THE AVERAGE price of a house in Ards and North Down is the highest in Northern Ireland, rising some 7.5% compared to a year ago.
The latest figures from PropertyPal have revealed the average house price in the council area is £286,767 – a whopping £54,000 more than the Northern Ireland average.
The hefty price tag for a local house is just over £11,000 ahead of Lisburn and Castlereagh and £30,000 more than purchasers would have to shell out for a property in Newry, Mourne and Down, which has the third highest prices.
The statistics have been revealed in PropertyPal’s latest Housing Market Update, which shows selling prices for the third quarter (Q3) of this year, from June to September. The update said Northern Ireland’s housing market has ‘remained robust through the third quarter of 2025, with growth in both prices and sales volumes compared to long-term trends’.
Sharon Gregg, director of independent estate agency Andrews and Gregg, in Bangor, said the report ‘pretty much confirms’ what her firm has been seeing.
“It’s a very buoyant market, and things are moving fast,” she said. “Our vendors are delighted with the prices their homes are achieving.”
Reflecting on the potential short term outlook of the local market in Q4 so far and on into 2026 Q1, Sharon said: “We expect the positive momentum to continue. But, honestly, the biggest headache for us — and for our clients — is the sheer lack of houses coming onto the market.
“That chronic shortage of properties is what keeps prices climbing and properties selling in a flash. We’re also hopeful that the chatter about a further Bank of England interest rate cut soon will ease the pressure on mortgages, that would
be a big positive for everyone. If you’re thinking of moving, now is certainly the time to get ready.”
Ards and North Down independent agent, Chris Stewart, from Governor Rocks, agreed there was a shortage of houses available for would-be buyers.
“We expect this upward trend to continue, as demand continues to outstrip the supply of available housing,” he said.
He said he expected to see a continuing rise in the borough’s house prices.
“It’s not surprising to see this growth in house prices, and I remain confident in the market across North Down and Ards. It’s a fantastic place to live, with some of the best schools in Northern Ireland, excellent transport links, and
a stunning coastline and countryside.”
Jordan Buchanan, Chief Executive Officer at PropertyPal, said the local trend was reflected across Northern Ireland.
“Average values are now up 7% year-on-year, and the latest figures from Nationwide confirm that Northern Ireland continues to lead all UK regions in annual price growth.”
He said the local market had ‘proven resilient’ despite the challenges of ongoing economic uncertainty and higher interest rates.
The housing spokesman said the forthcoming UK Budget could introduce some uncertainty, particularly if taxes rose, but hoped for a further Bank of England interest rate cut soon ‘which would offer additional support to mortgage affordability’.
