The number of property transactions in Wicklow last year rose by over 27% compared to 2011 according to new analysis by leading property website MyHome.ie.
There were 784 house sales in the county in 2012, up from the 570 transactions in 2011 and up almost 10% on the 709 figure for 2010.
Most sales took place under the €250K mark, where 540 properties were sold.
This is also where the largest growth in sales occurred with sales in this category up 33.5% on the 2011 figure of 359 and 38% on the 2010 figure of 334.
Overall in the three year period from 2010 to 2012 there were 2,027 property transactions in Wicklow.
The study - based on figures from the Property Price Register - shows that 2012 was the most successful year for sales of the last three.
Angela Keegan, Managing Director of MyHome.ie said the increase in transactions in the Wicklow market was a positive signal.
“The increase in the number of transactions is a positive sign and this together with an increase in the prices of 3 bed semis in the county in our latest property survey indicates that the Wicklow property market is stabilising. Wicklow was one of only 3 counties to record such an increase with prices rising by 2.2% to €230K. Wicklow is a beautiful county and its attractiveness as a place to live and proximity to the capital should see the property market make a steady recovery in coming years” Ms Keegan said.
Looking at the upper end of the market there were seven transactions over €1 million last year – with the most expensive being the €7.2 million sale of Humewood Castle in Kiltegan in November.
It was one of just 17 transactions over €1 million in Wicklow between January 2010 and December 2012 which means that after Dublin, Wicklow has the most sales over €1M in the country.
There were 10 sales in the €750K to €1M range and 34 sales in the €500K to €750K bracket. In contrast there were 193 sales for properties priced between €250K and €500K.
Unsurprisingly, Bray – with 166 transactions - accounted for over a fifth of the county’s sales last year at 21%. Greystones was also an area that experienced growth with 102 transactions taking place last year up from 65 in 2011.
2013 – The picture so far
In the first two months of this year there have been 122 transactions in Wicklow – well up on the 90 recorded for the first two months of 2011.
Eighty nine of this year’s sales fell were sold for under €250,000 bracket while 25 cost between €250,000 and €500,000. There were three in the €500,000 to €750,000 category, one in the €750,000 to €1m price range.
Four cost over €1 million – with the sale of Winton Grove in Enniskerry for €1.8m being the most expensive sale this year so far.
For full details and analysis of house prices and searches using the Property Price Register go to www.MyHome.ie
