Dublin homes selling nearly 12% above asking as market tightens in early 2026
Average sale agreed time falls to under five weeks as investor activity drops sharply and rents exceed €3,100 per month
23 April 2026 | 📧 editor@ipropertyradio.com
Dublin’s residential property market recorded a highly competitive start to 2026, with homes selling on average 11.9% above asking prices and going sale agreed in just 4.9 weeks, according to new transactional data from estate agent Owen Reilly.
The report shows the average selling price reached €695,457 in the first quarter, compared to an average asking price of €625,263, reflecting sustained upward pressure driven by constrained supply and strong demand.
Competition for available stock remains acute, with 89% of properties selling above asking price and achieved premiums ranging from 7% to as high as 28% in some cases. The average time to secure a buyer has fallen significantly from 8.6 weeks a year ago to 4.9 weeks, indicating an acceleration in market activity.
Despite the strong pricing environment, there are early signs of caution emerging among buyers. The sales fall-through rate has increased to 12%, up from 6% a year earlier, suggesting some purchasers are reassessing decisions following competitive bidding processes.
The market is now overwhelmingly driven by owner-occupiers, who account for 95% of buyers, with 71% relying on mortgage finance. Investor participation has reduced sharply to just 5% of transactions, down from 17% in Q1 2025.
On the supply side, landlords continue to exit the market, representing 68% of sellers in the quarter. This shift is contributing to tightening rental supply and reinforcing competition in both sales and rental markets.
Rental pressures remain significant, with average monthly rents reaching €3,118, up 5% year-on-year. The report highlights that demand is being driven largely by professionals working in multinational sectors, with 48% of tenants employed in technology and an average household income of €144,763.
Transaction volumes in the rental market have declined by 10% year-on-year, reflecting limited availability rather than reduced demand.
Owen Reilly notes that the market remains firmly in favour of sellers, particularly for well-presented, turnkey properties in prime locations. However, it cautions that buyer behaviour is becoming more measured at later stages of transactions, with broader economic conditions, interest rates and policy changes likely to influence market dynamics over the remainder of the year.
