House prices predicted to rise in 2013

IRELAND’S oldest stockbroker firm has predicted that house prices will begin to rise again by 2013.

Howerver, Bloxham said that any rises are likely to be in low single digits as banks adopt a more cautious stance to lending than at the height of the boom.

The firm also pointed to interest rates returning to “normal” and the introduction of a property tax for “principal” homes as the primary factors affecting prices in the coming years.