New house prices rose 8 per cent in the first six months of the year, according to the latest survey from the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Values.
The figures are higher than those released recently by the Department of the Environment which is revamping its index.
The increase shows an acceleration from the same period last year when prices rose by 7.5 per cent, according to the institute.
But it notes that the figures do not take into account the tax measures introduced by the Government to curb demand, including the 9 per cent rate of stamp duty and the 2 per cent anti-speculative tax.
The highest rate of increase was in Co Kildare at 16 per cent with Dublin and Meath prices rising by 15 per cent, compared with a rise of 8 per cent for Dublin over the same six months last year.
Longford showed the next highest increase at 12 per cent followed by Kilkenny, Limerick, Monaghan and Waterford on 10 per cent.
Various house price indices have recently produced remarkably different results. The latest figures for the Irish Permanent house price index, compiled in association with the Economic and Social Research Institute, show house prices rose by 10.4 per cent in the first half of this year, compared to 7.3 per cent for the same period last year. The Department's figures, on the other hand, showed a 1.1 per cent fall in new house prices and a 2.2 per cent fall in second-hand house prices in the first three months.
According to the IPAV, the average price of a new home is now £123,000. The survey also found that only three counties - Donegal, Mayo and Wexford - have average house prices below £100,000. The average price of a second hand home in Dublin is £195,000, while the average new home costs £182,000.
The highest rate of price increase was in homes under £100,000 at 10 per cent, with the lowest for homes at £170,000 to £250,000 at 6 per cent.
The survey was carried out among 100 auctioneers across the State at the end of June. House prices exceeding £500,000 were excluded to avoid distorting the overall result.
