Ciarán O’Flaherty (QFA RPA)

For more than three decades, Irish Mortgage Corporation has been guiding first‑time buyers from that first “what if we could?” conversation to the day they collect the keys to their own home. The market has changed a lot since 1990, but our focus has not: to make the mortgage process as clear, manageable and successful as possible for people buying their first property.

Built for first‑time buyers

This article is written specifically for first‑time buyers – whether you are just starting to think about what you might be able to afford, or you are already saving and viewing properties and want to make sure you are choosing the right mortgage and support schemes.

If you are unsure where to start, or worried that your situation might be “too complicated”, you are exactly the kind of client we have been helping for over 36 years.

Your roadmap as a first‑time buyer

Buying your first home involves more than just finding a property you love. It is about understanding:

How much you can realistically borrow.
What deposit you will need and where it can come from.
Which state supports you may qualify for, such as Help to Buy (HTB) and the First Home Scheme (FHS) for new‑builds.
How lenders assess your income – especially if you have bonuses, overtime, are self‑employed or recently changed jobs.
What mortgage features matter most to you – lowest fixed rate, cashback, flexibility to overpay, or a combination.

At Irish Mortgage Corporation, we help first‑time buyers navigate all of these pieces. We explain what the banks look for in terms of repayment capacity, how your income will be assessed, and what level of deposit you will need to target. We then map out the options that best fit your circumstances and long‑term plans.

How IMC helps first‑time buyers

Our service to first‑time buyers is free; we do not charge you for advice or for handling your mortgage application. Instead, we work with you to:

Assess how mortgage‑ready you are right now.
Clarify your borrowing limits and any exceptions that might apply.
Guide you through all relevant first‑time buyer schemes, including HTB and FHS, and explain how they interact with your deposit and mortgage.
Compare the market on your behalf – looking at lowest fixed rates, cashback options, and other features that can make a real difference to your budget.
Manage the paperwork and communication with lenders, solicitors and estate agents, so you are not left figuring it out alone.

Whether you are a couple pooling deposits, a single buyer navigating the market alone, or someone with a more complex income profile, we tailor the approach to your situation. That is the same model we have used throughout several decades, refined over thousands of first‑time buyer cases.

Where our new calculators fit in

As part of our commitment to making the early stages of your journey clearer, we have recently launched an upgraded suite of online mortgage calculators on the IMC website. These tools are designed to give you a strong starting point before you even book a consultation.

For first‑time buyers, two tools are particularly useful:

Affordability Calculator: estimates how much you might be able to borrow on a home loan based on your income, outgoings and deposit, and gives you an indication of monthly repayments.
- Try it here: Affordability Calculator
Mortgage Calculator: lets you explore different loan amounts, terms and rates to see how your monthly payments could look in various scenarios.
- Try it here: Mortgage Calculator

These calculators are not a substitute for personalised advice, but they are an excellent way to start framing your budget, understand what price range might be realistic, and prepare smart questions before you speak to an advisor.

The benefit to you as a first‑time buyer

Using our calculators and then speaking to an IMC advisor gives you:

A clearer picture of how much you can borrow and what your monthly repayments might be.
Confidence that you are focusing on properties within a budget you can comfortably sustain.
A better understanding of what deposit you need, how schemes like Help to Buy and the First Home Scheme might boost your buying power, and which lenders are most likely to suit your profile.
Time saved – one comprehensive review instead of multiple separate bank meetings, with all your options compared side‑by‑side.
Peace of mind that you are not making major decisions in the dark, but with expert guidance from a team that has been helping first‑time buyers since 1990.

Don’t know where to start? Get in touch today

If you are wondering whether now is the right time to start, or simply do not know where to begin, the next step is a conversation.

I can guide you, just as we have guided thousands of first‑time buyers from initial enquiry to keys.

You can:

Explore your numbers first using our Affordability Calculator: https://irishmortgage.com/calculators/affordability-calculator/
Then contact Irish Mortgage Corporation for a free, no‑obligation chat about your first‑time buyer options.

We will help you understand your options, compare the right products and lenders, and support you right through to the day you get the keys to your first home.