Prospect of a blockbuster year riding on stamp duty decision

Investment property sales could hit the €3.5 billion mark in 2018, but that figure could be blunted by announcements in Tuesday’s budget.

Aerial view of Fairgreen Shopping Centre in Mullingar, Co Westmeath: on sale for €8.6 million
The Sharp office building in Dublin 2 went for €56 million

A key test of the performance of this year’s investment market will be the plethora of retail and residential properties that recently came for sale, as well as this Tuesday’s Budget 2019.

More than €200 million- worth of retail properties have come to the market since July, and more are expected in the coming weeks.

If they sell before the end of the year, ...