Best Places to live in Ireland outside of Dublin

Many people dream of living in Ireland: with its gorgeous countryside views and culture-rich cities, there’s not much to dislike. The biggest and most famous city in the country is the capital city of Dublin, famous for its pubs, diverse community, and unique culture. However, Dublin is also by far the most expensive place to live in Ireland. If you’re looking to move to the Emerald Isle and would like to save some money while doing so, here are some great areas outside of the capital to consider.

Galway

Located on the River Corrib next to the Atlantic Ocean, anyone who visits Galway will fall in love with it. Considered the cultural center of Ireland, this coastal town has a lot to offer at a fraction of the price of living in Dublin. Rental prices are 50-80 percent cheaper than in Dublin, and Galway still has a lot to offer culturally, with festivals throughout the year and many culinary options. In fact, Galway is so culturally rich that it was named the European capital of culture in …

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What is the Local Property Tax of 2022?

 

Local Property Tax is a self-assessed tax based on your property’s market value. Until recently, all Local Property Tax costs have been calculated using the prior property assessment date.

The next property valuation date is 1st November 2021, according to the most recent revisions to LPT released in June 2021. For the 2022 Local Property Tax charges, property owners must submit a revised self-assessed valuation of their property based on the new assessment date of 1st November 2021.

 If you sell your home after 1st November 2021, you will be responsible for the Local Property Tax in 2022.

Housing prices will be reassessed every 4 years under the current LPT system, and new properties will be added to the system every November.

Local Property Tax is payable by all holders of residential land, including rental homes. As a result of the current LPT system, first-time purchasers and new houses purchased since 2013—which were previously free from LPT—will be responsible beginning 1st November 2021.

The following is a list of individuals that are liable for Local Property Tax:

Individuals with a …

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5 tips to improve your credit rating

Your credit rating is crucial when applying for a mortgage or any type of loan. The better your credit rating, the higher the chance you will qualify for a good rate from your lender. Having an average or below average rating can greatly reduce your choice of lender and have an adverse affect on your rate. Here are some tips to make sure your credit rating is as high as possible.

1. Use Credit cards wisely

Using credit cards responsibly on a regular basis is key to boosting your score. Banks may ask you for 12 months of credit card statements, and being behind on your credit payments will decrease your chances of getting a loan. Instead, use your credit card for small amounts, and keep up with your monthly repayments. This shows that you can reliably pay back the money you borrow.

2. Don’t miss loan repayments

Making all your payments on time is the factor that impacts your credit score the most. When you pay your credit cards or other loans on time, it goes on your file …

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Lockdowns cause surge on home improvement spending in Ireland

The coronavirus pandemic created many unforseen circumstances in people’s daily lives. Perhaps the biggest among these was the effects of the lockdown. People had to stay in their homes for much longer than they normally would, and many people were stuck working at home. It is no surprise, then, that a record number of home improvement projects have been carried out over the last year and a half.

Research by Aviva Insurance Ireland shows that 1.5 million homeowners have carried out work on their homes over the past year, with the total cost of these projects coming in at more than €11 billion. In addition to these numbers, another 861,000 people have plans to undertake home improvement projects, the survey says. The survey captured almost every type of home improvement imaginable, from minor fixes like painting a room or replacing windows, to large projects like building extensions onto homes or adding a home office, the latter of which was definitely popular as the country and the world transitioned to a remote work environment.

Aviva Insurance added that this surge in …

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How to get the lowest rate on your mortgage

When applying for a mortgage, you will notice that rates vary greatly. These rates determine on a number of things, including the length of your mortgage term, the size of your deposit, your credit score, and which lender you choose. With so many different mortgage lenders available to choose from, this can be a daunting process, especially for first time buyers. Securing the lowest rate is incredibly important, as it will make your monthly payments smaller, thus saving you money over the whole lifetime of the loan. Here are a few things to focus on during your application process to ensure you get the lowest rate possible.

Shop Around

You wouldn’t buy a car without driving a few first, or a mattress without laying down on more than one, right? In a similar way, if you want the best mortgage rate, you should shop around with different lenders. This process should entail researching different lenders and the products they have to offer, as every lender has different loan types, terms, and interest rates. You also should apply for more than …

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Cryptocurrency: Market trend or the future of Finance?

Over the past year you have probably heard a lot of buzz surrounding the world of cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency is essentially a form of payment that can be exchanged online for goods and services. Cryptocurrencies operate using a technology called blockchain, which is a decentralized form of recording and managing transactions that is spread across many computers. One of the main advantages of using blockchain to manage cryptocurrency transactions is to increase security of these transactions. Cryptocurrencies are also increasingly being used as a speculative investment in addition to purchasing goods and services. While over 10,000 cryptocurrencies are traded publicly, the most valuable and most famous is Bitcoin. Bitcoin first rose to prominence in December 2017 when its value skyrocketed to almost $20,000, before falling down to $3200 just a year later. This extreme price volatility among bitcoin and other cryptocurrency has prompted debate among investors and analysts over whether bitcoin is a legitimate currency and the future of finance as we know it, or just another speculative investment.

Critics of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies point to its volatility and extreme …

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Why are house prices surging in Ireland?

House prices in Ireland have surged in the last 12 months. Two separate reports have pointed to a 13 percent increase in house prices over the last twelve months, both in Dublin and nationwide. Property website myhome.ie, which is owned by The Irish Times, pointed to a ‘red hot’ demand outpacing supply as one of the main reasons for this increase in their latest quarterly report. According to MyHome, house prices nationally increased 13 per cent to €303,000 in the second quarter of 2021, breaking the €300,000 mark for the first time in recorded history. In Dublin specifically, they found the average price to be €412,000, representing a 10.6 percent increase on the year. Daft.ie, another property website, reported similar increases in the price of homes on its website, up 13 per cent on the year to €284,000, the highest such increase since 2015.  This increase means house prices have increased for four consecutive quarters, the first time this has happened since 2014.

This substantial increase put house prices nationally 14.3 per cent lower than their highest-ever level in 2007. …

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Technologies Transforming the Mortgage Industry in Ireland   

In Ireland, the mortgage industry has began a journey of digital transformation. The transformation has been fueled by the increase of home buyers who are tech-savvy, and the need to handle the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020 alone, the mortgage industry was pushed into a new era of technology that arose due to simple necessity. When the virus began wrecking havoc in Ireland, most companies were reluctant to invest in technological tool. However, many lenders now understand the need to provide online mortgage solutions with an aim of appealing to the borrowers who are socially distanced. There are three major technology trends that mark major transform in Ireland’s mortgage industry.

The first in an increase in the adoption of Application Programming Interface (API) to streamline various business processes. APIs have began to help mortgage providers to improve their efficiency through the automation of their workflows and as a result, they have been able to guarantee the accuracy of their data while helping them comply with the Irish regulations. Without a doubt, the lack of efficiency in the …

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5 Features that make a profitable Rental Property

Investing in a residential rental property can be a great and profitable way to boost your investment portfolio. However, real estate is a tough business. For this reason, it’s important to do detailed research on the pros and cons of real estate investing before buying your first property.

It is important to start your search for property before bringing an agent into the picture, as they may pressure you to an investment that is not best suited for you. During this preliminary research, you’ll want to narrow down several key characteristics you are looking for in your property, such as size, location and amenities. In this article, we will discuss 5 key features to look for to ensure that your real estate investment is a profitable one.

1. Know Your Neighborhood

The location of your property is one of the most important things to consider. Knowing which type of neighborhood you are investing in will determine the type of tenants you will attract, as well as your vacancy rates. For example, if your property is near a university, then you …

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7 Tips for Entrepreneurs in Ireland

Being an entrepreneur can be both exciting and challenging. Here are 7 tips to help you navigate the ups and downs of building a successful business.

1. Learn to Embrace Risk

Starting your own business is a risk in itself, but don’t be afraid to take on more risk along the way. If you are too cautious and risk-averse, you may end up missing out on great opportunities for growth. Jeff Bezos has said that learning to take risks has helped him to realize that he wouldn’t regret failure, but he would regret not trying.

2. Have self Confidence

A crucial element of being a successful entrepreneur is leadership. And the most important trait required to be an effective leader is self-confidence. Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motors, famously said, “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.”

3. Learn From Your Mistakes

Mistakes are a part of life, and nobody’s perfect, especially in business. However, many entrepreneurs tend to either ignore their mistakes, or dwell on them for too long. A more productive approach is to …

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