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 …

Read More →

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 …

Read More →

AIB to close branches due to pandemic in controversial decision

The covid-19 pandemic and its related lockdowns have had a number of effects on the financial landscape both in Ireland and worldwide. One of the biggest effects has been the shift to contactless payments and online banking. This trend was only increased due to lockdowns, as the bank’s physical locations were closed, leading to more customers accessing their money online or through the bank’s app.

On Tuesday, Allied Irish Banks (AIB) said that it had conducted a “detailed strategic review” to examine the changes in how customers interact with banks. In the review, the bank stated that “Following the unrelenting shift in customer preference for digital banking over the last number of years, AIB is announcing the amalgamation of 15 branches in locations across the country by December this year”. The vast majority of these 15 branches being closed are in urban and suburban locations in Dublin and Cork. Accounts in the closing branches will be moved to neighboring branches, and these closures will leave AIB with 170 remaining physical branches. About 100 AIB employees will be affected by this …

Read More →

Kitchen Design That Will Add Value Your Home

 

When it comes to adding value or selling a house, more often, real estate agents will tell you that the kitchen is a vital component when thinking of sell homes because it increases the home value. For home buyers, both first-time and second home buyers, kitchen designs, upgrades, development, and complete retrofitting are at the top of the list for many customers. The kitchen is essential when it comes to the most valuable home improvements. Because most people want a fitted kitchen without paying a lot of money to buy a house, some believe that kitchen renovations are the most likely to increase the value of your home. Still, one should know that this doesn’t mean that every penny you spend will be repaid. In my opinion, I believe the following kitchen designs can add and increase the value of a residential home. These include: –

Designing a more spacious and modern storage unit. Designing and renovating cabinets and drawers to provide a level of luxury and comfort can be unrivaled. This feature adds an elegant touch of quality, …

Read More →

New Green mortgage offering one of Ireland’s lowest rates

AIB’s mortgage subsidiary Haven has launched a new, four-year, fixed rate green mortgage with one of the lowest rates currently available on the market.

Haven is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AIB which focuses solely on mortgage distribution through brokers. They offer a broad selection of fixed and variable rate mortgages to customers including first time buyers, movers, switchers, and investors.

The mortgage has a rate of 2.15 percent, and applies to both new and existing customers with a Building Energy Rating (BER) of between A1 and B3. The BER cert must also be less than 10 years old in order to be eligible. All new builds are expected to qualify for the low rate, and existing customers who remodel their home to meet the BER requirements will also qualify.

According to AIB, this low rate could result in substantial savings for the average customer. The lender reports that the new rate allows customers of a 25 year, €300,000 mortgage to save €155 monthly. This equates to a savings of €1,800 per year over the lifetime of the loan, when compared …

Read More →

Why you should invest in Real Estate Now

 

When it comes to real estate investment, you may hear some people say that you should not wait for the future but invest early. It’s never too late to invest in real estate. However, before you invest, make sure you understand the various investments available to you based on your potential earnings, time, and net worth.

For a long time, Real estate has been a consistently thriving niche, giving many investors and home buyers a push for their market opportunity. For astute, forward-thinking investors and developers, there are numerous opportunities. Real estate-related inventories and Real estate investment are two examples of real estate investments. Land, residential, commercial, and industrial development are examples of investment projects in the real estate industry. Real estate investment can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. With these opportunities, it is wise to start investing now as there are many benefits and advantages.

Benefits of Investing in Real Estate

Proper research and a logical analysis approach based on financial factors will assist you in purchasing the best property. Some of the advantages of …

Read More →

5 Money Principles every young adult in Ireland should follow

 

Principles are not always fun to human beings, but the fruits of having regulations are rigorous and advantageous.  Principles are even harder to for and follow among young adults. Financial principles serve as a bitter cup when you know you have the money, but you cannot spend it however you like because you have to mind your tomorrow. The financial success of a person mostly counts on one’s behavior. The money choices you make every day determine where you will be financially a few years from now. Financial discipline does not only entail saving; it also involves wise spending and wise investments. There is a need for the Irish to learn some of the core money principles, especially during these economically challenging times. The following are some of the critical money principles which would prove life-changing among the young Irish.

Always spend less than what you make- This is probably the most basic yet the most crucial money principle of all time. Young people always feel the pressure to look rich rather than be rich, but don’t let social …

Read More →

4 Easy DIY Projects to Improve your Home

 

Without a doubt, the renovation of the entire house can add value to your home. However, this process of upgrading your home has the potential to push you into debt or use up your savings. Re-grouting, painting, or power washing your home’s exterior will not cost a lot of money, but they can increase your home’s value. With a few dollars and a DIY attitude,you have the possibility of listing your home at a much higher price whenever you are ready to sell. If you don’t want to sell, you can enjoy living in a more beautiful place. Here are 4 easy DIY interior updates to improve your home.

 

Repaint the walls

If your walls have a fading wallpaper, outdated color, dirty paint or scratches, a few cans of paint can make a very big difference. To ensure that the value of your home is maximized for sale, select a neutral color scheme that appeals to a majority of potential buyers, makes spaces look more beautiful, and unifies the whole house.

Putting up crown molding

Crown …

Read More →

Is real estate the road to financial freedom in Ireland?

 

Real estate in Ireland is currently one of the most lucrative and secure business ventures.  The answer is yes, with the real estate sector being among the few sectors unaffected by the covid-19 pandemic. Real estate is the road to financial freedom in Ireland. Real estate as the road to financial freedom can be looked at in two dimensions: a tenant’s and an estate owner’s perspective.

First, let’s look at this from an estate owner’s direction. Renting houses in Ireland is getting more and more expensive by the days. The average price of renting a home in Ireland today is 30% higher than in 2018. This means that the Irish people in real estate are making a 30% increase in profits made from their investments. This is a lucrative business for the Irish people. Financial freedom might come with real estate in Ireland as it proves to be a venture that is unaffected even when the economy is adversely affected. In 2020, many Irish people lost their jobs to the pandemic, and the Irish economy went adversely affected. There …

Read More →

COVID-19’s biggest effect on the Irish financial world

There is no doubt that the covid-19 pandemic has changed the financial landscape as we know it.

The pandemic has increased online shopping by great amounts, has changed the way individuals invest in the stock market, and has lead to many central banks around the world printing large sums of money in order to pay unemployment benefits and provide essential aid to businesses both small and large. Investors have began to hedge against growing inflation of currencies around the world by investing in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, sending them to sky-high prices.

But perhaps covid-19’s biggest – and surely its most noticeable –  effect has been a massive increase in contactless payments. Use of cash was already on the decline, but business closures and other covid restrictions, as well as new development in the fintech sector, have seen card and mobile payments soar to record highs.

Contactless payments such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, as well as the new chip and tap-to-pay features included on most debit cards, are fast, easy and sanitary. And let’s face it, it’s much more …

Read More →
  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. ...
  10. 101