Mayo house prices continue to surge as landlords exit the market
A wave of landlords exiting the market coupled with high demand from first-time buyers has driven a sharp increase in house prices across Mayo.
According to a national survey by Real Estate Alliance (REA), the price of an average second-hand three-bedroom semi-detached home in the county rose by 14.2pc over the past year to €274,000.
From September to December 2025, Mayo’s three-bed semi-detached homes saw a 3.4pc price increase, the second-fastest in the country, behind Westmeath on 4.4pc. By contrast, Galway City, Laois, and Cavan recorded no growth over the same period.
The REA Average House Price Index report showed that houses in Mayo are selling quickly, with the average time to sell in quarter four of 2026 sitting at six weeks, reflecting strong demand amid limited supply.
“There is an increase in landlords selling due to reaching retirement age, together with regulation perception,” said Robert McGreal of REA McGreal Burke.
“We are seeing good demand for well-finished dwellings, with properties requiring work proving more difficult to sell.”
In Mayo 40pc of buyers in the final quarter of last year were first-time buyers, and a total of 30pc of sales in the county were due to landlords leaving the market.
This trend is expected to accelerate in early 2026 with the introduction of nationwide Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ) legislation at the end of February.
Already, the RPZ has contributed to a 38pc annual increase in landlord sales in many affected areas.
In June 2025 Belmullet, Ballina, Swinford, and Claremorris were named RPZ areas, joining Westport and Castlebar on the list.
Under the legislation, rent increases for existing tenancies are capped at the rate of inflation, with a maximum of 2pc.
County Mayo had the second highest increase in the cost of second-hand, three-bedroom semi-detached homes in the last quarter of 2025. Photo: Real Estate Alliance.
Across Mayo, the actual selling price of a three-bed semi increased by 1.6pc in the past three months, reaching €359,417.
This represents an 8.7pc rise over the past year, a slight slowdown from the 10.3% increase recorded six months ago.
By comparison, in Dublin, three-bed semis increased by 1.5pc in the last three months to an average of €586,000, up 8.1pc annually.
Ireland’s major cities outside Dublin saw a 1.3pc quarterly increase, with prices averaging €373,750, up 7.4pc over the year.
Homes in the country’s large towns showed the biggest increases nationwide, 1.75pc this quarter and 9.9pc on last December to an average of €275,611, with homes taking approximately five weeks to sell.
Commuter counties saw prices rise 1.6pc to €373,513, and while supply challenges persist, the report suggests that further landlord sales are expected in the coming year.
Energy efficiency is increasingly influencing buyer decisions. Agents across Mayo reported that A-rated properties commanded a 15pc price premium over comparable C-rated homes, reflecting growing demand for well-finished, energy-efficient dwellings.
Overall, house prices in Mayo are continuing to increase as prices are beginning to catch up with more expensive counties. According to the report, this growth appears to be driven by limited new supply and a strong influx of first-time buyers.
At the same time, the ongoing exit of landlords, driven by upcoming legislative changes and the fact that many are reaching retirement age, is affecting the market.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.