CSO median house price: €140,000 (Portlaoise)2018 prediction: up 10%-12%First-time buyers were the main market driver in Co Laois. The help-to-buy scheme prompted a jump in demand for the handful of new-builds in the county. Agents reported steady growth throughout the year as buyers looked for properties in the commuter corridor of Dublin. The rental market in Portarlington and Portlaoise was booming, with renters vying for the limited stock of available accommodation. “We have a number of new developments coming to market in 2018,” says Paul Kelly, of agent DNG Kelly.

Source: The Times January 07, 2018 00:04 UTC