House prices - Removal of stamp duty suits vendor

House prices rose by 3.3% in the first seven months of this year, according to latest figures of the Permanent TSB House Price Index, complied in association with the Economic and Social Research Institute.

This figure can be compared with a 5.6% in the same period of last year.

The latest increase is the smallest rise in such figures for the last nine years. The price growth is now in line with inflation, which should ease pressure on purchasers.