Buying a New House or Property in Ireland

Blanchardstown, Castleknock, Dublin City Centre

BUYING A NEW HOUSE, BUILD, OR PROPERTY IN IRELAND

EIGHT STEPS TO FOLLOW

If you have already chosen your new home or build, below is a brief guide to how it all happens. For further information, please feel free to telephone our conveyancing solicitors at 01-8272888 or use the quick enquiry form here for help on buying a new home in Blanchardstown, Dublin, or anywhere in Ireland.

1. Booking Deposit*

Once you have paid your booking deposit [see info panel below] you will need to give your conveyancing solicitor’s name to the auctioneer in order that they may instruct the solicitors for the builder to forward us building agreements/contracts for sale and vouching documentation.

2. Loan Approval

In the meantime, you should be attending to the matter of Loan Approval and you will need to instruct your Mortgage Broker / Lender of the full purchase price, the property address, and your Solicitor details in order that they issue the complete letter of offer of loan approval (i.e. not loan approval in principle).

3. Planning Enquiries

We would also advise at this time that it is important that you make enquiries as to the planning in the area and the likely future development of the locality. The best way to find out this information is to enquire personally with the Planning Department of the Local Authority offices to inspect the planning file and ascertain the development plan, the zoning of the area, and any planning application in the local area that may affect the property.

At the relevant Planning Department, you can inspect and ascertain the following:

  • The Planning File
  • The Development Plan
  • The zoning of the area
  • Road development
  • Planning Applications in the local area

You should attend to any planning queries you may have before the execution of Contracts. Once you execute Contracts you will be bound to purchase the property and as you are intending on making the locality your home for many years to come it is important that you are satisfied with any proposed development for the locality.

In April 2012 the Department of the Environment, Community, and Local Heritage launched the website myplan.ie providing free access to zoning in some developments and local area plans.

You may wish also to check out this online service to view what information is available there regarding matters such as flooding, census, and other information that may be of assistance if it covers the area where you intend to purchase.

4. Contracts for Sale

Once we receive the Contracts, our conveyancing solicitors will contact you and when your written loan approval is to hand, we will make an appointment for you to attend this office for the purpose of executing Contracts for Sale and payment of the balance deposit.

5. Estimate of Completion Date

When the contracts and balance deposit are returned to the builder’s solicitors the agreement to purchase is binding and it is a matter of waiting until the house is completed.

Standard contracts for new houses do not specify completion dates and provide for the house to be completed within 18 months of signing thus any indication of completion given is an estimate only.

6. Obtaining a Completion Notice

Once the house has been completed, the builder will issue us with a Completion Notice and we will immediately contact you to advise you of the same. We would advise you to obtain the services of an architect/surveyor to draw up a snag list which should be sent to the builder for completion prior to the closing of the sale.

7. Getting your loan cheque

You must also attend directly with your bank/building Society to all items necessary to have your loan cheque issued in time for closing such as your direct debit mandate, house insurance, etc.

8. Get your keys!

We will then arrange to draw down your loan cheque and make an appointment to attend at the offices of the builders’ solicitors for the purpose of completion of this transaction at which time our fees will be payable and you will get the keys after buying a new home!

*BOOKING DEPOSIT ADVISORY

As a general rule, there is no binding contract for the sale/purchase of a property until a contract has been signed by both the vendor and the purchaser.

Before meeting your solicitor care must be taken to ensure that you do not unintentionally find yourself in a contractual situation and you should take early legal advice to protect your position when looking to buy or sell a property. 

You should not give the vendor or the auctioneer, any documents signed by you, otherwise, you may unintentionally find that you have, committed yourself to a legally binding agreement without intending to do so.

For this reason, Carmody Moran Solicitors strongly recommends that any booking deposit when buying a new home is paid through your Solicitors.

Contact our property solicitors in our Blanchardstown office today at 01-8272888 or use the quick enquiry form here to get help when buying your new home.

Frequently Asked Questions Buying a New House or Buying a New Property in Ireland

1: What is the purpose of a booking deposit when purchasing a new house or property?

A booking deposit is a sum of money paid by the buyer to secure the property. It indicates the buyer’s serious intent to purchase and temporarily take the property off the market.

2: What steps should I follow after making the booking deposit payment?

After paying the booking deposit, you should inform your conveyancing solicitor of the transaction. They will then liaise with the builder’s solicitors to receive the necessary contracts and documentation.

 

3: How can I obtain loan approval for buying a new property?

To secure loan approval, you must provide your mortgage broker or lender with details such as:

  • the full purchase price
  • property address
  • your solicitor’s information

This ensures you receive a complete loan approval offer, not just approval in principle.

 

4: What planning inquiries should I conduct before purchasing a property?

Before buying a property, it’s crucial to inquire about the:

  • area’s planning details and
  • future development prospects

Visit the Planning Department of the Local Authority to access information such as the Planning File, Development Plan, zoning, road development, and local planning applications.

 

5: What key information should I inspect at the Planning Department of the Local Authority?

During your visit to the Planning Department, focus on gathering details about the:

  • Planning File
  • Development Plan
  • zoning regulations
  • road development plans
  • and any recent planning applications relevant to your intended property purchase

 

6: What are the differences between joint tenants and tenants in common when co-purchasing property?

When co-purchasing property:

Joint tenants collectively own the property, and if one owner passes away, their share automatically goes to the other owner(s). In contrast, tenants in common can specify ownership percentages and can leave their share to whomever they choose in their will.

 

7: How can a co-ownership agreement protect my interests when buying property with a friend?

When buying property with a friend, a co-ownership agreement outlines financial responsibilities, dispute resolution procedures, and ownership percentages. It helps protect your investment, clarifies expectations, and provides a framework for handling various scenarios.

8: What are the potential tax implications of co-purchasing property with a friend?

Co-purchasing property may have tax implications.

It’s advisable to consult with a tax professional to understand property tax and capital gains tax responsibilities based on your co-ownership arrangement.

 

9: What is the typical timeframe for completing a new property purchase in Ireland?

The completion timeframe can vary but often takes several weeks. It involves steps such as:

  • signing contracts
  • waiting for the property to be completed (usually within 18 months)
  • and finalizing the transaction
10: What role does an architect or surveyor play in the property-buying process?

An architect or surveyor can

inspect the property
identify issues or defects (known as a snag list)
and work with the builder to ensure necessary corrections are made before the sale is closed

Their expertise helps ensure the property meets your expectations and standards.

 

Let us take it from here

Your Expert Conveyancing Claims Legal Team in Blanchardstown

At Carmody Moran Solicitors our experienced property and conveyancing solicitors are on hand to advise and skilled in buying a new home or property in Dublin or anywhere in Ireland.

The two partners of Carmody Moran Solicitors in Blanchardstown have a combined total of in excess of twenty five years professional legal experience. Together with their associates they aim to make the Court process as straight forward and navigable as possible while being on hand to alleviate their clients concerns and worries about going through the Court process.

Anthony-Carmody-Solicitor-Dublin

Anthony Carmody

Partner

Anthony Carmody is one of the founding Partners of Carmody Moran Solicitors.

He has significant experience in personal injury cases and general litigation having handled literally thousands of cases on behalf of clients based in Ireland and abroad.

Niamh-Moran-Family-Law-Solicitor-Dublin

Niamh Moran

Partner

Niamh Moran is one of the founding partners of Carmody Moran Solicitors and is a solicitor with wide ranging experience across all areas of general practice.

Niamh manages the family lawconveyancing in Dublin, and probate divisions of the practice. Niamh’s practice of law is extremely varied and she is regularly sought out for her expertise by clients and colleagues alike.

*While we have made every effort to provide accurate information, the law is always changing and it affects each person differently. This information is not a substitute for specific advice about you personally and it is not intended as legal advice. We will not be liable to you if you rely on this information. In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement. This statement is made in compliance with Reg.8 of SI 518 of 2002.

You should note that no solicitor/client relationship or duty of care or liability of any nature shall exist or be deemed to exist between Carmody Moran Solicitors and you until you have received a written letter of engagement from us in which we confirm our appointment as your Solicitors.

INDEPENDENT GOOGLE CLIENT REVIEWS

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Very professional experienced team who run a friendly and efficient practice. I found them to be very astute and knowledgeable in our discussions about Litigation. Their advice made me rethink my actions and helped me settle an issue without any unnecessary actions or outlays.
Response from the owner: Dear Michael. Thank you for your positive review of our legal services at Carmody Moran Solicitors, Blanchardstown office. We will always do our utmost to ensure that we meet our client's expectations and to give them prompt and practical legal advice in all our areas of legal practice whether that be family law, property sales and purchases, probate or litigation. I have passed on your comments to the team and they are all delighted that you were happy with our legal service to you. Best regards, Tony, Niamh and all the team at Carmody Moran Solicitors, Blanchardstown.
We recently purchased our house through Carmody Moran and they were great to deal with. They were there each step of the way and really helped close the purchase within a short time frame. Thanks for everything!
Carmody Moran performed the conveyancing for my apartment purchase. My solicitor Caila Ryan was extremely diligent and professional. She did a great job guiding me through the process and offering advice. I really appreciated all of the documentation she provide me with. I would have no hesitation in recommending them.
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