Buying your first home in Ireland in 2025? Then you’re probably juggling more questions than a table quiz team. But don’t worry, we’ve built this complete guide to every first-time buyer scheme in Ireland so you can navigate grants, loans, and supports like a pro (or at least with the confidence of someone who knows where to start).
Whether you’re looking for a shiny new build in Dublin or a doer-upper in the countryside, there are housing schemes for first-time buyers designed to help you get those keys in your hand. From government-backed grants to council schemes for first time buyers, this guide has everything you need to know. Let’s get into it.
Your Complete 2025 Guide to Every First Time Buyer Scheme in Ireland
From equity support to tax back towards deposits and even funding to bring derelict homes back to life, there are multiple schemes to help first time buyers get on the property ladder in 2025. Below you’ll find the main first-time buyer schemes in Ireland, with a breakdown of eligibility, how to apply, and handy links to dig deeper into the schemes.
Help to Buy Scheme: Support with Your Deposit
The Help to Buy Scheme is one of the most popular first-time buyer government schemes in Ireland. It gives you up to €30,000 or 10% of the property’s value (whichever is lower) to help with your deposit.
Quick Facts:
- Eligibility: First-time buyers of new build homes or self-builds.
- Income Limits:
- Property Price Cap: €500,000
How to Apply: Through Revenue’s online services. This scheme is often used alongside the First Home Scheme or a first-time buyer mortgage scheme to make saving for a deposit more achievable.
✅ Apply for the Help to Buy Scheme in Ireland
First Home Scheme: Equity Support from the Government
The First Home Scheme is one of the key schemes to help first time buyers in Ireland. It offers a shared equity solution where the government co-invests in your home to help bridge the gap between your mortgage, deposit, and the property price. This makes it easier for first time buyers in Ireland to afford new build homes without stretching beyond their borrowing capacity.
Quick Facts:
- Eligibility: First-time buyers or those in a “fresh start” situation (e.g., separation or insolvency)
- Income Limits: Based on property price and lender approval.
- Property Type: New builds only.
- How to Apply: Through the First Home Scheme portal.
✅ Learn more about the First Home Scheme for First Time Buyers
Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme: Buy a Home Below Market Value
This council scheme for first time buyers lets you buy a new-build home at a price below market value. In return, the local authority retains an equity share, but you get on the property ladder sooner. It’s a popular choice among those looking for housing schemes for first time buyers that reduce upfront costs and provide more affordable pathways to homeownership.
Quick Facts:
- Eligibility: Irish or EU citizens aged 18+, first-time buyers.
- Income Limits: Typically, €70,000, or less for singles (€85,000 for couples).
- Regional Differences: Criteria can vary depending on your local authority.
- How to Apply: Directly through your local council.
✅ Here’s how to apply for the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme
Local Authority Home Loan Scheme: Affordable Mortgages with Fixed Rates
Need a mortgage but can’t quite meet bank lending criteria? This first-time buyer mortgage scheme offers government-backed home loans with fixed interest rates over 25–30 years, giving you certainty and stability in your repayments. It’s designed to make sure first-time buyer mortgages government scheme supports are accessible to those with modest incomes.
Quick Facts:
- Eligibility: First-time buyers earning under €70k (single) or €85k (couple).
- Interest Rates: Fixed, usually lower than market average.
- How to Apply: Through your local authority.
✅ Apply for the Local Authority Home Loan
Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant: Bring an Empty Property Back to Life
If you’ve ever dreamed of rescuing a run-down cottage and giving it a new lease of life, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant might be your golden ticket. This first-time buyer Ireland scheme provides significant funding to refurbish vacant or derelict properties, helping you step onto the property ladder while revitalising local communities.
You can also combine the grant with a mortgage to renovate a house, allowing you to cover both the purchase price and the refurbishment costs.
Quick Facts:
- Grant Amount: Up to €50,000 (€70,000 for derelict properties).
- Location: Can be located in any City, town, village, or rural area.
- Conditions: Must live in the property after refurbishment.
- How to Apply: Through your local authority.
✅ Check the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant application requirements
Can I Combine First Time Buyer Schemes in Ireland?
Yes, in many cases you can combine multiple supports to make buying your first home more affordable. For example:
- Use the Help to Buy Scheme alongside the First Home Scheme to boost your deposit and reduce your mortgage gap.
- Combine the Local Authority Home Loan with the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
- Stack supports if you’re buying and refurbishing a property under a recognised first-time buyer government scheme.
That said, it’s not a free-for-all. Each first-time buyer scheme in Ireland has its own rules about what can and can’t be combined, so it’s best to get expert advice before applying.
Tips for Choosing the Right First Time Buyer Scheme
With so many housing schemes for first time buyers available in Ireland, here’s how to narrow it down:
- Know your income level: Many schemes have caps.
- Decide on property type: Is it a new build, second-hand home, or a derelict property you plan to refurbish?
- Plan your location: Some grants vary depending on the region or local authority.
- Think long-term: Consider future repayments and equity ownership.
- Talk to an expert: Schemes change frequently, and professional advice ensures you choose the right path.
How MortgageLine Helps You Secure the Right Scheme
Let’s be honest, working through Ireland’s first-time buyer scheme options can feel like a Leaving Cert exam without a study guide.
That’s where we come in.
At MortgageLine, we help you:
- Identify which first time buyer schemes in Ireland you qualify for
- Combine support where possible to maximise savings
- Complete the paperwork (without the stress)
- Secure the first-time buyer saving scheme or mortgage that works best for you
We’re mortgage brokers, yes, but we’re also on your side. No jargon, no fluff, just straight-talking advice, and practical support to help you get the keys to your first home faster.
👉 Contact us today for a free mortgage review call
FAQs
Is there a grant for first time buyers in Ireland?
Yes, the Help to Buy Scheme is the most well-known first-time buyer government scheme, offering up to €30,000 towards your deposit. Other options include the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, which supports buyers renovating vacant or derelict property, and council schemes for first time buyers such as the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme.
What is the €30,000 Help to Buy?
The Help to Buy Scheme is a first-time buyer government scheme that gives you up to €30,000 or 10% of the property’s value towards your deposit, whichever is lower. The Help to Buy scheme is only available on new builds or self-builds.
What grants are first time buyers entitled to?
In 2025, eligible first-time buyers in Ireland can access several housing schemes depending on their circumstances:
- Help to Buy Scheme
- First Home Scheme
- Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme
- Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant
- Local Authority Home Loan Scheme
These first-time buyers scheme Ireland options give you different ways to finance, save, and access property ownership. Choosing the right one depends on your income, property type, and location.
