The Complete Guide to Buying a House in Ireland 2026

Buying a home in Ireland involves more steps than most people expect. Here's your complete roadmap. Step 1: Sort your finances - First-time buyers need a minimum 10% deposit; second-time buyers typically need 20% (per Central Bank of Ireland mortgage rules) - Get mortgage approval in principle from your bank or broker - Budget for additional costs: solicitor fees, stamp duty, survey, moving Step 2: Start your search - Use Daft.ie and MyHome.ie to monitor the market - Register with estate agents in your target area - Be ready to act fast — good properties go quickly Step 3: Make an offer - Offers are made through the estate agent - Sale agreed is not legally binding — either party can still pull out - Instruct your solicitor immediately once sale agreed Step 4: Legal process (8-12 weeks) - Solicitor reviews contracts and title - Mortgage valuation carried out by your bank - Building survey or snagging survey commissioned - Contracts signed and deposit paid (usually 10%) - Closing day: balance paid, keys received Key costs to budget for: - Stamp duty: 1% on first €1m, 2% above €1m (applies to all buyers) - Solicitor fees: €1,500 – €2,500 - Land Registry: €400 – €800 - Survey: €150 – €600 - Moving costs: €500 – €2,000 - Immediate works (painting, flooring): varies Total additional costs beyond purchase price: typically €5,000 – €12,000 depending on property value and condition. Common mistakes to avoid: 1. Not getting mortgage approval before bidding 2. Skipping the survey to save money 3. Not comparing solicitor fees 4. Forgetting about stamp duty in the budget 5. Not leaving contingency for post-move works Source: Central Bank of Ireland mortgage rules, Revenue.ie stamp duty rates, Tailte Éireann Land Registry fees.