Wicklow Reflective Of Wider National Trends In Cooling Off Of Housing Market

Latest Daft.ie Quarterly report makes for interesting reading from a Wicklow perspective

The latest Daft.ie Sales Report (Q1 2026) shows that the Wicklow property market continues to attract strong buyer interest, even as national house price inflation slows to its lowest rate in over two years.

While Ireland’s overall market is gradually cooling, Wicklow remains a high‑demand, supply‑constrained area — particularly for family homes and properties within easy commuting distance of Dublin.

Wicklow Prices: Steady Growth, High Relative Value

According to the Daft.ie data:

• 🏡 Average listed price in Wicklow: €451,000
  This places Wicklow above the average for Leinster (excluding Dublin) and significantly above many other regional counties.

• 📈 Price per square metre: €4,670
  This is among the highest outside Dublin’s commuter belt, reflecting strong local demand for family homes.

Nationally, list prices rose by 3.7% in the year to March 2026 — the slowest rate of annual increase since late 2023 — while the quarterly rise from December to March was just 0.8%.

This slowdown is more pronounced in urban markets like Dublin and regional cities, where supply is loosening slightly. In contrast, rural and commuter‑oriented counties like Wicklow continue to see more robust pricing.

Transaction Trends: Stability Rather Than Surge

Early indications from matched Property Price Register transactions suggest that:

• Transaction prices nationally were broadly stable between December and March.

• The annual rate of increase for transaction prices has cooled to 5.6%, the slowest since 2023.

• Across Ireland, the typical gap between initial list price and final sale price — a key measure of market heat — has narrowed slightly.

In Wicklow specifically, while detailed transaction figures aren’t yet published at county level in the Q1 dataset, market observers still report fierce competition for desirable homes, particularly in towns like Bray, Greystones, and Arklow.

Supply: Still Below Pre‑Pandemic Norms

One of the defining features of the Wicklow market remains limited supply:

• Nationwide, there were 10,143 second‑hand homes for sale on March 1st, up 6% from a year earlier but still 61% below the 2015–2019 average.

• In Leinster outside Dublin (which includes Wicklow), there were 2,383 homes for sale at the same snapshot date — up 11% year‑on‑year but similarly far below historic norms.

This persistent shortage of homes for sale keeps upward pressure on prices in Wicklow, even while parts of the national market soften.

Dr. Ronan Lyons is the report author. He has been reflecting on the data and evidence from Co. Wicklow in the overall figures.

''In Wicklow, like much of the country, including in the Dublin market nearby, we've seen a slowdown in inflation. So at this time a year ago, prices in Wicklow were increasing by about 7.5% a year. In the year to March they increased by just over 2.5%, so a significant cooling in inflation. Now, prices are still rising year on year, but in the last couple of quarters they look closer to stable. At least some of that may be to do with the stabilisation in supplies, so the number of homes available to buy in Wicklow has stabilised and indeed slightly increased in the last year.''

Despite all that Dr. Lyons has told East Coast FM news that the market may be 'cooling off' somewhat:

Nonetheless, availability remains low. So some of this may also be due to a cooling off in demand that could be related to changed working arrangements and people having to be in the office more often. Or indeed, it could be the first signs that the jobs market is cooling down a bit. But as things stand, it's still relatively strong demand and relatively weak supply that's pushing up prices in Wicklow, as it is indeed across much of the country.''

Why Wicklow Still Commands a Premium

Several key factors contribute to Wicklow’s resilient housing market:

1. Commuter Appeal

Proximity to Dublin — especially for towns on the DART line and major road networks — makes Wicklow highly attractive to buyers priced out of the capital.

2. Limited Second‑Hand Supply

Unlike Dublin, where listings have increased significantly, Wicklow and much of Leinster outside the city have seen only modest improvements in available stock.

3. Quality of Life

Wicklow’s natural amenities, coastal communities, and strong schools continue to draw both local buyers and those relocating from urban centres.

What This Means for Buyers and Sellers in Wicklow

For Buyers:

• Expect competition for well‑presented homes, especially in commuter‑friendly locations.

• Buyers seeking value might explore smaller towns or properties in need of renovation, where price per square metre is slightly lower.

For Sellers:

• Tight supply and strong relative pricing mean well‑priced homes can still attract multiple bids.

• Properties listed near market value are likely to sell with less room for discounting than in some urban markets.

Looking Ahead

As the Irish housing market continues to adjust, Wicklow stands out as a region where traditional demand fundamentals remain strong. While national data points to a broader slowdown, Wicklow’s housing story is one of continued buyer interest, persistent supply constraints, and premium pricing.

With availability still far below pre‑Covid levels and city markets increasingly stabilising, Wicklow is likely to remain a core focus for both investors and home buyers in 2026.