Graham Barrett (BA LIB QFA)

It’s easy to fall for the perfect kitchen or dream garden at 11pm, but the smartest first step to owning a home is not clicking “save” on Daft, it is getting clear on your own numbers first.

Start here, not on Daft

Before you worry about bidding wars or viewing slots, focus on three things: your deposit, your borrowing power and what your bank accounts are actually saying about you. Once those are in good shape, Daft becomes a planning tool, not a source of stress.

1. Get your deposit in shape

Aim for at least 10% of the price of the home you are targeting. That can come from your own savings, a gift from family or the Help to Buy scheme, if you are buying a qualifying new build up to €500,000

Then add the “hidden” extras: roughly 1% of the price for stamp duty and around €3,000 for solicitor, valuation and other fees.

2. Know your real budget

Most first‑time buyers can borrow up to four times their gross annual income and up to 90% of the property price. Higher “exceptions” exist, but they are not guaranteed, so build your plan on what is typical, not on best‑case scenarios.

At 90% loan‑to‑value, if a combined income is €90,000, that points you towards homes around €400,000, needing a €40,000 deposit plus about €7,000 for costs. Your income sets the ceiling; the house price decides the deposit.

3. Prove you can handle the repayments

For about six months before you apply, try to show a clear pattern of rent and/or savings that is close to your future mortgage repayment. Lenders call this Proven Repayment Ability (PRA). It is one of the strongest signals that you are ready to move from doomscrolling to door keys.

At the same time, keep your accounts tidy: direct debits paid on time, no unpaid items and enough in the account to cover bills. Lenders notice the small things.

Why this beats Doomscrolling

When you know your figures, Daft stops being a guessing game.

You:

Search in the price ranges you can actually get approval for
Set realistic savings goals for deposit and costs
Avoid nasty surprises just when you are ready to go sale agreed

Ready to move past Daft and into a plan?

You do not need to wait until everything is “perfect” to talk to a broker. Getting advice early means you can adjust savings, tackle loans or improve PRA in good time instead of trying to fix everything under pressure.

A mortgage is a journey, and you do not have to navigate it alone.