Apartments are increasingly becoming an option for first-time buyers in Galway city, where house prices are proving too high for many trying to get a foot on the property ladder.

"House prices in Galway are a little lower than in Dublin, but not a lot," explained Mary Heaslip of Property Partners Heaslip.

First-time buyers are paying anything between €230,000 and €350,000 for new homes, she said.

With little available in the city for less than €200,000, many first-timers are also looking towards outlining towns and villages. Major housing developments in places such as Tuam, Athenry, Headford, Claregalway and Moycullen with their lower prices are now attracting first-time buyers, she said.

From €170,000 to €200,000 will get you a four-bed house in Tuam and Athenry. However, areas such as Oranmore and Kilcolgan are more expensive and have now matched the city for high prices.

In the last two years huge land banks were rezoned and developed off the new Western Distributor Road, which will eventually link the city to Barna and Spiddal. Prices start at around €285,000 for a three-bed semi in the new Slí Gheal development.

Looking into the future the main areas for first-time buyers in the city are on the Tuam, Dublin and Headford roads, where there is still space for further developments, according to Avril Smith of Rooney Auctioneers.

A one-bed apartment in the Carraig Mór estate on the Headford Road will cost €205,000. East of the city in Doughiska, houses are a little bit cheaper, starting at €170,000 for a two-bed apartment and around €215,000 for a two-bed mid-terrace house.

Despite the high prices first-time buyers are driving the market in Galway representing between 60 to 70 per cent of the market. Typically they are going for joint bids and getting maximum mortgages to purchase apartments, duplexes and townhouses.