or online at Thesundaytimes.com/ireland

 

For more information visit Thesundaytimes.com/ireland

or follow The Sunday Times Ireland on X @ST__Ireland, Instagram @sundaytimesireland and

Facebook @thesundaytimesIE