The latest Quarterly House Price Index report finds that the average price of properties sold in Northern Ireland in the second quarter of 2018 was £162,215.

The figure is “marginally higher than the average during the previous quarter and 6.2 per cent higher (on a weighted basis) than during the equivalent quarter in 2017”.

Karly Greene, head of research and equality at the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, said: “The university’s analysis is based on a sample of 2,116 sales, which is in line with the general trend since early 2015 and suggests that the lower number of transactions during the first quarter of 2018 was largely due to seasonal factors.

“Overall, the figures are indicative of a relatively healthy residential housing market, with sustainable levels of activity and house price growth, and a rising proportion of newly built properties entering the market.”