The land market pushed on significantly in Down last year, with the average price sitting at £19,831/ac. This represents a rise of 12.9%, or £2,261/ac, on the 2023 average.

Down remains the second most expensive county in NI for agricultural land and it ranks in third place across the whole island.

There were 3,433ac of land publicly advertised for sale in the Mourne County in 2024. This represents an increase of 1,119ac, or 48%, when compared to 2023 levels. Our figures indicate that the area on the market in Down during 2024 equates to 0.87% of the county’s total arable and grassland area.

Overall, there were 132 separate pieces of land publicly for sale last year, with the average lot standing at 26ac. This compares to 100 lots averaging 23ac the year before.

Our records show that 24% of properties for sale during 2024 included a dwelling house, with 76% of lots deemed non-residential. In 2023, we found that 19% of agricultural properties in Down were residential.

The top land price recorded in our survey for Down was over £32,000/ac for a large block of prime land in the north of the county.

The lowest priced lot was a relatively small property of 12ac, which was located in the west of the county and made £8,333/ac.

Just 3% of land sales in our survey for Down last year made under £10,000/ac and 25% made £10,001-£15,000/ac.

Our survey found 41% of sales fell within the £15,001-£20,000/ac bracket and 31% of transactions equated to over £20,000/ac.

Vital statistics

Average*: £19,831/ac (€23,423/ac)

Price range*: £8,333/ac to £32,000/ac

Total area offered: 3,433ac

Number of farms offered: 132

Average size: 26ac

Biggest farm offered: 232ac

*Number of transactions: 32