Commenting on yesterday’s RTE article, over 10,000 home buyers across all 26 counties have now been approved under the First Home Scheme, according to new figures reported by RTÉ. This marks a significant and encouraging milestone for first-time buyers who have a deposit and mortgage approval in place but still face a gap between their budget and the cost of a new-build home.

Irish Mortgage Corporation welcomes this progress and sees it as clear evidence that Government-backed supports can make a real, practical difference for buyers struggling to bridge that affordability gap. However, we also know that understanding how schemes like the First Home Scheme and Help to Buy work, and how they interact with your mortgage approval can feel complex and overwhelming.

As brokers, our role is to help clients make sense of these options, explain the long-term implications in plain language, and ensure they are combining the right schemes with the right lender to suit their circumstances. For many buyers, that can mean identifying opportunities they did not realise they were eligible for or structuring their application so they can fully benefit from the supports available.

If you are starting your mortgage journey or wondering whether you could use schemes such as the First Home Scheme or Help to Buy to get the keys to your own home, we’re here to help. We encourage prospective buyers to contact our team to discuss what you may qualify for and how to avail of these supports as part of a clear, well-structured mortgage plan.