New survey shows how Laois house prices have astonishingly rocketed

The cost of buying a home in Laois has rocketed in the past decade and could jump by a further 25% by 2030 according to new figures.

Chill Insurance research has tried to examined which counties in Ireland are projected to see the largest rise in property values—and where should you consider buying for the best return.

The company says it used predictive formulas alongside average house price data dating back to 2010 to forecast trends through 2030. It says the research reveals which counties are likely to experience the most significant growth and also reveals the least and most affordable places to buy a home.

It found that Wicklow, Laois and Dublin named the best places in Ireland to invest in a home due to the rapidly rising price of houses.

The property survey said  Wicklow is forecasted to experience the steepest rise in house prices by 2030, with an average increase of 27%. Property prices are set to climb from €461,534 to €586,398, continuing the county's trend of significant growth—house prices in Wicklow have already risen by 75% over the past decade.

Laois ranks second, with house prices projected to rise by 26% to €334,392 by 2030. The county has seen the largest increase in the last decade, with average prices jumping 161% from €101,752 to €265,224.  MORE BELOW TABLE.

Dublin follows in third, with prices expected to increase by 16%, pushing the average house cost to over three-quarters of a million euros (€771,306).

In contrast, Mayo, despite a 109% increase in house prices over the past decade, is projected to see minimal growth of just 0.67% between 2024 and 2030—making it an ideal choice for buyers still saving for their dream home. Meanwhile, Sligo stands out as the only county where house prices are expected to decrease, dropping from €241,764 to €233,704 by 2030.

The survey also looked at affordability and found that Laois is number 10 on the list at present. Leitrim is Ireland's most affordable county for homebuyers, with average house prices at €186,487 in 2024 and a deposit of €18,649, taking just under four years to save.

Dublin ranks as the least affordable, with house prices averaging €614,012. Saving the €61,401 deposit would take nearly nine years.

To identify Ireland's most and least affordable counties for homebuyers, Chill says it analysed house sale prices across the country from 2010 to 2024. Using this data, they say they calculated the average house price in each county, along with the typical deposit required—assuming deposits are 10% of the purchase price.

They added that they also examined mean salaries in each county for 2023 to estimate annual savings potential, assuming a national average savings rate of 12.7%. They said this allowed them to determine how many years it would take prospective buyers to save for a deposit.

Lastly, Chill forecasted house prices up to 2030 using current average prices (excluding VAT on new builds), providing a

You can view the full study here: https://www.chill.ie/blog/the-counties-with-the-most-affordable-homes/