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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“Covid Effect” continues to drive up Irish house prices

The sharp increase in Irish house prices over the past year could continue in the near future, analysts say. In a recent survey of estate agents, four out of five surveyed predicted that national property prices would rise in the next year. The same survey also found that prices in some regions could rise by as much as 7 percent.

However, the rise in prices is most significant outside of Dublin. While experts predicted a rise of 4 percent in Dublin, a sharper increase is projected in areas outside the capital city. In Leinster, the rise is expected to be 6 percent, and prices are expected to increase by as much as 7 percent in Munster, Connacht and Ulster.

The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) and the Central Bank of Ireland Residential Property Price Survey was conducted in May, surveying over 200 estate agents. In this survey, the estate agents blamed the higher price forecast on homes outside of Dublin on the “covid effect”. The experts said that covid lockdowns and remote work situations have increased the attractiveness of …

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Smart Home Technology Pros and Cons

 

With each passing day, technology is advancing and adopting smart home technology is becoming a necessity in Ireland. In the past, a smart home was considered a luxury but today, it has grown to be an essential part of life. In this article, we are going to look at the pros and cons of smart home technology.

Pros

Convenience

The first advantage of smart home technology is convenience. Essentially, all systems within the home can be integrated, automated and customized to your needs. A smart home technology can enable you to interact with various electronic systems or gadgets. Whether you need to turn up the thermostat in the evening before you arrive home or monitoring security, smart home technology has got you covered.

Efficiency

The second advantage is efficiency. With a mobile app or a touch of a button, you are able to control various systems or gadgets in your house. With the help of a smart home technology, you are able to efficiently operate your home’s temperature, lighting, or other appliances with a single click from …

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What are the Best Real Estate Investments in Ireland

 

Introduction

Real estate is one of the oldest assets that has existed for many centuries. Kings, noblemen, kingdoms, and chiefdoms used the land as a form of exchange or compensation during wars and gave the royal families as a sign of reward. Over the years, real estate has become the most profitable business idea for those who can invest heavily in land or real estate and wait for it to appreciate over time. Moreover, factors such as urbanization have made it more beneficial and appealing than investing in the stock market. It is three times more likely than any other business to make money, in my opinion.

Best types of investments

In Ireland, there are many types of real estate investments namely:

Physical property investments

Physical property investment can often yield high returns with these categories and requires more significant initial investment and patience for property to appreciate. The best type of investment are as follows:

Residential real estate.

Building houses where people can live is an excellent investment because of the population growth and rental housing demand …

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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, …

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4 Important Renovations to Increase the Value of your Home

 

If you are thinking about renovating your house, you need to begin by asking yourself if the project will add value to the property or not. There are many different quick and easy renovations which may change your home into an attractive, modern, and functional space. Even better, when you later sell the property, the return on investment will be really high. These are 4 renovations that will make your home more functional and modern. 

Bathroom renovations

Without a doubt, the your bathroom is one of the most important spaces in the home. When the bathroom is new, it can give off a good feeling of cleanliness. When you begin the process of renovating the home, ensure that the design is clean and that it has modern lines. Additionally, be sure to have grey and white colors at the center stage. Apart from a spacious shower, remember to paint the tiles, improve lighting, and install new fixtures. 

Kitchen remodeling

Kitchen renovation is one that adds the most value to your home since it transforms the space to a more …

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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 …

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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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Looking to buy a home? Here are 5 things to avoid

Thanks to the internet, the buying of property is now an easy process in Ireland. There is plenty of information that is available for you whenever you wish to undertake a research on the process of buying a home. Despite this being the case, many people in Ireland fall into common traps. This posts aims to highlight five major things to avoid so that you can purchase your next property in a stress-free manner.

Ignoring the math

Without a doubt, the most important step to take when considering to buy a home is working out exactly the amount of money you will have to spend to purchase it. While this can be very obvious, a majority of people do not often work out the amount of money they would need to spend, and this leave many of them facing serious financial shocks later down the line. One of the most common mistakes is concentrating only on both the deposit and the purchase price without knowing that there are other fees like survey fees, solicitor’s fee, and Stamp Duty. The …

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What will the Local Property Tax changes mean for you?

On 2 June 2021, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe confirmed the details of the Local Property Tax (LPT) changes. Once the changes go into effect on 1 November, the government estimates that just over a third (36 percent) of property owners will see an increase on their bill, just over half (53 percent) will see no change at all, and 11 percent will see their tax payments reduced.

First off, what is the Local Property Tax? The Local Property Tax was introduced in 2013, and it is an annual charge on all residential properties in the State. Basically, if you own a residential property, you will have to pay this tax. The charges are currently based on self-assessed valuations carried out in 2013. The amount you pay is based on the valuation of your property, and there are 20 different LPT bands, with the lowest two having fixed rate charges of €90 and €225. The problem with these valuations is that property prices have surged since 2013, while the valuations of property for LPT purposes have not changed since 1 May 2013. …

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