According to Des O’Malley, Head of Sherry FitzGerald Countrywide, despite storms Ciara, Dennis & Jorge, and a winter general election, there has been an upswing in mortgage approvals which has led to an increase in house sales nationally.
‘In the first 8 weeks of the year, Sherry FitzGerald has agreed over 1,700 houses and apartments nationally. Included in this figure are over 550 new homes and apartments, which provide an additional much needed 1,250 bedrooms into the Irish housing market.’
Mr. O’Malley added that Dublin & Cork new home sales are doing particularly well, but the indications are that new housing is beginning to become viable in many parts of Ireland.
‘Young consumers like contemporary design and are increasingly conscious of sustainability and energy bills, which is helping to increase demand for new homes.’
Mr. O’Malley maintains that the new government needs to build on this momentum by having a coherent national housing policy that ensures the viability of house construction, both in our cities and in regional Ireland.
‘It’s also important that we recognise the pressures of a long commute and it’s imperative that we have a coherent regional policy that helps move work closer to where people live. Public policy needs to be more imaginative and forward-looking. We need to be more ambitious as a country and be prepared to think of what’s possible now, rather than what’s gone before.’
Press Queries to:
Jill O’Neill, Communications Director, Sherry FitzGerald Group
+353 1 2376324 or +353 86 2523277
