What is an Equity Release and how does it work?

Your equity in your home is how much you own. Think of it as the amount of your mortgage that you have already paid off, or the difference between your home’s market value and what you still owe the lender. So, once you have paid off your mortgage completely, you have 100% equity: you own it entirely. But as the value of your home appreciates, there is no immediate benefit to you in terms of cash. You will not be able to profit from the increase in value until you sell your property, and if you never sell, your estate and beneficiaries will be the only ones who are better off.

An equity release mortgage offers a way around this. These mortgages are becoming increasingly popular for homeowners aged 55 and older, as they give you a way to benefit from the equity you have built up in your home. An equity release involves a lender giving you a portion of the value of your home as a lump sum or a series of payments, in exchange for interest or …

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

What Types of Mortgages are Available in Ireland?

A mortgage is a type of debt that is secured by real estate. In default payments, the borrower is responsible for repaying the debt. The primary reason for obtaining a mortgage is to purchase a property that cannot be paid in total upfront for an individual in Ireland who cannot afford to pay in cash. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that financing a mortgage in the modern era of the economic downturn may be more complex and complicated than previously anticipated. In addition to limiting the guidelines, creditors and lending companies appear to pick and choose which people’s lives will improve.

Types Mortgages Available in Ireland

Fixed-Rate Mortgage: It is a type of mortgage with a fixed rate for the loan duration, allowing buyers to estimate the cost of a large purchase while making smaller, more predictable payments over time. Reverse Mortgage: It is a type of mortgage loan that allows the borrower to access the property’s unencumbered value through residential property. Typically, older homeowners are targeted for these loans, which do not require monthly mortgage payments. A reverse …

Read More

Is Cryptocurrency a Good or Bad Investment for Mortgage in Ireland?

Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the world has seen a significant evolution in trade, transaction, and financing. Digital currency is one of the new things in the market and has gained local and global attention. As economic uncertainty spread during the pandemic, the world’s most famous digital currency value increased by more than 500 percent. Bitcoin prices skyrocketed in late 2020, and crypto-currencies are here to stay, but proper regulation is required to take them seriously. Whether Bitcoin is the best get-rich-quick scheme in town or the next financial bubble to burst is usually a matter of opinion, but investors were sweating this quarter. Bitcoin’s value has steadily risen to $1 trillion, making Cryptocurrency a viable investment tool that hedge funds and banks have steadily embraced in recent weeks.

Because of its popularity, many experts have questioned whether Cryptocurrency is a good or bad investment to pair with a mortgage. I agree that it’s a good business venture, but I’d proceed with caution because of the following:

Lack of bank support

Cryptocurrency does not depend on …

Read More

Why are investment funds buying up Irish Property?

Large-scale private rented sector (PRS) investors, sometimes called vulture or cuckoo funds, have rapidly become a major force in the Irish property market over the last few years.

As recently as 2017, these funds were a minor and insignificant part of the housing market. However, these firms have spent more than €6 billion buying Irish homes, apartment buildings, and commercial properties over the last three and a half years.

The cuckoo funds show no sign of slowing down in 2021, as they have spent €1.5 billion so far this year, according to recent figures from estate agents and property adviser JLL. Most of these funds are backed by international investors, and have quickly become big players in the market, particularly investing in deals for new apartments in Dublin.

But what is driving this relatively new and rapidly growing force in the market?

Analysts say that an influx of cash in European markets, lack of yields in traditional assets including bonds, and the huge surge in housing demand and high rent prices in Ireland have combined to create a very lucrative …

Read More

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 …

Read More

Advantages and Disadvantages of a long-term mortgage

In a major market innovation in the Irish Mortgage Market, Finance Ireland and Avant Money have introduced new long term mortgages. While longer term mortgages have never really took off in Ireland, they are very popular in other parts of Europe and worldwide. These mortgages can be attractive to borrowers for a number of reasons, but it is important to also consider the potential downsides before making the switch.

Pros

One of the biggest advantages provided by long term mortgage products is certainty. Unlike a two or three year fixed term, a 10 or 20 year mortgage will allow your monthly mortgage repayments to remain unchanged throughout the duration of the loan. This reliable and predictable payment can be very helpful when planning out your monthly and yearly personal finances. It also can be very helpful in determining what your home will cost after factoring in interest. With a long term fixed rate, you will be able to know exactly how much the home will cost you right away, while a shorter term fixed rate will change over the lifetime …

Read More

How you can be approved for a mortgage in Ireland despite Central Bank’s rules

It’s no secret that house prices are continuing to rise in Ireland. Because of this, it is more important now than ever to maximize the amount that you are allowed to borrow. The Central Bank’s rules often do not make this process any easier, as many have criticized the Central Bank on its restrictive rules in terms of how much people are allowed to borrow. To be approved for a mortgage in Ireland, you first have to fall within the Central Bank’s income rules. Second, your lender will evaluate your repayment capacity.

First, the Central Bank restricts lenders to loans of 3.5 times the borrowers’ income (joint and single), unless they are granted an exemption. This means that someone making €40,000 can borrow up to €140,000, and a couple making €100,000 combined can borrow up to €350,000, respectively.  However, to be approved for a mortgage, they must also pass a stress test, per Central Bank rules. This tests the ability of the borrower to repay the loan each month should interest rates rise by 2 percent above what the lender …

Read More

Not Irish? Are you eligible for a mortgage in Ireland?

Ireland provides all that a person wants when it comes to primary and secondary needs. Both the locals and foreign citizens get to share the goods of the nation. When it comes to mortgage and real estate in general, the opportunities come in plenty, but with strict rules that deny some from getting loans to buy homes or apartments at their will.

Getting a mortgage is relatively simple. Someone, however, discovers that there are numerous governed rules and inspections available to ensure that the loan is available. The availability of funds is contingent on a single circumstance. Because banks are hesitant to call or visit foreigners, one must find out and see what deals they can offer. Moreover, due to the limited funding available for homes and mortgages, Ireland’s mortgage market can be challenging to navigate, especially for foreigners. It could not be very easy if you are not a legal resident of Ireland and want to invest. The best way to ensure a foreigner can get local advice and find an agreement that suits his circumstances is to …

Read More

What do I need to acquire a House in Ireland Today?

Are you planning to acquire a house in Ireland? To those who are inexperienced with the procedure or are seeking to acquire a mortgage for the first time, it may seem lengthy and tiring. Obtaining a mortgage has never been straightforward; nevertheless, a combination of rising house prices and restrictive Central Bank credit criteria has made it extremely difficult in recent years. While various people will most likely take different techniques, specific broad guidelines, anyone can guarantee their application runs well.The first one is to ensure that your financial situation is well and that everything is accounted for. In addition to jobs and money, this may include goods such as home insurance and property valuation. It would be best to consider how long you have lived in Ireland, depending on the lender, and this may play a factor in their choice. Borrowers should also ensure that they have good credit and are not in excessive debt. Lenders are more likely to be wary of consumers with poor credit records since they seem less likely to repay their loans in …

Read More