Housing prices up, at par with 2003 level

Existing homes were 2.7 percent more expensive in March than a year before. The Dutch market saw housing prices rise 12 consecutive months, according to Statistics Netherlands (CBS). Compared to August 2008 when the prices peaked, homes are still 18.3% cheaper. Prices of existing homes in March 2015 are comparable to the level of August 2003. The bottom price level was reached in June 2013. Since then there was an upward trend for home prices. In the first quarter of 2015, there were 34,527 homes sold. This is over 19 percent more than a year earlier. Prices for houses rose in all of the Dutch provinces over the last year. The highest increases were in Noord Holland and Utrecht, with prices rising by 4.1 percent. Prices also went up for all types of properties offered on the market.