Increase in house prices slows further

The average price of owner-occupied dwellings was 2.5 percent higher in September 2008 than twelve months previously. This was the smallest price increase since 1995, when the price index of existing owner-occupied dwellings started. In August 2003, the price increase was also 2.5 percent.

Prices of all types of homes went up. Prices of semi-detached houses increased by most: 3.4 percent, while the smallest price rise was recorded for corner houses (1.9 percent). Across all Dutch provinces, prices were higher than one year ago. In Flevoland and Zeeland, however, the increases were minimal.

Prices of existing owner-occupied homes were 0.6 percent down on August. Although they fell in most provinces, in Friesland, Utrecht and Zeeland prices were higher than in August.

In September 2008, 15.4 thousand houses were sold; this is 0.6 percent less than in  August. The number of house sales in the period January – September was 7 percent down on the same period in 2007. The number of homes sold in the first nine months of the year is the lowest since 2003.

Statistics Netherlands – together with the Land Registry Office - has been publishing prices of owner-occupied dwellings since January 2008. The price index of owner-occupied dwellings reflects the selling prices of existing owner-occupied dwellings in the Netherlands sold to private individuals. For more information on this subject, the reader is referred to the article: Why the average dwelling purchase price is not an indicator.

Prices of owner-occupied dwellings