Mapping the market: Northern Ireland house prices by region and type
According to the latest University of Ulster Quarterly House Price Index, house prices in Northern Ireland remained highly stable throughout 2023, with an increase of 0.4% in the fourth quarter of 2023 by comparison with the third quarter, and an annual weighted price increase of 2.9% in comparison to Q4 2022.
Not taking into account properties sold at auction, the average house price in Northern Ireland in the fourth quarter of 2023 was £207,010. Below is a list of average house prices by region followed by a list of property price changes over the year for the various different property types.
There is a considerable difference in average house prices throughout the regions of Northern Ireland, and a list can be found below. In Q4 2023, the highest average house price of £242,985 was to be found in Causeway Coast & Glens, putting Q3’s most expensive region of Lisburn & Castlereagh into third place. Properties are costing least in Derry City & Strabane, where the average house price in the fourth quarter of 2023 was £163,434.
Regional prices league table
| Causeway Coast & Glens | £242,985 |
| Newry Mourne & Down | £235,102 |
| Lisburn & Castlereagh | £224,875 |
| Ards & North Down | £220,283 |
| Mid Ulster | £200,391 |
| Antrim & Newtownabbey | £193,966 |
| Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon | £192,981 |
| Belfast | £189,882 |
| Mid & East Antrim | £184,530 |
| Derry City & Strabane | £163,434 |
House type prices league table
| Detached house | £302,717 |
| Semi-detached house | £195,780 |
| Apartment | £155,452 |
| Terrace/townhouse | £139,461 |
Price changes by property type
| Apartments | 1.8% decrease |
| Detached houses | 3.4% increase |
| Semi-detached houses | 2.6% increase |
| Terrace/Townhouses | 3.7% increase |
Property viewings: what do I need to be aware of?
Are you currently on the lookout for your first property or your next home? When you begin the process of viewing properties, there are some key things to bear in mind.
Some purchasers are surprised to find just how empty the house they have bought is when they turn the key in the front door on the day of completion. The house they viewed and fell in love with was carefully decorated with eye-catching fixtures and furnishings. You need to be aware that sellers are entitled to remove just about everything from the property, including carpets, curtain poles, toilet roll holders, wheelie bins and more.
Our tip: when you are viewing a property that you are interested in buying, be sure to ask what exactly is being left behind in each room. Never assume that something will be left at the property. The seller will be more inclined to offer to leave something behind when you are viewing the house to entice you to buy.
Purchasing property in NI: How should I choose a solicitor to help me buy a home?
You will have chosen your new house with great care, and equally your mortgage advisor and mortgage product. The last thing you will be asked to do is instruct a solicitor to act for you in your purchase, and you should exercise the same care when making this choice.
Some questions to ask are:
- Does the solicitor firm specialise in property conveyancing?
If not, you may find that they are not up to date with the latest developments in conveyancing, or equally that their main focus lies in other areas of law, and other cases above your purchase.
- Is the solicitor firm on the panels for all the mortgage lenders?
Solicitors have to be a member of a lender’s solicitor panel in order to act for both you and them during your purchase. If your solicitor is not on their panel, you will have to instruct a second solicitor to act for your lender, resulting in a second legal bill for you, and almost certainly unnecessary delay.
- How was your first experience of contacting the solicitor?
If you have made an initial enquiry with a firm of solicitors, how was your experience? Did you get speaking to someone quickly? Did they send you information and a legal fee estimate promptly? Did it include all the detail you needed?
Wilson Nesbitt solicitors are recognised as one of the leading Northern Ireland experts in property conveyancing and are on the panels of all the mortgage lenders.
We combine years of experience with a modern approach to conveyancing, including the ability for you to track your case online on your mobile device or PC.
Contact one of our property conveyancers for information or advice by clicking here.