Fall in number of house sales

NEW analysis of the property price register for the first half of 2018 shows that the number of sales in Wicklow has reduced by two per cent, compared to the same period last year.

Sales have increased nationally and in Dublin, according to the MyHome.ie study.

There were 729 sales in Wicklow in the first half of the year, with 744 in the same period in 2017.

The number of sales nationally has increased by 3.6 per cent, and in Dublin by eight per cent. MyHome expects the number of sales this year to rise by up to nine per cent to 60,000.

Dublin, which is responsible for around a third of the property market, led the way in the first six months of the year with 8,187 sales – an increase of eight per on the 7,582 sales recorded for the same period last year. However, the value of sales in the capital rose by a substantial 26 per cent to €3.8bn from €3.01bn.

The capital was followed by Cork (with 2,532 sales), Kildare (1,250) and Galway (1,094) with Meath (1,056) and Limerick (901) completing the top six.

Angela Keegan, Managing Director of MyHome.ie, said the increase in sales in many parts of the country was welcome.

‘In 2017 there were around 55,000 residential sales. The bad weather caused a lot of disruption early in the year but with sales continuing to pick up we believe the total number of sales in 2018 will be close to 60,000, an increase of nine per cent.

‘The increase in the value of sales is being driven by the sale of a number of major developments as well as the double-digit price inflation we have seen recently in Dublin and around the country. MyHome’s latest property report indicates prices are now cooling due to the lending controls introduced by the Central Bank which is also positive.’ I am pregnant but I have only been working with my employer for a few weeks. Am I entitled to maternity leave?

IF you are pregnant while in employment, you are entitled to maternity leave, regardless of how long you have been working for the organisation or the number of hours worked per week. You can also take additional unpaid maternity leave.

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