We think it’s a fantastic plan for you to own real estate in Ireland, whether your plans involve making a permanent move there or just taking occasional vacations there. There are many advantages to relocating to Ireland, such as a common language (albeit it may seem more poetic with an Irish accent) and a short amount of time needed to go everywhere, but there is also a stunning landscape to discover and a vibrant culture to learn about.
Have you always wanted to make Ireland your permanent home? Well, it doesn’t have to be a pipe dream to buy a house in Ireland; in fact, you can make it happen with some careful preparation and research. This manual has been compiled to assist you in understanding the procedure.
For over a decade, we’ve helped countless consumers navigate the complexities of Irish real estate markets. With our guidance and the support of our reliable partners, you can easily avoid common real estate mistakes and walk away with the keys to your new house.
The first step in purchasing Irish real estate is to consider why you want to purchase a home in Ireland, after which you can start to consider our well-thought-out, step-by-step buying procedure.
Do you still have doubts? Consider some of the following arguments in favor of purchasing real estate in Ireland.
Numerous employment possibilities
Ireland’s job market is booming, making it a great place to start a new career or take on a more challenging role. Ireland is now home to the international headquarters of a number of large companies. Success has been aided by its closeness to the UK, the population’s fluency in English, and its low corporate tax rate. Most businesses operate in the information technology, banking, and healthcare sectors. Getting hired won’t be a problem if you have the correct set of abilities. Your next interesting professional move may be to Ireland.
Natural settings
In contrast to England’s 420 persons per square kilometer, Ireland only has 67. Having space to breathe isn’t the only benefit of a population reduction of six times. It gives you a place to call your own, with room for a big garden, less cars on the road, a cleaner environment, and a spot on a deserted beach. The mild weather all year round makes trekking in this nation a must-do. You won’t be able to resist putting on your hiking boots and heading outside when faced with such breathtaking scenery.
Ireland makes up for its little size with a stunning natural landscape. The beautiful landscape will inspire you to venture outside again and again. Due to its compact size and well-developed road system, the United States is an ideal destination for weekend getaways or even day trips. There are dozens of national parks and thousands of miles of well-known hiking paths, including the Wicklow Way, the Kerry Way, and the Wild Atlantic Way. You won’t have to go very far from any major city or town to find a good network of nearby hiking trails.
Quite a few activities are available
Because of the Irish penchant for socializing over good eats, drinks, and music, Ireland’s events calendar is jam-packed with exciting gatherings throughout the year. Every month, somewhere in the United States will host a festival celebrating cuisine, music, literature, or the arts.
Participating in these activities is a great opportunity to learn about new places, experience authentic Irish culture, and meet new people. Multiple food-related celebrations take place each month. Galway International Oyster and Seafood Festival, Dalkey Lobster Festival, Bloom in the Park, and Connemara Mussel Festival are just a few of the highlights.
Music festivals occur often and feature a wide variety of genres, including folk, jazz, rock, and electronica. The Cork Jazz Festival, the Electric Picnic, and the Fleadh Cheoil, the greatest yearly festival of Irish music, are all excellent options for music fans. If poetry or literature is more your speed, you won’t want to miss the likes of the Cork Spring Poetry Festival, Limerick Literary Festival, or Mountains to Sea. The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival in Kilkenny City is a must-visit for any fan of the hilarious.
The economy is thriving.
Ireland’s economy continues to thrive, with GDP expansion of 8.3 percent in 2018. The GDP growth rate was the highest in Europe and the world’s fourth highest. The domestic economy is being propelled by rising employment and pay levels, (modest) tax cuts, and low consumer price index inflation. This is excellent news for individuals considering purchasing real estate in Ireland.
Affordable home costs
Ireland has some great real estate deals if you’re on a tight budget and don’t have to stay in a specific area because of your job. Although property values are low, rental costs are high. This implies that in recent years, Europe has offered the best rental returns for buy-to-let investors. They’re light years ahead of the UK in quality.
The cheapest homes can be found in County Roscommon, with an average price tag of €102,000 (£91,086), and the most expensive homes can be located in County Longford, with an average price tag of €117,000 (£104,481). You may also discover cheap real estate in Sligo, Roscommon, and Mayo, and if land is what you’re looking, you can find enough of it there.
Superb conditions for golfers
People from all over the world travel to Ireland so they may play golf on the island’s world-famous courses. Approximately 385,000 individuals play golf at least once a year, and over €540 million is spent yearly on the sport. Golf at the same courses as world-class players like Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, and Paul McGinley with the hopes of picking up some of their skills.
Golfers may choose from a wide variety of courses that are all very well-kept and built around the country. The Royal Dublin Golf Club, Stackstown, and The Grange are all excellent courses in the Dublin area. The European Club, located in Portmarnock in County Wicklow, has held several Irish Opens. The scenery is very beautiful to play golf in, and the after-round celebration at the 19th hole is sure to be exciting.
Yummy food
Ireland’s lush landscape, proximity to the sea, and regular rainfall contribute to its reputation as a culinary powerhouse. It should come as no surprise that Ireland’s dairy and beef products are among the best in the world, and the country’s many fishing communities ensure that anybody looking for a cheap and fresh fish dinner can find it along the coast. Traditional Irish cuisine includes several fan favorites such Irish stew, colcannon, boxty, coddle, and bacon and cabbage. There are a large number of restaurants in Ireland that have earned Michelin stars.
Easily accessible
You can be back in the UK in just an hour and without spending too much money, whenever you leave. There are five major airports in Ireland that serve cities in neighboring countries like England and Scotland. Flights may be booked for less than the cost of a nice meal if you plan ahead. This implies that there is no reason for people to put off paying you a visit. You may also drive your car onto the ship.
Worried that Brexit may derail your dream of relocating to Ireland? If you want to know if this is still a realistic goal, you should read up on our guidance about Ireland and the Brexit.
Your six-month strategy for purchasing an Irish home
Creating a timeline for purchasing a property in Ireland is essential. But how do you actually map it out, and what exactly are the major checkpoints?
Our knowledge informs us that the best way to determine the start date is to first determine the end date. These are the most crucial details to incorporate. The best approach to ensure you haven’t forgotten anything is to use the checklists as you go through the procedure.
In the final six months…
Narrow down your search by reading up on the newest property news in Ireland, considering why you want to move, where you’d want to live, and what kind of home might fit.
Start looking for an estate agent, solicitor, currency specialist, and financial consultant to assist you with your property purchase.
Get your moving costs estimated. Consult a mortgage broker to determine if pre-approval is necessary.
Five months from now…
With only five months remaining, now is the time to start a thorough search for a home and maintain communication with your estate agent in Ireland.
Consult a lawyer about the optimal buying arrangement.
At the four-month mark…
Get in touch with real estate agents to set up viewings and start narrowing down your selection of potential homes. These trips often last a few days and consist of travelling between many potential homes.
Verify with your lawyer and currency expert that everything is in order. If you locate a place on your vacation that you truly fall in love with, you’ll want to be prepared to act quickly in order to acquire your ideal house.
With only three months left…
Get a jump on researching and talking to experts on any tax or inheritance concerns you’ll need to handle as part of your transfer.
Do your homework on local home values so you can negotiate effectively, and keep scheduling showings if necessary.
When you’ve finally discovered the perfect home, it’s time to make an offer and be ready to haggle.
Get the money transferred and ready to pay for the property. A forward contract with your currency expert will allow you to lock in a fixed exchange rate for a period of 12 months. This will shield you from the effects of currency market swings.
With two months to go, now is the time to start inquiring with local businesses about scheduling a property study.
Signing a contract for sale after an offer has been accepted legally commits both parties to go through with the sale.
Put down your money and sign the deposit agreement.
Get the utilities connected to your new home and stock up on food and other necessities before you move to Ireland.
Sign the agreement and submit the final payment.
Get the keys, and start packing.
When looking to purchase a home in Ireland, what should one keep in mind?
In your enthusiasm, you may be tempted to jump right into scheduling appointments to see houses that seem promising at first glance. This is something that many individuals do, but it only slows down the search process. Why? After seeing a few houses, they realize that none of them are perfect, so they adjust their standards once further.
For this reason, it is recommended that, before beginning your search for a house in Ireland, you create a detailed list of the features that are most important to you. And the answers to these five inquiries will help you get there.
Things to Think About
I’m curious as to why you’d like to become an Irish homeowner.
Write out exactly what it is you want to accomplish. Your quest will have more purpose after reading this. Take some time to sit down and put in writing exactly why it is that you need to relocate. Reasons might range from wanting to start a new chapter in life now that the kids are all grown up and out of the house to being priced out of a larger property in the UK. It’s possible that your pension will stretch farther in Ireland, and you certainly would not want to live with the regret of never having tried.
What plans do you have for the land?
First, you need to establish your housing priorities. Is it for lengthy weekends you’re after? You ought to be in close proximity to a major airport. Is this going to be your final stop? You won’t have to stress over finding a place to live that also has rental possibilities. Honesty is required. If weekend visits are something you’d want to do but seldom do, you might be able to save money by purchasing further away from public transportation.
How much is the most you can pay?
Know roughly what you can spend from the beginning so that your estate agent may offer houses within your price range and you can save money as moving day approaches. Add an extra 10% to cover the additional expense of purchasing.
Keep in mind that the currency used for real estate transactions in Ireland is the euro. The news-reported, interbank exchange rate is not available to you. It will give you a somewhat different result because it isn’t open to the public. If you want to get the most out of the deal, talking to a currency expert is your best bet.
Tell me about the essentials in your house.
Before beginning your search for a house in Ireland, it is important to establish a list of must-haves. Tell me about the house of your dreams. Do you prefer a big backyard or a swimming pool? Is a beach, rural area, or big city more your speed? Is being able to hop on foot to your favorite watering hole a must? If it could be improved in any way, what would it be?
Which items absolutely cannot be allowed in your house?
Determining what you absolutely do not want will aid real estate brokers in avoiding showing you inappropriate properties. Would the chilly Irish weather make you feel uncomfortable in a medieval cottage? Do you fear that you’ll be stuck doing things like cooking and upkeep if you buy a place with a lot of land or more rooms? Say it out loud and make it plain now!
Where in Ireland will you make your home?
Though smaller than the United Kingdom, Ireland yet has a rich cultural landscape. In addition, the population density is significantly lower, and housing is much cheaper; this means you may afford a larger property with a garden and perhaps even an empty beach.
But with so many cheap homes available all throughout the country, where should you start your search? Browse our many properties for sale across Ireland.
