- Thread starter robgil
- Start date
Schoolmarm
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We have one or two members with property in Ireland hopefully they will see this post. 8)
skier-hughes
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- Staffs, UK
To live or as a second home?
If to live, what about work? I have several friends who live around Europe, but have jobs which means they travel a fair bit anyway, or are internet based, so it doesn't matter where they live, but the bonus is we get to see some lovely places on our holidays!!!!
If to live, what about work? I have several friends who live around Europe, but have jobs which means they travel a fair bit anyway, or are internet based, so it doesn't matter where they live, but the bonus is we get to see some lovely places on our holidays!!!!
Penners
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- Suffolk, England
Any help here?
http://ocaoimh.ie/2006/09/17/buying-a-house-in-ireland-2/
http://www.propertyfile.net/howtobuy.htm
http://www.movetoireland.com/movepag/housbuy.htm
http://www.traceysolicitors.ie/first-time-faq.html
http://ocaoimh.ie/2006/09/17/buying-a-house-in-ireland-2/
http://www.propertyfile.net/howtobuy.htm
http://www.movetoireland.com/movepag/housbuy.htm
http://www.traceysolicitors.ie/first-time-faq.html
briany
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- Waterford, Ireland
Robgil, the situation with buying property in Ireland is largely the same as in the UK, though we don't often seem to have the same problems with the 'chain' as people buying/selling in the UK have. The whole process from the point of sale agreed generally takes several months at a minimum, even when the conveyancing and financing goes smoothly. Of course it is essential to go through a solicitor to undertake the title search and all the legal bumf that goes with purchasing a house.
The biggest challenge at the moment that the drastically diminished number of potential housebuyers in Ireland are facing is that of obtaining finance from the banks. The absolute hammering that Ireland's economy is taking as a result of the property bubble of the last ten years going pop combined with the financial crisis means that banks are being extremely cagey about lending, despite official protestations to the contrary. They want squeaky clean credit ratings plus all the other signs that a potential debtor will be able to meet the mortgage repayments, and are also looking for substantial deposits - probably somewhere in the region of 15% of the sale price, to cover the possibility of negative equity that the falling market is presenting.
The plus side of all this is that there are some pretty good bargains on the market at the moment, though that's not to say the market won't fall further - it probably will, but how far and for how long is anyone's guess. Certainly, anyone with the wherewithal to purchase at the moment should be demanding (and receiving) a, possibly substantial, discount on the asking price.
The house you're looking at is a nice example of the classic linear cottage that is to be found all over the country. Ireland is simply covered with a variety of traditional cottages in conditions ranging from pristinely restored, through not so nicely modernised to house-shaped piles of stones. Unfortunately, very very few Irish people have the knowledge or inclination to properly appreciate our vernacular built heritage so many of these gems have been left to collapse into ruin or flattened to make way for the bungalow blight that has wrecked our landscape. This has been exacerbated by appalling planning policies implemented (or not) by county councils, who have permitted vile monstrosities that pollute my delicate aesthetic sense and provide little or nothing in the way of support to those of us who revere everyday period property (there is a better appreciation of the larger landmark buildings). While there is protected listing of buildings, similar to the UK, it is very simplistic, misses out on vast numbers of architectural treasures, particularly in rural areas, and the lack of resources allocated to heritage officers means that actually getting anything done to the place that requires consent takes a prohibitive amount of time. There has been some progress in recent years, with a National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (http://www.buildingsofireland.ie) being underway (my own 1820s house, currently a shell while I undo years of bodged concrete-based work, is in there), but unless people's appreciation of our built heritage improves, the traditional irish cottage will, sadly, become more and more an endangered species.
With that little rant out of the way, when looking at a cottage like the above, bear in mind that it will have most likely been modernised using modern building materials and techniques, i.e. cement, plastic, gypsum etc. The usual culprits. This can lead to a whole host of problems (ususally damp-related) that a quick perusal of these pages presents. Also - I see that this place is right up in North Donegal, pretty much as far north in the country that you can go, so may be pretty isolated.
If you're interested in a place here, check out http://www.daft.ie, and http://www.myhome.ie, which have properties from most of the estate agents in the country, plus a host of other info. One of my favourite individual estate agents is Green Valley Properties, http://www.gvp.ie, who, in their own words "do not believe in the usual estate agent's double speak with which many of you will be acquainted. We like to call a spade a spade, not a long handled manual soil manipulator". They seem to focus on a range of smaller, traditional and cheaper properties, just the kind of thing you're looking at.
If your interest is in restoration, there are a limited number of suppliers of traditional materials and an even more limited number of craftsmen with the skills and knowledge that can be used in sympathetic restoration. They don't come cheap, neither, but they are to be found - there's another website with some good links - http://www.formerglory.ie. Of course, you can always do what I'm doing, get the whole lot done over years'n'years yourself. :| :|
Good luck if you do decide to buy here, don't forget to bring wellies.
Brian
The biggest challenge at the moment that the drastically diminished number of potential housebuyers in Ireland are facing is that of obtaining finance from the banks. The absolute hammering that Ireland's economy is taking as a result of the property bubble of the last ten years going pop combined with the financial crisis means that banks are being extremely cagey about lending, despite official protestations to the contrary. They want squeaky clean credit ratings plus all the other signs that a potential debtor will be able to meet the mortgage repayments, and are also looking for substantial deposits - probably somewhere in the region of 15% of the sale price, to cover the possibility of negative equity that the falling market is presenting.
The plus side of all this is that there are some pretty good bargains on the market at the moment, though that's not to say the market won't fall further - it probably will, but how far and for how long is anyone's guess. Certainly, anyone with the wherewithal to purchase at the moment should be demanding (and receiving) a, possibly substantial, discount on the asking price.
The house you're looking at is a nice example of the classic linear cottage that is to be found all over the country. Ireland is simply covered with a variety of traditional cottages in conditions ranging from pristinely restored, through not so nicely modernised to house-shaped piles of stones. Unfortunately, very very few Irish people have the knowledge or inclination to properly appreciate our vernacular built heritage so many of these gems have been left to collapse into ruin or flattened to make way for the bungalow blight that has wrecked our landscape. This has been exacerbated by appalling planning policies implemented (or not) by county councils, who have permitted vile monstrosities that pollute my delicate aesthetic sense and provide little or nothing in the way of support to those of us who revere everyday period property (there is a better appreciation of the larger landmark buildings). While there is protected listing of buildings, similar to the UK, it is very simplistic, misses out on vast numbers of architectural treasures, particularly in rural areas, and the lack of resources allocated to heritage officers means that actually getting anything done to the place that requires consent takes a prohibitive amount of time. There has been some progress in recent years, with a National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (http://www.buildingsofireland.ie) being underway (my own 1820s house, currently a shell while I undo years of bodged concrete-based work, is in there), but unless people's appreciation of our built heritage improves, the traditional irish cottage will, sadly, become more and more an endangered species.
With that little rant out of the way, when looking at a cottage like the above, bear in mind that it will have most likely been modernised using modern building materials and techniques, i.e. cement, plastic, gypsum etc. The usual culprits. This can lead to a whole host of problems (ususally damp-related) that a quick perusal of these pages presents. Also - I see that this place is right up in North Donegal, pretty much as far north in the country that you can go, so may be pretty isolated.
If you're interested in a place here, check out http://www.daft.ie, and http://www.myhome.ie, which have properties from most of the estate agents in the country, plus a host of other info. One of my favourite individual estate agents is Green Valley Properties, http://www.gvp.ie, who, in their own words "do not believe in the usual estate agent's double speak with which many of you will be acquainted. We like to call a spade a spade, not a long handled manual soil manipulator". They seem to focus on a range of smaller, traditional and cheaper properties, just the kind of thing you're looking at.
If your interest is in restoration, there are a limited number of suppliers of traditional materials and an even more limited number of craftsmen with the skills and knowledge that can be used in sympathetic restoration. They don't come cheap, neither, but they are to be found - there's another website with some good links - http://www.formerglory.ie. Of course, you can always do what I'm doing, get the whole lot done over years'n'years yourself. :| :|
Good luck if you do decide to buy here, don't forget to bring wellies.
Brian
thank you for the info guys and the very interesting links Brian. fortunately my partner and my self are cash buyers and cottages such as the example i first posted are well within our budget. its because of this and our jobs (plumber and nanny) we can basically look to buying anywhere within reason and being Irish my self Ireland is well within this reasoning , if push came to shove though we can borrow a 'top up' so to speak should we have to.
i have to admit though you do get so much more for your money in Ireland and with return tickets from as little as £15 it could well work out cheaper to fly to Ireland to view a house than it would be to drive to most of the houses i have looked at so far in Britain. :shock:
i am bidding on a house at auction on Wednesday but if it falls through for whatever reason , builders/renovation costs and quotes being one reason , i will certainly consider looking towards the emerald isle.
there is something lovely though about a whitewashed stone cottage in a rugged Irish landscape that brings a warm cosy shiver to my bones.
i have to admit though you do get so much more for your money in Ireland and with return tickets from as little as £15 it could well work out cheaper to fly to Ireland to view a house than it would be to drive to most of the houses i have looked at so far in Britain. :shock:
i am bidding on a house at auction on Wednesday but if it falls through for whatever reason , builders/renovation costs and quotes being one reason , i will certainly consider looking towards the emerald isle.
there is something lovely though about a whitewashed stone cottage in a rugged Irish landscape that brings a warm cosy shiver to my bones.
JoceAndChris
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- Lincolnshire
Good luck for Wednesday, I'm sure I'm not alone on this forum in wondering what your story will be- do keep us posted!
JoceAndChris said:
thankyou. we have spent the last two days up there talking to restoration people , thatchers , more restoration people , more thatchers , tree doctors ,drainage people and a very helpful conservation officer but if i am honest im not getting my hopes up , im sure it will probably sell for a lot more than i can afford. fingers crossed though.
Gareth Hughes
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robgil said:
excessively flattered and blushing under my sunburn now
chuckey
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- wenslydale
My brother in-law inherited his families country cottage, on the coast of Sheep Haven in Co. Donegal. This is in Eire but is the most NW tip of Ireland. It needs alot of work doing to it, can't sell it because of LOADs and LOADs of speculatively built brand new houses there, which no one can sell - Its a purely holiday area. He doesn't know what to do, not wanting to holiday in Eire. Caveat Emptor!
Frank
Frank
briany
Member
- Messages
- 29
- Location
- Waterford, Ireland
It's pretty difficult to sell any house in Ireland at the moment... It's a buyer's market.
briany
Member
- Messages
- 29
- Location
- Waterford, Ireland
oooo, check this one out.
http://www.gvp.ie/houses/letteragh1403/letteragh1403.html
Bliss.
http://www.gvp.ie/houses/letteragh1403/letteragh1403.html
Bliss.
briany
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- 29
- Location
- Waterford, Ireland
Not even if he/she wanted to these days. Many people in rural areas have been forced to put (green) plastic mailboxes in at the closest accessible point to main roads, thus depriving legions of farm dogs of their well-deserved exercise chasing postie out of it. Another rural institution falls to the grim wheels of progress.
JoceAndChris
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- Lincolnshire
I'd just like to shower my postie with some praise at this point. Our track is not dissimilar to the one in the photo. (though I'd like a river!) When we moved in and I suggested to him I could put a mailbox nearer our nearest road (about 2/3 of a mile away) he told me that he'd been coming up here for 20 years duckie and what would I want doing a thing like that for? People love driving up a rickety track and leaving the modern world behind.
That Irish cottage is adorable!
That Irish cottage is adorable!