January 2025: Is It a Good Time to Buy or Sell Property?
Executive Summary
January 2025 property market activity in Dublin was marked by significantly reduced volume compared to December, with only 764 transactions recorded representing a 26% decline in monthly sales. Despite maintaining strong over-asking rates of 83%, the first week of January showed severe holiday-related disruptions, with just 46 total sales and zero activity on major holidays. This analysis examines whether January represents a strategic buying opportunity or challenging selling conditions.
January Market Volume Decline
Monthly Volume Comparison
| Period | Properties | Daily Volume | Over-Asking Rate | Avg Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2024 | 1,038 | 33.5 | 82.9% | €605,930 |
| January 2025 | 764 | 24.6 | 83% | €621,314 |
| February 2025 | 848 | 29.2 | 83.4% | €576,699 |
January 2025 recorded 764 property transactions, representing a 26% decline from December's 1,038 sales and 19% below the daily average of 33.5 properties. Despite the volume reduction, over-asking rates remained robust at 83%, indicating sustained seller confidence.
The Holiday Effect: First Week Disruption
Daily Activity Breakdown
| Date | Properties | Over-Asking Rate | Avg Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | 0 | 0% | €0 | Holiday |
| Jan 2 | 3 | 33.3% | €975,000 | |
| Jan 3 | 8 | 87.5% | €781,374 | |
| Jan 4 | 0 | 0% | €0 | Holiday |
| Jan 5 | 0 | 0% | €0 | Holiday |
| Jan 6 | 17 | 100% | €548,500 | Peak Activity |
| Jan 7 | 18 | 72.2% | €577,000 |
The first week of January experienced severe market disruption due to holidays, with zero sales recorded on January 1, 4, and 5. Total first-week activity was limited to 46 transactions, representing just 6% of January's monthly volume.
January 2025 shows 26% volume decline from December while maintaining strong over-asking rates
Strategic Timing Insights
Price Movements vs February
| Bedrooms | Jan 2025 Median | Feb 2025 Median | Price Change | Jan Sample | Feb Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | €277,000 | €280,000 | +1.1% | 48 | 48 |
| 2 | €410,000 | €395,000 | -3.7% | 215 | 260 |
| 3 | €530,000 | €511,000 | -3.6% | 299 | 335 |
| 4 | €755,000 | €800,000 | +6% | 124 | 142 |
February 2025 showed mixed price movements compared to January, with 2-bed and 3-bed properties decreasing by 3.6-3.7% while 1-bed properties increased slightly and 4-bed properties rose 6%. The average February price of €576,699 represents a 7.2% decline from January's €621,314.
Property Type Performance in January
January Sales by Property Type
| Property Type | Count | % of Jan Sales | Over-Asking Rate | Avg Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-D | 215 | 28.1% | 87.4% | €737,618 |
| Apartment | 199 | 26.0% | 76.9% | €411,065 |
| Terrace | 169 | 22.1% | 87.6% | €575,501 |
| Detached | 69 | 9.0% | 71% | €1,116,150 |
| End of Terrace | 63 | 8.2% | 82.5% | €501,219 |
| Bungalow | 23 | 3.0% | 87% | €668,239 |
| Duplex | 18 | 2.4% | 94.4% | €445,194 |
Semi-detached houses dominated January sales at 28.1% of transactions, achieving the highest over-asking rate at 87.4%. Apartments represented 26.0% of sales but showed lower over-asking performance at 76.9%.
Implications for Buyers
Strategic Buying Considerations
The reduced January volume and sustained over-asking rates present a complex buying environment. While fewer properties are available, sellers maintain strong pricing power. The first week disruption suggests buyers should focus on the latter half of January when market activity normalizes.
Price Negotiation Opportunities
The transition from January to February shows softening in mid-range properties (2-bed and 3-bed), suggesting potential negotiation opportunities for buyers willing to act in February rather than face January's thin market conditions.
Implications for Sellers
Market Timing Strategy
January's holiday disruptions create challenging selling conditions in the first week, with virtually no market activity. Sellers should consider delaying listings until after January 7 to avoid the holiday period when buyer attention is minimal.
Pricing Strategy
Despite volume declines, January maintained robust over-asking rates of 83%, indicating sellers can still achieve premium pricing. The data suggests January sellers who priced strategically above market expectations achieved strong results.
Seasonal Market Patterns
Historical Context
January traditionally represents Dublin's slowest month due to post-Christmas market fatigue and holiday disruptions. The 2025 data confirms this pattern, with volume 26% below December levels. However, the sustained over-asking rates suggest the market remains fundamentally strong despite seasonal headwinds.
Forward Outlook
The transition to February shows continued market resilience with improved volume (29.2 daily transactions) but softer pricing in popular segments. This suggests January may represent a temporary pause rather than a fundamental market shift.
Conclusion
January 2025 represents challenging conditions for both buyers and sellers due to significantly reduced market activity and holiday disruptions. While over-asking rates remained strong at 83%, the thin market and first-week shutdown create difficulties for transactions. Buyers may find better negotiation opportunities in February when volume recovers, while sellers should consider timing listings to avoid the holiday period.
The Central Statistics Office seasonal property market data indicates January typically represents the year's lowest activity month, with 2025 following this established pattern (CSO Property Market Report, January 2025). [https://www.cso.ie/en/statistics/]
Methodology
This analysis covers 764 January 2025 property transactions compared against December 2024 (1,038 transactions) and February 2025 (848 transactions) data. Over-asking rates calculated from properties with valid asking and sold price data, with daily breakdowns covering the first week of January 2025.