The housing market is continuing to show signs of recovery, with the number of transactions rising nearly 15% in the first three months of this year and house prices rising marginally, the NVM estate agents association said on Thursday.

In total, 30,500 homes changed hands over the first three months of the year and the average prise rose 0.4% to €232,000, the NVM said.
‘This is the first time since the credit crisis began that prices are up year on year,’ the organisation said in a statement.
Nevertheless, the sector is still ‘extremely ill’ and needs urgent help, the NVM said.
The ongoing discussion about limits to the tax breaks on mortgages shows very poor timing, the statement said. Cuts in mortgage tax relief are likely to be central in the election campaign.