Not everyone realises they may still qualify as a First-Time Buyer in Ireland — even if they owned a home before. Buying your first home is one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make. But in Ireland, the definition of a First-Time Buyer (FTB) has evolved in recent years
Buying a house that needs renovations can be a smart way to get better value and create a home that suits your needs. However, funding those renovations is often where buyers run into uncertainty, particularly when mortgages are involved. In Ireland, there are a few different ways to pay for
The Help to Buy (HTB) scheme was first introduced in Jan 2017 to help first-time buyers purchase or self-build a new house or apartment. The scheme was reviewed and enhanced in July 2020, providing further supports. The scheme was reviewed again at the end of 2025 and extended to the
What Is an Approval in Principle (AIP)? In the Irish mortgage market, an Approval in Principle (AIP) is a preliminary assessment from a lender that shows how much they may be willing to lend to a potential home buyer. For first-time buyers, it’s a vital first step — helping you
Key Points: First time buyer support schemes Help to Buy Scheme (HTB) First Home Scheme (FTS) Rent tax credit Increase of housing supply Reduced VAT on sale of new apartments Residential Zoned Land Tax Reform (ZLTR) Stamp Duty Residential Rebate Scheme Derelict property tax Many of the Budget 2026’s
Let’s discuss mortgage affordability and why the “4 times income” rule may not always apply. Central Bank of Ireland loan-to-income limits The Central Bank of Ireland introduced mortgage measures in 2015, revised in 2023, to ensure sustainable lending standards in the mortgage market. Read our Blog Mortgage Changes from January
Getting a mortgage when you are self-employed in Ireland can sometimes be more challenging than for PAYE workers. Self-employed mortgage applications can take longer to process for the self-employed. So, be patient and be prepared to provide additional documentation when requested. Who is classed as self-employed? If you have PAYE
The budget 2024 package announced on the 1oth of October, consisted of €6.4 billion. Additional public spending was €5.2 billion and taxation measures, €1.1 billion. Will there be changes to government grants and more aid for first time buyers? In this blog post, we summarise the key new measures related
Modular Timber Frame Houses A modular home is a type of house constructed off-site in a factory setting, in individual sections or “modules,” and then transported to a customer’s location for final assembly. These homes could be concrete or more often timber frame. For example, the Scandinavian Homes product is