A new study of three counties shows the only place a couple on a combined salary of €89,000 can afford to buy a house is in Meath.
The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland's Residential Property Market Monitor for June expects a rise in house prices of 4%over the next year.
They're expected to increase by 3% over the next 3 months due to rising inflation and lack of supply.
Chair of the SCSI Practice & Policy Committee, John O'Sullivan says a couple in Kildare and Cork would have a shortfall.
"There would have been a shortfall in Kildare based on the price of a three bedroom semi there, which is €418,000, the shortfall would be €64,000.
"In Cork, the average price is €380,000, so the shortfall would be €30,000"
