There is simply no let up in house prices at the moment.
The latest REA House Price Index shows that in June of last year, a 3 bed semi in Laois cost nearly 6 percent more compared to March of last year.
And this figure is in stark contrast to our neighbours in Westmeath and Offaly.
Westmeath homes had an increase of 1.4 percent, while Offaly experienced no change.
The news comes just a few days after the ERSI said house prices could rise by 11% between now and 2020.
The volatility of the Irish housing market has been laid bare by ESRI research professor Kieran McQuinn, who said that prices rose by 431pc between 1995 and 2007, before plummeting by 49pc between 2007 and 2013 as the economy imploded.
The rise was greater than that seen in the UK, Spain, France, US and Italy over the same period, while the fall was more pronounced than in those countries, he said. This was because homes were overvalued.
Between the last quarter of 2013 and the corresponding period of 2017, prices have increased by 57pc, with hikes of 6.5pc expected over the next 12 months.
Between now and 2020, they would increase by 11pc, he added, saying there was no guarantee that increased housing output would result in lower prices.
“Most commentators believe interest rates will remain relatively low, salaries will increase and we will see sizeable inward migration, and all of those variables point to continued housing demand, which points to upward prices,” he said.
