Prices per square metre of detached houses, 2001-2002

New detached houses less expensive than used ones in Oslo

There are large regional variations in the price ratio between new and used dwellings. The price differences in central areas are generally lower, and in Oslo, the prices of used detached houses are higher than for new ones. In Akershus, Hordaland and the cities of Stavanger and Bergen, too, the differences are small (11 per cent or less). The largest price differences are found in Hedmark, Oppland, Nord-Trøndelag and Nordland. In all of these counties, the price per square metre of a used detached house is less than 65 per cent of a new one.

Building a new house most expensive in Oslo, Akershus and Trondheim

From 2001 to 2002, the average price per square metre of a new detached house, increased by 22 per cent in Oslo, to NOK 19,313. In Akershus and Trondheim, the corresponding prices were NOK 16,337 and 16,189 respectively. Also used detached houses were most expensive in Oslo and Akershus in 2002.

Last year, building a new house was less expensive in Sogn og Fjordane and Finnmark. In these counties the average price per square metre for new detached houses was NOK 10,596 and NOK 11,481 respectively. The national average in 2002 was NOK 13,500. The price per square metre for used detached houses was lowest in Nord-Trøndelag, Nordland, Møre og Romsdal and Oppland.

Price per square metre of useful floor space

Prices are calculated per square metre of useful floor space. Earlier versions of these statistics have been calculated using the utility floor space. As a result, the square metre prices are not comparable with previously published figures.

Uncertain figures for the large cities

Particularly with regard to new detached houses, there are few observations in Oslo, Stavanger, Bergen and Trondheim. At the same time there are regional price differences within the urban areas. This makes comparisons between the large cities more uncertain.

Tables:

• Table 1. Prices per square meter for detached houses, by county. Price ratio. 2001 and 2002