How Global Economic Events Influence Irish Interest Rates

In our interconnected world, local economies are significantly influenced by global events. This is especially true for a small, open economy like Ireland. Interest rates, a critical component of economic activity, are not immune to these influences. Understanding how global economic events affect Irish interest rates can help individuals and businesses make informed financial decisions.

The Global Context of Interest Rates

Interest rates are a key tool used by central banks to manage economic activity. In Ireland, the Central Bank of Ireland, in conjunction with the European Central Bank (ECB), plays a significant role in setting interest rates. However, the ECB’s decisions are heavily influenced by global economic conditions.

Key Global Economic Events Impacting Irish Interest Rates

1. Economic Performance of Major Economies: the economic performance of major economies like the United States, China, and the Eurozone significantly impacts global financial markets and interest rates. For instance, if the U.S. Federal Reserve raises interest rates to combat inflation, it can lead to higher borrowing costs globally. The ECB might then adjust its own rates to maintain economic stability within the …

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Comparing Mortgages in Ireland to Mortgages in the United States

 

The mortgage market is a vital component of the housing sector, enabling individuals to purchase homes by providing them with long-term financing options. While mortgages serve a similar purpose in different countries, their structures and features can vary significantly.

First, we take a look at the different mortgage types. In the United States there are fixed-rate mortgages which are predominantly offered and provide a fixed interest rate for the loan’s duration. There are Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (ARMs) and the interest rates can fluctuate based on market conditions and typically offer an initial fixed rate for a specified period.There are FHA Loans which are backed by the Federal Housing Administration and provide accessible financing options for low-to-moderate-income borrowers. Lastly, there are VA Loans which are guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs and are exclusively available to eligible military veterans and their families.

In Ireland there are Variable Rate Mortgages which are commonly offered with interest rates subject to change in response to market conditions. The Tracker Mortgages are tied to the European Central Bank (ECB) rate and offer borrowers …

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Comparing the 2008 Financial Crisis to Recent Interest Rate Hikes in Ireland

In this blog, we look at insightful parallels between the infamous 2008 financial crisis and the recent interest rate hikes in Ireland. While each event has its unique characteristics, examining their similarities can provide valuable lessons for navigating the current financial landscape. We’ll explore the key resemblances between these two periods, highlighting real-life examples to deepen our understanding. So, let’s dive in and uncover the lessons history has to offer.

 

The Domino Effect: Fragile Housing Markets

Both the 2008 financial crisis and recent interest rate hikes have exposed the vulnerability of housing markets. In 2008, a burst in the housing bubble triggered a wave of foreclosures and plummeting property values. Similarly, interest rate hikes can impact affordability, leading to a potential slowdown in demand and a correction in housing prices. These dynamics remind us of the importance of balanced and sustainable growth in the housing sector.

Financial Strain: Increasing Debt Burden

During the 2008 crisis, many homeowners found themselves burdened with high levels of debt. Adjustable-rate mortgages with low …

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The Economy of Czechia

Czechia is an advanced country that ranks among the countries with the most developed economy in the world. Czechia is a member of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development). It is based on industry and services (60%), agriculture and other primary production.

The main industries are automotive manufacturing, electronics, mechanical engineering, high technology , steel manufacturing, transportation equipment, chemical manufacturing and pharmaceuticals.

The main agricultural products are cereals, vegetable oils and hops. Key mineral resources mined in Czechia include black and brown cleansing, kaolin, building materials and uranium. The most important product of the Czech economy is Škoda Auto.

Czechia has the most self-employment per population in Europe. The average wage as of 2021 is around CZK 37,800 (EUR 1,540). It is among the countries with the lowest proportion of people at risk of income poverty in the EU. Unemployment and state indebtedness in Czechia remain among the lowest in Europe.

In the first quarter of 2015, the Czech economy grew the fastest among the EU states. The Czech economy grew by 3.3% in 2021 and the following …

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Property market in Czechia

Recently, around the world, the housing market has become a hotly debated issue in the context of the rapid rise in house prices. From 2000 to 2008, Czechia experienced a huge boom, with the growth of buyer interest far exceeding supply on the market. Between 2009 and 2012, the economic crisis hit the real estate market. As a result, demand weakened significantly, with house prices also falling.

Following this slump in demand and prices, with owners losing up to 40% of the value of their properties in some locations, the market started to grow again in 2013. so you could say that the real estate market has a cyclical period, which is repeated with period of approximately 8 years of growth and 4 years of decline.

Currently, demand is growing greatly due to people’s interest in saving their savings into conservative assets, as well as the overall economic situation in Czechia, where many people have higher incomes and cant hus afford to buy better housing. The quality of housing is a major factor.

Many people are looking for more expensive …

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Negative interest rates are both gone and here at the same time.

Many commentators are talking about the end of negative interest rates in nominal terms and it’s true, interest rates are rising but in real terms they are still negative. Look at mortgage rates (for instance), you can borrow at 3% and below and meanwhile you have property price appreciation at 15% meaning that in real terms you are paying -12%.

If you can ever get something on a continuous basis at -12% that indicates ‘buy’, and that’s what people are doing, but notice that we mentioned ‘continuous’, the reality is that there is no arbitrage most of the time and this will be closed down by either rising costs, falling prices or some other outcome that we can’t forsee. Trees don’t grow to the sky, they never have and never will so the trajectory of house prices must rationalise but it’s hard to see how or where at present because the demand side seems so demonstrably strong.

I bumped into Kieran McQuinn on Pearse Street today and in our brief chat mentioned how the price changes are not sustainable, he …

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Nuremburg property market

Nuremberg isn’t known as a significant real estate location even though it has been the economic and cultural centre of Northern Bavaria for years. But lower prices than in more prominent German cities, make buying property in Nuremberg a good investment.

The property market is growing steadily which can be seen in a renewed high level of real estate transaction volume in 2021. At EUR 1.39 billion, the sales volume was indeed about a tenth below the previous year’s figure, but it was still slightly above the average of the last five years. The top position was taken by the segment of institutional housing with a generated transaction volume of around EUR 525 million. The surpassing of last year’s figure by +6% is an indicator to a continuing interest in residential investments in Nuremberg.

The office segment showed a contradictory development in 2021 with only EUR 286 million or 61% less than the previous year due to a lack of opportunities.  Since there were no large-volume sales (above EUR 100 million) observed the highest office transaction amounted to almost EUR …

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The Frankfurt property market (Germany)

Frankfurt am Main is growing – as a stable business location, internationally important financial centre and European transportation hub. The largest city in Hesse attracts numerous young workers, older financially strong couples, but also foreign customers. For several years now, Frankfurt am Main has been one of the cities in Germany with the highest population growth. Since 2014, the number of inhabitants has risen by 7.1 per cent to almost 760,000. Given their economic importance, mass migration and associated housing demand are unlikely to decline in the foreseeable future.

Frankfurt am Main is also one of the nationwide leaders when it comes to vacancy rates for residential properties. The Main metropolis has a vacancy rate of only 0. 3 per cent, which is ahead of the already low figures in Stuttgart (0. 5 %), Hamburg (0. 5 %) and Berlin (0. 8 %). The continuing excess demand for housing in Frankfurt am Main has led to a steady rise in the average rent in the Main metropolis for years. However, a distinction must be made here between existing …

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German mortgages explained

In the legal sense, a mortgage is the right with which a bank or building society secures a mortgage loan. The mortgage secures a plot of land with or without buildings. It is one of the liens on real property and is regulated in the German Civil Code (Section 1113 BGB).

If the builder fails to meet his obligations under the loan agreement, the bank can apply for foreclosure. It can use the proceeds from this to repay the construction loan. Usually, you can only cover a part of the purchase price of your desired property with your own funds. The greater part is financed by a mortgage. This means a loan from a bank, which is secured by the property. How to get a mortgage in Germany

Let your customer advisor advise you on all aspects of real estate purchase. There are various contact points in Germany for this purpose. Depending on your life situation, it is appropriate to first contact the house bank. Various financing proposals are measured by how good the customer’s liquidity is.

After the financing …

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What is the Difference between Mortgage in Ireland and Other Nations in Europe?

Buying a house is always a person dream as compared to renting a room to live in. All countries have different mortgage structure that favors both investors and people that desire to buy or invest in real estate. When comparing the mortgage in Ireland to other European counties, many often say that it is expensive to pay the rates in Ireland than in well developed countries like France and Britain.

When making comparison, it should be noted that mortgage rates in some countries are lower due to their financial stability and the creditworthiness of their creditors. Other factors that affect mortgage rates include bond markets, monetary policies, economic growth, inflation, and the general state of the property market. Market prices tend to rise as they become more stable.

To start with, the reason many experts think that mortgage finance is higher in Ireland is because by international standards, Ireland has a shockingly low level of home possessions. In most European countries, if a loan goes bad, the bank will take possession of the property within a year, which obviously …

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