Coonan Financial Group

First Home Scheme

Overview

The First Home Scheme (FHS) aims to make homeownership achievable for thousands of individuals and families by bridging the gap for first-time buyers and other eligible homebuyers between their deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home.

It is what’s known as a shared equity scheme. This means that homebuyers can receive funds from the Scheme in return for the FHS taking a percentage ownership in the property.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Scheme you must:

  • be over 18 years of age.
  • be a first-time buyer or other eligible homebuyer.
  • have Mortgage Approval with a Participating Lender.
  • borrow the maximum amount available to you from one of the Participating Lenders (up to 4 times your income*)
  • not be availing of a Macro Prudential Exception (MPE) with a Participating Lender
  • have a minimum deposit of 10% of the property purchase price or build cost (for self-builds, equity in your site can contribute to your deposit.)

*there are no specific household income limits required to participate in the FHS.

To be eligible for the Scheme the property must:

  • be a qualifying house or apartment OR a Self-build on a privately owned site OR a house or apartment you are currently renting and residing in and now, looking to purchase having received a Notice of Termination from your landlord, as the landlord is putting the property on the market.
  • be a property in a private development OR on a site in your name in the Republic of Ireland
  • be your Principal Private Residence
  • be within the local authority property price ceiling for the property type.

To see if you could qualify for FHS support, use their eligibility calculator.

How much funding can the FHS provide?

  • the FHS can fund up to 30% of the property purchase price or build cost (for Self-builds)
  • this amount is reduced to 20% if you are availing of the Help to Buy Scheme (HTB). Details of HTB can be found on the Revenue’s website (www.revenue.ie) and you can view our handy guide here, including screenshots, to help you navigate the process.
  • the minimum equity share is 2.5% of the property purchase price or build cost (for self-builds), or €10,000, whichever is higher.
View our handy FAQ guide here to help you understand more about the FHS
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