House prices slightly down

Prices of existing owner-occupied residential property sold in August 2010 were on average 0.4 percent lower than in August 2009. Since February 2009, house prices have been continuously lower than twelve months previously, but according to the price index of existing private residential property, a joint publication by Statistics Netherlands and the Land Registry Office, the downward trend has levelled off in the course of 2010.

Detached houses – usually in the higher price range – were more expensive in August, for the first time in eighteen months. Prices were 0.6 percent up on August 2009. In addition to detached houses, flat prices were also up on one year previously. All other types of residential property were cheaper.

House prices vary substantially across the Dutch provinces. Prices were 2.7 percent higher in Groningen than one year previously, whereas they rose by just over 1 percent in Limburg and Drenthe. With 2.8 and 1.8 percent respectively, house prices dropped considerably in Zeeland and Utrecht.

In August, house prices were 0.2 percent down on July 2010. In July, prices still rose by 0.6 percent relative to the preceding month.

Over 10 thousand existing houses were sold in August, i.e. an increase by 9 percent relative to August 2009. Sales improved for all types of houses. With nearly 17 percent, the number of detached houses sold in August increased most. The number of houses sold in the first eight months of 2010 was marginally higher than in the same period last year.

Prices of existing own homes

More figures can be found on the theme page Prices.