The number of property transactions in Kilkenny last year rose by over 21% compared to 2011 according to new analysis by leading property website MyHome.ie.
There were 444 house sales in the county in 2012, up from the 349 transactions in 2011 and up 23% on the 2010 figure of 341.
Most sales took place under the €250K mark, where 402 properties were sold.
This is also where the largest growth in sales occurred with sales in this category up 24% on the 2011 figure of 305 and 33% on the 2010 figure of 341.
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 Kilkenny market was encouraging.
“The increase in the number of transactions is a positive sign and this together with a small increase in the prices of 3 bed semis in the county in our latest property survey indicates that the property market in the county is stabilising. Kilkenny was one of only 3 counties to record such an increase with prices rising by 0.3% to €140K. The price of 4 bed semis also looks to be leveling off somewhat with prices falling by just 1.2% in the first three months of 2013 to €167K. Kilkenny is viewed as a very attractive place to live and to rear a family and the property market should make a steady recovery in coming years” Ms Keegan said.
Looking at the upper end of the market there was just one transaction over €1 million last year – that being the sale of 5 South Paddocks in the Mount Juliet Estate in Thomastown for €1.5m. Altogether there were 6 transactions in excess of €1m in the last three years with the most expensive being the €5.1 million sale of Castletown House in December 2010.
Unsurprisingly, most of the transactions in the county took place in Kilkenny City, which accounts for 57.5% of all sales over the past three and a quarter years – significantly ahead of Castlecomer and Thomastown, which were the second and third most popular areas.
2013 – The picture so far
In the first two months of this year there have been 53 transactions in Kilkenny with 50 of them being sold for under €250K, two of them for between €250K to €500K and one in the €500 to €750K bracket.
For full details and analysis of house prices and searches using the Property Price Register go to www.MyHome.ie
