Waterford house prices continued to rise in the second quarter of the year, with houses for sale in Waterford taking longer than anywhere in Ireland to sell.

with the average price of a second-hand three-bed semi-detached home in the county reaching €305,000.

The latest REA Average House Price Index shows prices in County Waterford increased by 0.8 per cent over the past three months. In Waterford city, prices remained unchanged during the quarter at an average of €350,000.

The survey found Houses for sale in Waterford are taking longer to sell in Waterford than anywhere else in the country. The average time to reach sale agreed was five weeks in the city and ten weeks across the county.

REA Spratt in Dungarvan says there is continued evidence of small private landlords leaving the rental market. According to the survey, 59 per cent of house sales in the county during the quarter involved landlords exiting the sector.

First-time buyers remain a major force in the market, accounting for 75 per cent of purchasers in Waterford city and 30 per cent across the county.

The report also found energy efficiency is increasingly influencing prices. A-rated homes in the county commanded premiums of up to 25 per cent compared with similar C-rated properties.

Nationally, the average selling price of a three-bed semi rose by 0.9 per cent during the quarter to €367,988. While prices continue to increase, the rate of growth has slowed, marking the first quarterly rise of less than one per cent in more than two years.

Average Dublin house prices have exceeded €600,000 for the first time, while Galway city house prices have passed the €400,000 mark. Donegal recorded the largest quarterly increase in the country, with prices rising by 3.5 per cent to €222,500.

REA says a growing divide is emerging in the market, with buyers increasingly focusing on move-in ready homes while properties requiring significant upgrades are taking longer to attract interest.