43% fewer houses registered under guarantee scheme in 2007

THE number of new houses registered under guarantee schemes for 2007 was down 43% compared with 2006.

Loan approvals at 18,640, with a total value of €5221.3 million, represented decreases of 19.1% in volumes and 25.6% in value.

The average price for a second-hand house or apartment was down more than 2% at the close of 2007 compared with the same period the previous year, according to latest government figures.