Steady price increase for Co. Wicklow houses

THE OVERALL average price of houses in County Wicklow increased slightly in the first six months of this year compared to the same period in 2019. According to the latest Residential Property Price Barometer from IPAV (Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers) house prices for the first half of this year have remained ‘remarkably stable’.

In Wicklow, the average price of a three-bedroom house was €317,417, up from €304,109 in 2019. The average price of a four-bedroom semi-detached property now stands at €395,004 compared to €364,375 for the first six months of 2019. The average price ofaa two-bedroom apartment is also up from €205,000 to €216,667.

The property market in Wicklow is offering buyers near and far a fantastic range of properties, from second hand to brand new with all the mod cons.

Peter Mills of Peter Mills Auctioneers in Arklow has – like all in his profession – experienced a challenging 2020, but activity of recent months has shown there is now a great urgency among renters and people living in Wicklow to buy while the market is buoyant.

‘ The property is moving,’ Peter says.

The lockdown posed challenges for auctioneers, with socially distant viewings and virtual tours proving popular with potential buyers.

Ever since viewings returned there has been a huge demand for properties, both in town and in surrounding villages.

With strong interest from local buyers, Peter said, ‘ local buyers are looking to trade up. We’ve also seen many people from Dublin looking to relocate. People are interested in properties with an extra room with the trend for working from home.’

Noting the range of properties available to buyers, Mr Mills highlighted a property new to the market in Arklow that’s already received a huge amount of interest from would-be buyers. The Presbytery has stunning views over the Irish Sea from its first floor. It also has a connection to Arklow’s industrial past and was one of the homes built by the Kynoch company for workers employed at their munitions factory.

The three-bed property was built in the early 1900s. It contains bright spacious rooms and a big, private garden with lush greenery and mature trees.