How to buy a home in Ireland
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Step-by-step process for buying a property in Ireland — from deposit and mortgage approval to closing day.
1. Save your deposit
For your principal private residence, the Central Bank requires a minimum deposit of 10% (first-time buyers) or 20% (movers). Budget extra for stamp duty, legal fees, surveys and BER assessment — plan for roughly 3–4% of the purchase price on top of your deposit.
2. Get mortgage approval-in-principle (AIP)
Borrowing is generally capped at 4× gross household income for first-time buyers and 3.5× for subsequent buyers. Apply directly to a bank or use a broker. AIP is typically valid for 6 months and is needed before you bid.
3. Search, view and bid
Bidding in Ireland is informal — there is no binding offer until contracts are signed. Once your bid is accepted you pay a refundable booking deposit (usually €5,000–€10,000) and instruct a solicitor.
4. Survey, contracts, drawdown
Commission a structural survey before you sign contracts. Your solicitor reviews title, raises requisitions and you sign the contract for sale (legally binding). The bank then drafts a loan offer and the funds drawdown completes the purchase.
5. Government supports to check
First-time buyers should check eligibility for the Help-to-Buy (HtB) tax rebate and the First Home Scheme (FHS) shared-equity top-up — see our dedicated explainers.
