“Availability of second-hand homes falls further amid acute shortage of affordable stock”
Statement by Marian Finnegan, CEO, Sherry FitzGerald.
August 20th 2026
Sherry FitzGerald has today published its Irish Residential Market Report for the first half of 2026, highlighting a further decline in the number of second-hand homes advertised for sale over the past year, with the most acute reductions evident in lower price categories.
Commenting on the findings, Marian Finnegan, CEO of Sherry FitzGerald, said: “Ireland’s second-hand housing market remains under acute pressure. Advertised stock is not only lower than last year, but more than one-fifth below 2020 levels. This persistent shortage is placing additional strain on buyers and reinforcing the imbalance between supply and demand.”
Advertised stock levels declined across all regions except the Midlands over the past year. The most pronounced reduction was recorded in the West, where the number of homes advertised for sale fell by 9.0% year-on-year to 1,580 properties. The Border region also recorded a significant decline, with advertised stock down 4.5% to 1,283 homes. By contrast, the Midlands was the only region to record an increase, with stock rising by 9.2% to 857 homes.
Figures released by Sherry FitzGerald Research for the second quarter of 2026 further underline the impact of constrained supply conditions. With fewer second-hand homes available for sale, particularly outside Dublin, price pressures remained evident across the market. The average value of second-hand homes in Ireland increased by 1.1% in the quarter and by 5.2% year-on-year. While this represents a moderation from the 7.4% annual growth recorded at the same point last year, values outside Dublin rose by 7.2% annually, compared with 3.5% in the capital, reflecting tighter supply across many regional markets.
An analysis by price category shows some increases in the number of homes advertised at higher price points over the year, reflecting recent price inflation. However, the supply of second-hand homes advertised at lower price points recorded substantial declines, highlighting the challenges facing purchasers seeking more affordable options. The number of homes available below €350,000 fell to 5,676 in July, a decline of 9.6% year-on-year. Within this category, supply below €200,000 fell by 20.6% over the year to 1,531 properties.
Ms Finnegan added: “The latest figures show that the availability of second-hand homes for sale remains exceptionally tight. Not only has overall advertised stock fallen over the past year, but the decline is most pronounced in the price categories most accessible to first-time buyers and other purchasers facing affordability constraints.”
The report also points to improved housing delivery in the first six months of 2026. The latest data from the CSO shows that 16,679 units were completed in the first half of the year, an increase of 10.8% compared with the same period in 2025 and the highest first-half total recorded since the series began in 2011.
All regions apart from the Mid-West recorded an increase in new dwelling completions in H1 2026 compared with H1 2025. The strongest growth was recorded in the Border region, where completions rose by 31.9% to 1,037 units. Dublin recorded the smallest annual increase, at 0.3%.
Concluding, Ms Finnegan said: “The uplift in new housing delivery is a welcome development and demonstrates that progress is being made. However, the shortage of homes available for sale remains acute, particularly for buyers seeking more affordable properties. The priority now must be to sustain and accelerate delivery, while ensuring that new supply is aligned with the requirements and affordability levels of households across the country.”
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For any further information, please contact:
Jill O’Neill
Director of Marketing & PR
Sherry FitzGerald Group
Ph: 01 2376 6324 / 086 252 3277
