Pages 4–5
Welcome
See the complete Irish buying journey in one line, what the market looks like and realistic timeframes from searching to keys.
45-page downloadable PDF • 2026–27 edition
Every Step of Buying Your First Home in Ireland, in One Place.
Most first-time buyers find out what they needed to know too late. After the bid, after the survey, after the solicitor’s bill lands.
This guide walks you through all 45 pages of the journey before you get there, with the checklists and worksheets at the point you actually need them.
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45 pages, one file. Read on screen or print the worksheets you need.
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Educational information only, not financial, legal or mortgage advice.
Version 1.0, last updated September 2026. Check official sources for any Budget 2027 changes announced after publication.
Real pages from the PDF
Selected pages only
€29? That's less than a single hour of a solicitor's time and a fraction of what one avoidable mistake costs on a €320,000 purchase. Easy yes.
Eleven sections • 45 pages
The buying journey, in the order it happens.
Read it start to finish once, then return to the relevant section as you save, apply, view, bid and close.
Pages 6–9
Are you ready?
Work through what lenders want to see, a mortgage-ready self-assessment and the rules that decide whether you count as a first-time buyer.
Pages 10–13
Affordability and your deposit
Understand the four-times-income limit and exceptions, then work out your borrowing ceiling, deposit and total savings target.
Pages 14–19
Government schemes
Compare Help to Buy, the First Home Scheme, Local Authority Home Loan, affordable purchase options and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
Pages 20–22
Getting mortgage-ready
Prepare for Approval in Principle with a practical document checklist covering employees, self-employed buyers and other common circumstances.
Pages 23–26
House hunting and viewings
Know where to look, what to inspect inside and outside a home, and the questions worth asking the estate agent before you bid.
Pages 27–29
Making an offer
Learn how Irish bidding works, set a firm ceiling, recognise pressure tactics and choose the right solicitor before sale agreed.
Pages 30–34
Survey, legal work and costs
Understand surveys, snag lists, conveyancing and the full cost of buying, with worked examples and your own costs worksheet.
Pages 35–36
Common mistakes
Avoid the recurring errors that cost first-time buyers time, money or the home they thought they had secured.
Pages 37–39
Closing and moving in
Follow the path from loan offer to contracts, drawdown and keys, then use a moving-in checklist for the important jobs afterwards.
Pages 40–45
Your timeline at a glance
Keep the entire process and typical timings on one page, from getting financially ready to registration after closing.
More than explanations
Practical pages to print, fill in and bring with you.
The guide combines clear information with real working pages for mortgage preparation, viewings, costs and moving day.
Also included
Mortgage-ready self-assessment
Deposit and borrowing worksheet
Government schemes comparison
Mortgage document checklist
Property viewing checklist
Questions for the estate agent
Questions for your solicitor
Worked buying-cost examples
Cost-of-buying worksheet
Moving-in checklist
Ten-stage buying timeline
Useful official websites and glossary
Who it’s for
This guide is for you if…
It runs from your first savings target through affordability, government schemes, mortgage approval, viewings, bidding, surveys, legal work and closing, to the day you collect the keys.
You’re buying your first home in Ireland and don’t know where to start
You’re saving towards a deposit and want to know what you’re actually aiming for
You’re mortgage-approved and about to start viewing and bidding
You’re sale agreed and want to understand surveys, solicitors and closing costs
It’s not for you if you’re a second-time buyer, buying an investment property, or purchasing outside the Republic of Ireland.
Before you buy
FAQ
Your questions, answered.
One-off €29
The whole Irish buying process in one file, before you need it rather than after.