The price of the average second-hand three-bed semi in County Wicklow has risen 4.2% to €316,000 in the last three months, according to a national survey by Real Estate Alliance.

Across the county, time taken to sell fell to four weeks from an average of five this quarter, the REA Average House Price Index shows.

Average prices in Bray rose 2.8% to €370,000 this period, with time to sell currently at three weeks. North East Wicklow prices rose 3.1% to €330,000.

During this period, prices in Wicklow town rose 2.5% to €330,000, with time to sell remaining at four weeks.

“A mixture of lack of supply in both new and second-hand houses, along with increased demand from Dublin-based buyers and a high level of mortgage liquidity is driving prices upwards,” said Matt Forkin of REA Forkin, Wicklow.

“As more stock is introduced to the market, especially from the new homes market, we expect prices to level off.

Average prices in Blessington rose 3.2% this quarter to €325,000, with time to sell remaining at four weeks. Baltinglass prices rose 12.5% to €225,000 and time to sell in the area fell by a fortnight to six weeks.

“Demand remains strong, and a quantity of properties are being sold prior to coming to the market at prices above expectations. Stronger estates in Blessington are heading towards €350,000,” said Simon Murphy of REA Murphy, Blessington and Baltinglass.

“Limited supply is a contributing factor, plus the factor of remote working is increasing enquiries.”

Average house prices have risen by almost €1,000 per week nationwide since the end of March, the REA Average House Price Survey has found.

The survey concentrates on the actual 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.

Fuelled by pent-up demand and the return of physical viewing, the marketplace is also seeing the lowest supply and the shortest time taken to sell in recent history.

And as multiple buyers bid for scarce supplies, the average three bed semi is now reaching sale agreed after just four weeks on the market across the country – less than half the ten-week average this time last year.

The price of a three-bedroomed semi-detached house across the country rose by €10,000 over the past three months to €253,685 – representing an annual increase of 8%.

The biggest rises in Q2 came in commuter counties and the country’s large towns as buyers continue to move out further from the city in preparation for long-term hybrid working situations.

In Dublin city, house prices rose by €1,500 per week in Q2, increasing from €438,500 in March to a present rate of €456,667.

Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford cities shared a combined increase of 3.5% in the past 12 weeks with prices rising by €10,000 to an average of €275,000.

Three bed semis in commuter counties rose 4.33% by over €11,000 in the past three months to an average of €270,111 – with the average home selling in just three weeks, down from a high of 11 weeks a year ago.

As the flight to rural locations continues, prices in the rest of the country’s towns rose by over 4.6% in Q2 to €176,690.