The price of the average second-hand three-bed semi in Limerick city rose to €345,000 in 2025, up 7.8pc from €320,000 at the end of 2024, according to a national survey by Real Estate Alliance.
Across the county, average prices rose over the past twelve months to €277,500, up 6.7pc from €260,000 in 2024, the Q4 REA Average House Price Index shows.
In the county, average time taken to sell this quarter was four weeks, while in the city it was three weeks.
“While the percentage of landlords exiting remains the same as the quarter before, we expect that the first quarter 2026 will see a rise due to the new legislation coming in next March where all new tenancies will be subject to a 6-year lease,” said Pat Dooley, REA Dooley.
“We have had numerous enquiries in our offices relating to this new legislation and we have been instructed to send out many termination notices on the foot of same.
“Landlords by-and-large do not want to be tied into long leases, even if they are happy with their tenancy there may be varying reasons as to needing the property back in the short-term future.
“Unfortunately it seems that Government are sleep-walking into another even bigger rental crisis.
“While this might help the ever-growing shortage of stock for the sales market, it will inevitably be to the detriment of the rental market.”
The survey shows that this quarter, 75pc of purchasers in the city and 80pc across the county were first-time buyers, while a total of 50pc of sales in the county, and 60pc in Limerick city, were attributed to landlords leaving the market.
Additionally, agents in Limerick reported that the BER ratings of properties saw A-rated properties command 15pc price increases in comparison to comparable C-rated properties.
The REA Average House Price Index concentrates on the sale price of Ireland's typical stock home, the three-bed semi, giving an accurate picture of the second-hand property market in towns and cities countrywide.
A recent rise in landlords exiting the housing market is set to sharply increase in the first months of 2026, according to agents.
The impending nationwide rent pressure zone at the end of February has seen a 38pc annual increase in landlord sales in many areas now included in the legislation.
The actual selling price of a three-bed, semi-detached house across the country rose by 1.6pc in the past three months to €359,417.
This represents an 8.7pc overall rise annually – a gradual slowing from the 10.3pc increase registered six months ago.
Actual selling prices in Dublin city rose by 1.5pc in the last three months, with the average three-bed semi in the capital’s postcode areas now selling at €586,000, an 8.1pc annual rise.
Selling prices in Ireland’s major cities outside Dublin rose by 1.3pc to an average of €373,750 – a 7.4pc annual increase.
Homes in the country’s large towns showed the biggest increases nationwide, 1.75pc this quarter and 9.9pc on last December to an average of €275,611 – with homes taking one week longer to reach sale agreed, at five weeks.
Prices in commuter counties rose by 1.6pc to €373,513, and while supply continues to cause issues, there is an anticipation of further landlord sales across the area in the new year.
