Figures released, earlier this week, by Halifax shows the top 4 cities in the UK for house prices rises are all in Northern Ireland. Armagh topped the table with an increase of 188% in the 5 years to September 2007. This is an amazing increase and either reinforces the point of view that the market is heading for a sharp fall or, if you’re on the other side of the fence, it is still very bouyant.

The two Scottish cities of Dundee and Aberdeen also made the top ten with increases of 130% and 125% respectively.

The press release from Halifax noted the following points:

• Armagh has recorded the biggest increase in house prices of any UK city over the past five years with a rise of 188%. All four cities with the highest house price growth in the last five years are in Northern Ireland, reflecting the phenomenal rise in prices across Northern Ireland in the past few years.
• Bradfordexperienced the highest price increase on the British mainland with a 131% rise over the past five years. Two Scottish cities – Dundee and Aberdeen – and two Welsh cities – Swansea and St David’s – also feature amongst the ten top performing cities over the period.
• House prices in the UK’s cities exceed those in their region by an average £11,000. Thirteen cities have an average house price that is at least £50,000 above their region’s average. Thirty-one cities have an average house price above the average in their region.
• Hull(£128,863) and Stoke-on-Trent (£134,978) are the two least expensive cities in the UK.

Top 10 best performing cities

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