The average house price in Belfast has increased since 2015, with minor fluctuations over time. The house price index is calculated using data on housing transactions and measures the development of house prices, with 2015 chosen as a base year when the index value was set to 100. In June 2024, the house price index reached 159, meaning that house prices have grown by 59 percent since 2015 and 6.3 percent since the same month in 2023. Among the different regions in the UK, West and East Midlands experienced the strongest growth.

This statistic shows annual mix-adjusted house prices in Northern Ireland (UK) between the years of 2005 and 2015, and a forecast thereof for 2016 to 2025. It shows an increase in price from the year 2000 to 2007, including a dramatic increase form 2006 to 2007. The predicted trend showed that the market in Northern Ireland would be slower to recover than most other regions of the United Kingdom and it would take time to reach the levels seen before 2008.

The average house price in Northern Ireland has increased since 2015, with minor fluctuations over time. The house price index is calculated using data on housing transactions and measures the development of house prices, with 2015 chosen as a base year when the index value was set to 100. In June 2024, the house price index reached 166.8, meaning that house prices have grown by nearly 67 percent since 2015 and 6.4 percent since the same month a year ago. Among the different regions in the UK, West and East Midlands experienced the strongest growth.

It can be seen that the Northern Ireland house price index was 202.5 points in the third quarter of 2007, but during the global recession it decreased and never re-gained the pre-crash levels. As of the third quarter of 2023 the residential property price index in Northern Ireland was 161.8, up from 158.5 in the same period in the previous year.

Across the United Kingdom, house prices appreciated the most in Belfast as of October 2024. In a year, sales prices in Belfast rose by 5.5 percent, approximately 4.5 percent above the average house price increase in the country. Portsmouth was the only city under observation where prices declined.

The UK housing market continued to show significant regional variations in 2024, with London maintaining its position as the most expensive city for homebuyers. The average house price in the capital stood at 519,579 British pounds in October, nearly double the national average of 292,059 British pounds. However, the market dynamics are shifting, with London experiencing only a modest 0.2 percent annual increase, while other cities like Newcastle upon Tyne and Belfast saw more substantial growth of 8.8 percent and 6.8 percent respectively. Affordability challenges and market slowdown Despite the continued price growth in many cities, the UK housing market is facing headwinds. The affordability of mortgage repayments has become the biggest barrier to property purchases, with the majority of the respondents in a recent survey citing it as their main challenge. Moreover, a rising share of Brits have reported affordability as a challenge since 2021, reflecting the impact of rising house prices and higher mortgage rates. The market slowdown is evident in the declining housing transaction volumes, which have plummeted since 2021. European context The stark price differences are mirrored in the broader European context. While London boasts some of the highest property prices among European cities, a comparison of the average transaction price for new homes in different European countries shows a different picture. In 2023, the highest prices were found in Austria, Germany, and France.

The mortgage interest rate in Ireland increased notably in 2023. From 2.77 percent in the fourth quarter of 2022, the rate reached 4.19 percent in the same quarter of 2023. This was part of an overall trend of increasing mortgage interest rates in Europe. Factors that influence mortgage interest rates include inflation, economic growth, monetary policies, the bond market, the stability of lenders, and the overall conditions of the housing market.