When will the property recession end?

After six years of a recessionary property market, Marian Finnegan of Sherry FitzGerald asks where things might go from here.

There is a notable uplift in demand for family homes and an emerging shortage of supply, but lack of consumer confidence may be the immediate stumbling block to any upsurge in demand.

It can plausibly be argued that the origins of Ireland's property boom began as early as 20 years ago, during the currency crisis of 1992, which led to the devaluation of the punt in January 1993 and the subsequent stabilisation in the interest rate cycle.

In the intervening years, we have watched with a mix of fascination and fear as the housing market went through an unprecedented boom-and-bust cycle.

The epitome of the ...