Buying property in Ireland as a UK foreigner

Dreaming of moving to Ireland? It’s easy to see why so many UK expats head to the Emerald Isle, with its breathtaking scenery, buzzing cities and affordable property. And it’s just a short hop from the UK, so you’re never too far from friends and family.

But just how easy is it to buy property in Ireland as a foreigner? Here, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know. This includes property prices in Ireland, the best places to live, how to get a mortgage and much more.

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Buying property in Ireland as a foreigner - a step-by-step guide

Before you start your house hunt, it can be useful to know a little about how the process of buying property works in Ireland.

The good news is that it’s very similar to the UK. Here’s a quick overview of the steps involved:

1. Arrange your finances and speak to a mortgage advisor to see if you can get pre-approval for a mortgage. It may also be worth seeing if you can open an Irish bank account or an international account in euros (EUR), as it could make transactions easier.
2. Find a solicitor
3. Start house hunting - if you don’t live in Ireland, you might need to arrange one or more viewing trips
4. Choose a property and make an offer - if accepted, the property will become Sale Agreed and you’ll need arrange a transfer to pay a booking deposit to the estate agent
5. Get a building survey carried out
6. Sign the contract for sale - this is prepared by the estate agent and solicitor, and binds both parties to the completion of the transaction.
7. Requisitions on Title are carried out by your solicitor and drafted into a Deed of Conveyance
8. Get mortgage approval, exchange contracts and pay all relevant taxes
9. Get the keys and move in.

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What’s the property market like in Ireland?

Property prices in Ireland have continued to rise in 2025, increasing by nearly 8% year-on-year as of May 2025. This is driven by an ongoing imbalance between high demand and limited supply of properties.⁴

This could mean stiff competition and a potentially higher purchase cost for your dream home.

Can foreigners buy property in Ireland?

The great news for non-Irish citizens is that there aren’t any nationality or residency restrictions on who can buy property in Ireland. This means that foreigners should face no hurdles when it comes to buying a home.

Can you buy property in Ireland and get residency?

No, there’s no direct route to residency in Ireland if you buy property there.

Ireland used to have a Golden Visa scheme, through which non-EU nationals could obtain residency through a real estate investment. However, the scheme was officially scrapped in 2023.⁵

This means that if you want to move to Ireland permanently, you’ll need to pursue another residency pathway.

How much are the property prices in Ireland?

The price of property in Ireland varies considerably, depending on property type, location and whether you buy in a thriving major city like Dublin or a more rural spot.

On average though, property in Ireland tends to be around 8.8% to 11.9% cheaper than the UK - depending on whether you buy in or outside of a city centre.⁶

To help you plan your budget, here are average property prices in popular locations across the country:⁷

Location	Median price (EUR)
Dublin City	469,000
Fingal	460,000
South Dublin	469,999
Cork	369,999
Limerick	330,000
Galway	340,000
Waterford	299,000
Donegal	190,000
Sligo	255,000

Another thing to note when figuring out the price for property in Ireland is that international transfers could get expensive, especially if the bank or provider adds a margin to the exchange rate to convert your pounds into euros.

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Where is the cheapest place to buy property in Ireland?

Generally speaking, the areas of Donegal, Sligo and Waterford tend to have some of the cheapest property prices in Ireland.

You may also be able to find affordable property in Leitrim, Longford or Roscommon.

📚 Read more: The cost of living in Ireland

Can you get a mortgage from an Irish bank as a non-resident?

It’s usually much easier to get a mortgage from an Irish lender if you’re already living in Ireland, or are an Irish citizen.

If you’re a foreigner and are living abroad, you may find it difficult. What’s more, most UK banks would be unlikely to give you a mortgage on a property in Ireland or any other overseas property.

Luckily, there are some solutions available. The first is to choose an Irish lender which has a strong presence in the UK. A mortgage broker with expertise in both UK and Irish markets can help you track down the right lender.

You can also move to Ireland for a short time before you purchase your property. Lenders may prefer you to have a track record of living in Ireland for at least six months, and working there for at least 12 months.¹

Once you’ve found a mortgage you’re eligible for, here are the key facts you need to know before you apply:²

• You can only borrow up to 3.5 times your gross income, although there are some exceptions for first-time buyers. If your income is not in euros, this can also affect how much you can borrow.
• You must provide a deposit of at least 10% - this increases to at least 30% for non-residents
• You’ll need to pass a mortgage ‘stress test’, which looks at your income and spending habits
• You must have both home and life insurance to protect the mortgage.

It’s a good idea to start shopping around for mortgages before starting your property search in earnest. You might want to use a broker, who can help you find the right mortgage for you. Simply having someone on your side who speaks Irish and really understands the system can pay dividends.

Taxes and fees for owning property in Ireland

Alongside the property price, you also need to budget for the fees and taxes involved in your Irish property purchase.

Here’s a quick overview of the main costs involved in buying property in Ireland:³

Tax/fee name	Rate/fee
Legal fees	Varies, but flat fees start from €900 EUR and percentage fees from 1%
Mortgage valuation fee	€150 to €200 EUR
Stamp duty	1% on up to €1 million, 2% after that
Land registry fees	€400 to €800 EUR depending on property value + €40 EUR title plan fee and €175 EUR mortgage fee
Search fees	€150 EUR
Commissioner for Oaths/notary fee	€44 EUR
Annual property taxes	Varies by area and property value

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How can you find a property in Ireland?

The two main routes to find property to buy in Ireland are local real estate agencies and online property websites.

Property agencies and agents in Ireland

If you’re living in the UK, it could be useful to use an estate agent based in Ireland. A professional property expert or agency who understands the market can hunt down suitable properties on your behalf, and help you understand the buying process.

To find a property agent in Ireland, start at the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) website. Here, you’ll find a list of licensed estate agents.

You can also visit the Golden Pages website (the Irish equivalent of the UK’s Yellow pages) or do an online search for agents operating in areas you’re interested in.

Property websites in Ireland

You can also start your property hunt yourself, by entering your criteria and searching on major Irish property websites such as:

• Daft.ie
• MyHome.ie
• Property.ie
• FindAHome.ie
• Rightmove Ireland

What are some of the pitfalls of buying property in Ireland?

One of the main things to watch out for when buying property in Ireland, or in any other country, are scams.

To avoid scams and other pitfalls, make sure to get local advice and recommendations for a broker. You should also check for membership of a professional body when working with any property experts, brokers or agents.

Other things to watch out for include:

• Be cautious and do your homework (including meeting or speaking to the seller) before sending money or a deposit
• Ensure that the seller has the legal right to sell the property
• It’s strongly recommended to use an accredited conveyancer/solicitor for all legal checks and paperwork, whether you’re buying or selling property in Ireland
• Get an inspection/survey carried out if you have any concerns about the property.

How do you choose the right property in Ireland?

The property type you choose will depend on your needs, family size and budget, as well as the housing stock available in your target destination in Ireland.

Condition of the property

Getting a qualified surveyor in to inspect the property you want to buy is essential. After all, the Regency property you’ve fallen in love with could be hiding some serious structural issues.

Just like in the UK, there’s no legal obligation in Ireland for either the seller or their estate agent to disclose any issues with the condition of the property. So, you’ll need to appoint an independent surveyor to carry out a building inspection. You can find one using the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) register.

There are three types of survey, each providing an increasing level of detail:⁸

• Type 1 - a simple walk-through of the property and summary report
• Type 2 - a more thorough inspection, checking things like insulation, drains, boundaries and planning issues.
• Type 3 - a comprehensive survey, where the surveyor tests things like central heating, accesses service hatches and lifts floorboards.

Moving into your Irish property

Before you can get the keys to your new home, you’ll have a few key tasks to run through.

These include taking out insurance, setting up your utilities and carrying out any energy efficiency renovations.

Insurance

It’s strongly recommended to take out a buildings insurance policy starting from your completion date. In fact, you might find it's a mandatory condition of your mortgage offer.

Setting up utilities

If you know when your completion date will be, it makes sense to get some essentials set up in advance of moving in.

A prime example is utilities, such as heating, power and water. Get these sorted as early as you can, and the moving process should be a little smoother.

Energy efficiency renovations

If you’ve bought an older property, you might want to make some energy efficiency improvements to it. For example, upgrading the heating system or improving the insulation of the walls, loft and floors.

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And that’s it - our comprehensive guide to buying property in Ireland for foreigners.

We’ve covered all the essentials, so you should be all set to start your search and navigate the buying process in complete confidence. Good luck!

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Sources used:

1. Money Guide Ireland - Buying a House in Ireland While Living Abroad
2. Online Mortgage Advisor - Getting a Mortgage In Ireland
3. Property Guides - How to buy property in Ireland
4. Global Property Guide - Ireland’s Residential Property Market Analysis 2025
5. BBC News - Ireland's 'golden visa' programme to be scrapped
6. Numbeo - Cost of Living Comparison Between United Kingdom and Ireland
7. Central Statistics Office - Residential Property Price Index August 2025
8. SCSI - Building Survey

Sources last checked 24-Nov-2025