In the last few weeks the Irish Government launched a mortgage scheme to help low and middle income families (with salaries up to €75k per annum) get their first home.
The scheme offers very attractive lending rates (as low as 2% fixed for 25 years). Also, applicants do not need to adhere to the strict central banks rules for income.
Continue reading Irish government affordable mortgage scheme
Every so often there appears to be a push toward the ‘sell your house yourself’ movement with companies appearing who will send you a ‘for sale’ sign and a ‘sell it yourself’ explanation pack.
When all this first starting gaining traction a few years I was inclined to think it was a good idea. Now though I have changed my mind.
Recently a new section of the LUAS tram was opened in Ireland’s capital city Dublin. It was noted that the effect on house prices within the areas now linked by the tramway to the city centre was significant. This shows that transport is linked to house prices.
What was also significant was that the effect on house prices was in fact felt about 2-3 years rather than at the time of the opening of the line. The reason for this was that the line was planned and as such people became aware that the areas would soon have the new city centre link. Continue reading The effect of transport links on your house value
I’ve just spent some time looking at virtual viewing of homes for sale. (I was looking on daft.ie, but it is also available on UK sites such as Rightmove and Zoopla).
I live in Ireland and always buy at least 2 Sunday papers. From about 2010 to 2016 the property supplements of these newspapers either disappeared or was reduced to a half page in the lifestyle section. In the past 12 months thought the 8-12 page (and sometimes more) property supplements have again appeared. Along with this is the return of the open house phenomenon (usually detailed within the said property supplements). Continue reading The return of the open house to Ireland (the weekends are saved!)
As an investor I have bought my properties mainly at fire sale auctions (generally properties being sold by receivers or banks). These days it seems that auctions are moving to online platforms meaning you have no idea who you are bidding against. Continue reading Why an investor needs to steer clear of family buyers
It appears Ireland is up between 45-50% from its lowest point 5 years ago. It is also generally accepted that Dublin has seen the biggest increases whilst areas furthest from the capital have seen the smallest. Continue reading Will brexit affect house prices in Ireland?
Demand for houses has remained high; there are simply not enough houses and this inevitably means prices will continue to rise because the laws of supply and demand demand it (if you get my meaning!). If people were moving as a result of Brexit the situation may be different but evidence suggests very few are doing this. Continue reading Will Brexit effect house prices in the UK?
If you are a holder of bitcoin or any other crypto-currencies can you use them for property purchases? Well let’s talk for a moment in a general sense about the crypto currency phenomenon. Continue reading Can I use my Bitcoin to buy property?
I recently read an article published on The Telegraph website which reviewed the world’s top 20 places to invest in property abroad (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/abroad/worlds-20-best-places-to-invest-in-property/).
The article is over two years old now (written in January 2014) and I was Continue reading Buying property in Spain and Portugal: What a difference 2 years can make!
