The Real Estate Institute says the sector has been, in its words, a tough environment during 2010.
It says the year was marked by sellers retaining their properties when they could not get their price and buyers also putting their lives on hold.
The Institute says sales were below even the minimum associated with people moving jobs, getting married or having a child.
But it predicts there will be increased activity in 2011 because both buyers and sellers have adjusted their expectations in the recession.
