In 2006, an international survey compared over 300 metro areas using the standard of a 2,200 square foot, 4 bedroom, 2 ½ bath home that would be typical in an area favoured by a management level family. It found that for the cost in Dublin, Ireland at US$1,406,497, you could have bought nine similar houses in Houston, Texas, three in Amsterdam, two in Sydney and almost two in Tokyo.
We hadn't even struck oil; we were host to large American companies and a lot of us were deluded into believing that the fairytale of riches from selling each other houses, would keep going.
A year later, the nternational house price comparison index for 2007 ranked Dublin, Ireland and Beverly Hills, California in top ranks for world's most expensive comparable management level family homes.
Finfacts 2008: International house price comparison index for 2007 ranks Dublin, Ireland and Beverly Hills, California for world's most expensive comparable management level family homes
Finfacts 2006: Global Survey: Cost of typical management level house in Dublin, Ireland, could buy 9 similar houses in Houston, Texas, 3 in Amsterdam, 2 in Sydney and almost two in Tokyo (old format page)
Michael Hennigan: The Finfacts economics site was launched in 1997. Average monthly page views of this blog are at 80,000.
