The price of the average three-bed semi in County Sligo has increased by 2.8% to €182,500 in the last three months, according to the latest national survey by Real Estate Alliance.

Across the county this quarter, the average time taken to sell has remained at four weeks, the Q3 REA Average House Price Index shows.

Sligo agents are reporting that 25% of purchasers this quarter were first time buyers, with 25% of buyers coming from outside of the county.

Additionally, the data shows that BER A-rated homes are commanding a 10% premium over their C-rated equivalents.

In Sligo town, prices this quarter rose 2.3% to €220,000, and prices in Tubbercurry increased 3.6% to €145,000.

“We are seeing a continued strong demand on existing stock due to lack of new builds in the area,” said Roger McCarrick of REA McCarrick & Sons.

Nationally, the rate of house price inflation has halved in the past three months as rising costs cause home buyers to be more cautious.

The actual selling price of a three-bedroomed semi-detached house across the country rose by 1.4% over the past three months to €290,630 – representing an annual increase of 10%.

This is a marked slowdown on the 2.9% quarterly increase recorded in the preceding three months, signalling a cooling of the frenetic demand in the marketplace.

And the index found that A rated homes are commanding a 12% premium over their C rated equivalents – a figure that rises to 16% in the capital as running costs become more important to home buyers.

The REA Average House Price Survey concentrates on the actual sale price of Ireland's typical stock home, the three-bed semi, giving an accurate picture of the second-hand property market in towns and cities countrywide.

Time taken to reach sale agreed rose to five weeks from four as REA agents nationwide reported a less frenzied approach to viewing and buying.

While the actual average selling price of three bedroomed homes in Dublin city is about to breach the €500,000 mark, the 0.8% quarterly rise to €497,500 is half that experienced in the previous three months.

58% of all purchasers in the past quarter were first-time buyers according to REA, a figure which rose to 76% in Dublin as people with mortgage approval look to get on the housing ladder.