Expat Exchange
Free MembershipSign In

Ireland Expat Forum

property market

New Topic Newest First
Shaunandelly
  10/5/2017 14:59 EST

Looking to buy in Ireland within the next 12 months. Getting the impression that buying is shall we say "difficult". Any experiences? Where's the hold up,useless solicitors?

DebAckley
  10/5/2017 20:52 EST

Hi! We tried to buy in Sneem, Co Kerry. The house was a "short sale" as they call it in the States. So we were told that it could take 6-12 months for the bank to clear the title and then have the right to up the price! We are retired (I have dual citizenship) but our pensions, etc were not considered earned income, so we couldn't get a mortgage due to that and mortgages needed to be paid off by age 64...we were 62 at the time. Unless you have cash,...it's crazy ( even the locals told us the banks were crazy!). Many folks are now holding on to their homes for sale, as prices are beginning to rise again. We came back to NY. Miss IE!

GeoBlueGeoBlue
Get Quote

GeoBlue is a trusted leader in international health insurance. Wherever your destination, GeoBlue can keep you and your family covered with the right health insurance. Get a GeoBlue Quote Today!

GeoBlueGeoBlue

GeoBlue is a trusted leader in international health insurance. Wherever your destination, GeoBlue can keep you and your family covered with the right health insurance. Get a GeoBlue Quote Today!
Get Quote

DebAckley
  10/5/2017 20:53 EST

Oh...I have to say the real estate agents were wonderful and helpful and we had a great lawyer too..it just didn't work out..

FlowerFairy
  10/5/2017 21:41 EST

Hi, if you read through my posts you will see our slant on buying in Ireland. We were cash buyers and genuinely wanted to retire to Ireland (mainly so we could use it as a base to travel) BUT the rain and the dysfunctional real estate system did us in in the end and we returned to Australia after 16 months (five offers, four building surveys). Having said all of that, each person finds things different and you should not be put off, just keep people's comments at the back of your mind. Good Luck!

FlowerFairy
  10/5/2017 21:46 EST

We found the Estate Agents useless, didn't give a toss! Told us to look for property and then if we found one in their listings, contact them and they would show us through. Here in Oz the Agents would put you in a car and drive you around showing you potential purchases. The Solicitor we were going to use was very helpful but again, the system is different they don't do as much for you as they do in Oz i.e. they will contact the other side if there is a problem with a building survey and negotiate between solicitors. In Ireland we found that one dealt through the Estate Agent and you us remember the are working for the Vendor. The only Estate Agent we found who was excellent was Elaine Spillane of Peninsula Properties based in Kilcrohane, Sheepshead Peninsula but again helpful as she was she was hampered by the Vendors being her clients, having said that she helped us the best she could.

KevinfromKinsaleviaNYC
  10/5/2017 22:02 EST

If you are foreign, best to pay all cash and make sure seller is motivated. Some are not. If you get an accepted offer, make sure listing is removed from market. Closing attorneys will move like molasses. That is how things work. Sellers try to play this game of separating furniture from real esate so make sure you are not buying any furnishings.

GeoBlueGeoBlue
Get Quote

GeoBlue is a trusted leader in international health insurance. Wherever your destination, GeoBlue can keep you and your family covered with the right health insurance. Get a GeoBlue Quote Today!

GeoBlueGeoBlue

GeoBlue is a trusted leader in international health insurance. Wherever your destination, GeoBlue can keep you and your family covered with the right health insurance. Get a GeoBlue Quote Today!
Get Quote

Shaunandelly
  10/8/2017 13:27 EST

We are cash buyers,but anticipate gazumping in a rising market. Re furnishings I’m assuming you mean removing them after agreeing them as part of the sale.

KevinfromKinsaleviaNYC
  10/8/2017 16:45 EST

Yes, gazumping is common but you can protect yourself by getting seller to confirm in writing their acceptance of your offer, demanding immediate removal of the listing from Daft, etc. and closing the sale ASAP. Due diligence on property often brings up issues and then you have to decide whether to live with them or not. Asking seller to legalize an extension of a house, e.g, will generally not be treated kindly unless the seller is VERY motivated.

For furniture, I am referring to the practice of including furniture in the sale and then allocating an excessive amount of the purchase price to this personal property. The result is that your tax basis in the property is lower and your potential capital gains tax liability is higher.

FlowerFairy
  10/8/2017 17:16 EST

Yes, BEWARE of the illegal (not approved) extensions. Ireland property is full of these illegal extensions. One house we put an offer in (4 bed 2 bath) turned out the whole top floor extension had not been approved. Vendors had priced the property as a 4 bed 2 bath but in effect it was only 3 bed 1 bath. Our building surveyor also said that if someone was sleeping in the new extension and there was a fire, basically it was illegal. Also the window height from the gutter did not confirm; i.e. if there is a fire one should be able to climb out of the window, hang on to the window ledge with feet on the gutter and hopefully be rescued. Our Building Surveyor said the whole top floor could only be classed as a 'storage area' and no-one should be sleeping up there. Another property we put an offer in the Vendors had put the septic tank in another place which would have needed Council approval (not to mention oil had leaked into their water source and it was contaminated and the plumbing from a toilet was not going into the septic). Also an extra couple of windows had been added without approval. Apparently from what we were told, Council only approves Plans no-one comes out and inspects the building while it is being constructed. Also it is often the case that the Vendors know they have illegal extensions and put in an application (sorry, I cannot remember what it is called) but still put their property on the market; Purchasers should not automatically assume approval will be granted. Building Surveyors who do Building Inspections for prospective Purchasers are now obliged to point out all the non-compliance issues if not, they face prosecution. As I said previously, the Irish Real Estate system is dysfunctional. It is a brave and very patient person who traverses it. Good Luck!

GeoBlue
GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

GeoBlueGeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

Living in Ireland GuideLiving in Ireland Guide

The passion that expats in Ireland have for their adoptive land is often truly amazing. Many get absolutely absorbed in the culture, the people and everything else that Ireland has to offer.

Ireland Forum Ireland Forum
Join our Ireland forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Ireland.

Contribute to Ireland Network Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Ireland.

Best Places to Live in Ireland Best Places to Live in Ireland

If you're considering a move to Ireland, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Ireland in 2023.

Healthcare in IrelandHealthcare in Ireland

Expats in Ireland face very specific timelines and rules when it comes to getting healthcare in Ireland. It's important to understand how this will impact your journey and your individual health before you decide to move to Ireland.

Cost of Living in IrelandCost of Living in Ireland

Expats offer insight into the cost of living in Ireland.

Moving to IrelandMoving to Ireland Guide

Expats moving to Ireland have a wide variety of options in terms of great places to live. People moving to Ireland for work, to retire or for any other reason can realize the life they imagine if they do enough research before taking the plunge.

Real Estate in IrelandReal Estate in Ireland

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Ireland.

Pros Cons of Living in IrelandPros & Cons of Living in Ireland

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Ireland.

Retiring in IrelandRetiring in Ireland

Advice for people retiring in Ireland.

10 Tips for Living in Ireland10 Tips for Living in Ireland

If you've recently arrived in Ireland, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Ireland.

GeoBlue
GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

GeoBlueGeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

Contribute to Ireland Network Contribute
Help others in Ireland by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Ireland.

Universal Tax Professionals
Universal Tax Professionals

Copyright 1997-2024 Burlingame Interactive, Inc.

Privacy Policy Legal