Low rate mortgage Ireland

Ireland is a country with the second-highest mortgage rates. Despite a slight dropping in 2021 the rates borrowers still overpay more than the eurozone average which is 1.27 percent. In 2021 the mortgage rates have dropped to their lowest in four years yet they are still more than double the average eurozone.

In August 2021 the fixed-rate mortgages were weighted to be 2.62 percent, down 4 basis points. The interest rate stood at 3.31 percent in August 2021, down 15 basis points year on year. So in Ireland, an average borrower is paying 180 euros a month more than in other European countries.

The reason behind it is that mortgage lending in Ireland is considered risky and banks struggle to enforce security if loans go into arrears so they must hold around three times the level of capital to safeguard against potential loan losses. The Central Bank statistics show that only in Greece the rates are higher.

This was a guest post by Agáta Hánová who interned with us in December 2021.

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Home of the Year 2021 and RIAI Awards – by Nikola Lancova

The Home if the Year is a competition series where the team behind RTÉs is searching for the most unusual and architecturally stunning private houses. The desicion is based on functionality, clever design and individuality. Each week the team of three judges visits three homes across the country. They give the house score out of 10. The home that receives the highest score goes through to the finals.

This year it was the seventh season of this competition series. In this season judges visited 21 homes across Ireland. From these 21 competitors, the judges selected seven finalists:

David O’Brien (Cork) Jennifer Sheahan (Dublin) Tanya Lee Conroy and Noel Conroy (Galway) Saara and Mike McLoughlin (Co Limerick) Sally-Ann and Ruairí Mitchell (Dublin) Kevin Desmond (Dublin) Kate and Cian O’Driscoll (Dublin)

Of the above competitors, Jennifer Sheahan from Dublin won the prize. Her house is 1800s cottage in Dublin. She bought this house in 2019, it needed a lot of work, it was damp, there was no central heating and the toilet was outside. Jennifer renovated the entire house, knocked all internal …

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Avant Money turned 1 year old, and in that time they changed everything.

Avant Money is part of the Bankinter group and they have been in the market for just one year and in that time they have been transformational in terms of what they have achieved in the current landscape.

To begin with they came in and offered the lowest rates we have ever had since the days of tracker mortgages, their fixed rates were also available for longer durations at these low rates than the other leading rates of the day. After that they brought out a suite of fixed rates which were also at the forefront of the market.

As a lender who distributes exclusively through brokers this is wonderful in our view as it drives people towards independent financial advice and greater selection. We can’t wait to see what Avant Money has coming down the line in year two!

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Pros and cons of a variable rate mortgage

A variable rate mortgage is a mortgage in which the interest rate on the outstanding balance changes periodically. Typically, these loans will have fixed, or “teaser” interest rates for a specified amount of time, after which the interest rate will change based on a variety of factors. In most cases, the initial interest rate on a variable rate loan will be lower than a fixed rate, which can be appealing for homebuyers. But it is important to be aware of the pros and cons before jumping into a variable rate loan.

Pros

Flexibility

The number one advantage of a variable rate mortgage is flexibility. With a variable rate mortgage, you don’t need to worry about penalties for things like increasing your monthly payment, or paying off your mortgage early. You also have the ability to make lump-sum payments on your mortgage throughout the year, which can be very helpful for home buyers with a fluctuating income affected by bonuses or commissions. If your life is likely to change relatively soon, and you plan on eventually moving or selling the house, …

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First Time Buyers lead the way as mortgage drawdowns and approvals continue to rise

As the Irish economy continues to reopen following the shock of the Covid-19 pandemic, mortgage approvals and drawdowns have remained on the rise. Recent figures from the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) has shown data on mortgage drawdowns and approvals for the second quarter of 2021.

According to the data from BPFI, some 9,625 new mortgages were drawn down in the second quarter of 2021. This represents an increase of 45.4 percent in volume when compared to the same data from the second quarter of 2020, when the pandemic was at its height. These new mortgages have a total value of €2.23 billion, representing an increase in value of 52.5 percent when compared with the same period a year ago. BPFI reports that of these new mortgages, first time buyers represent the largest segment, accounting for some 50.9 percent of all new mortgages.

The vast majority of new mortgages drawn down were to finance a purchase of a home. In the second quarter, there were 7,438 mortgage drawdowns for purchases, with a combined value totaling €1.8 billion, a 47.8 …

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How do mortgages work?

If you’re looking to buy a home, you’ve probably already realized that this is not like most transactions. The average house price in Dublin is €396,000, and unless you’re very wealthy, you probably don’t have anywhere that much in savings. Because you likely can’t afford an expense of this magnitude out of your own pocket, you will need to finance the purchase through a mortgage, and if you’re new to the home-buying process, you may be a little confused as to how exactly these loans work.

A mortgage is a huge loan secured against the value of your house. A “secured” loan means that the borrower promises collateral to the lender in the event that they are unable to make payments, and in this case, the collateral is your home. In other words, the bank will kick you out and take possession of your house if you can’t make payments. In order to prevent this from happening, the lender will typically conduct a detailed review of the borrower’s finances in order to determine how much they can reasonably afford to …

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Buying a home vs. Renting: Which is better?

Buying your home is one of the biggest financial decisions of your life. However, it is a big commitment and there are a lot of hidden costs and factors that can make it unaffordable for some. Because of the costliness of buying a home outright, many buyers turn to renting instead, especially in expensive housing markets like London, New York, and Hong Kong. Determining which option is best for you depends on a variety of factors, and not everyone’s situation is alike. To help with this important decision, let’s take a look at some of the key differences between buying and renting.

Buying

When buying a house, it’s likely you’ll need to apply for a mortgage. To get a mortgage, you need a deposit (usually at least 10% of the home’s value) and a steady income in order to make repayments. The greater your deposit and income, the more your bank or lender will be able to offer you. However, if you live in an expensive area, or have a low salary and little savings, buying may not be for …

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Myths about Mortgage that you Should be Aware of

 

Many people often consider mortgages as a complex and difficult matter. There are also some myths that people share. These myths leave most people worried about how the mortgage will affect them. After application, some people are mostly stressed by the repayment process. This perception and the reluctance to talk about them indicate that some people could be missing out on the benefits of mortgages. 

When it comes to your finances, knowledge is very important. Therefore, if you are thinking about getting a mortgage in the future, or have one at the moment, never fear to ask questions and always do research. These are three mortgage myths that you need to be aware of. 

A mortgage payment holiday or break will cost you nothing A payment holiday is when the financial institution suspends the payments of your mortgage for a given time. The payment and the interest are then moved to the mortgage’s balance. For most people, this means that at the end of the break, the payments they make on a monthly basis will increase. Therefore, always ensure …

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Residential Real Estate Investment

 

It’s never a wicked knowledge to invest in real estate. It provides potential investors with various financial and personal benefits, including home appreciation, increased cash flow, and tax benefits. But knowing the type of investment deal as a beginner or an experienced investor is vital. Long-term residential rentals are one of the most common ways to profit from real estate. The choice for residential property is not an overnight decision because it requires strategies with their own set of advantages and challenges. Investors’ principal motivations and aim for choosing residential real estate investment almost always revolve around the funds, risk tolerance, and time. 

It is vital to note that people require a place to live today, which necessitates involvement in the rental market. Residential property is only used for personal purposes, and examples include apartments, apartments, and duplexes. Moreover, rents collection is not the only revenue source derived from a residential property regarding residential investment. Auxiliary property investments and real estate appreciation are also reliable sources of income when investing in residential property

In my opinion, if a stakeholder …

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