The rate of growth in house prices eased slightly in March, according to data released today by the Permanent/TSB House Price Index.
Its report shows house prices nationally rose 0.7 per cent last month, bringing the annual rate of growth to 12.9 per cent, down marginally on the 13.3 per cent rise recorded in February.
This report comes on the same day as a Central Bank report showing that that the amount of money forwarded for mortgages grew by 26.9 per cent last month, the fastest rate of growth for over two decades.
The Permanent/TSB index says the average price of a house nationally was €238,813, up almost €30,000 on the equivalent price this time last year.
In Dublin the average price of a home was €314,138, a growth of 1.5 per cent. Houses outside Dublin cost €208,575 on average, an increase of 0.6 per cent.
Over the 12 month period to March, houses prices grew by 12.8 per cent and 13.5 per cent in Dublin and outside Dublin respectively.
House prices for first-time buyers were unchanged month on month. They were paying €208,826 on average for a home.
The average price paid for a new house in March was grew to €232,470 with the average costs of a second-hand house rising to €245,400.
The Permanent/TSB House Price Index is compiled in association with the ESRI.