How Much Deposit Do You Need
to Buy a House in Ireland?
First-time buyer rules, county-by-county savings timelines, and the real impact of the Help to Buy scheme — sourced from BPFI, Revenue, and CSO, 2015–2025.
Last updated: 31 December 2025·Data range: 2015–2025
€52,000
Average deposit saved by first-time buyers
Minimum deposit (FTB)
10%
Central Bank rule
Avg deposit saved
€52,000
By first-time buyers
Avg years to save
7 yrs
Nationally, avg wage
Avg HTB boost
€22,100
Revenue tax refund
Deposit Requirements in Ireland
The Central Bank of Ireland's macro-prudential mortgage rules set minimum deposit thresholds and LTI limits to protect borrowers and the financial system.
First-Time Buyers: 10% Deposit
Under Central Bank macro-prudential rules, first-time buyers must have a minimum 10% deposit (LTV ≤ 90%). On a €300,000 home that means €30,000 minimum. This rule has applied since February 2015, with a brief relaxation in 2017.
Second-Time Buyers: 20% Deposit
Second and subsequent buyers face a higher bar: a 20% deposit is required (LTV ≤ 80%). On a €300,000 home that is €60,000. Buyers in negative equity are treated as first-time buyers for the purpose of the LTV limit.
LTI Cap: 4× Income
The maximum mortgage is capped at 4× gross annual income for all buyers. On a combined income of €80,000, the maximum mortgage is €320,000. Lenders can grant exceptions for up to 20% of new lending volumes.
How Long Does It Take to Save a Deposit?
Years required to save a 10% deposit on the county median price, based on national average take-home pay and 20% annual savings rate. Sorted easiest to hardest.
Years to save a 10% deposit by county
Based on national avg wage saving rate of ~€7,400/yr. Red line = national average of 7.0 years.
Source: PPR median prices · CSO Earnings and Labour Costs (2025)
Deposit Requirements by County
All 26 counties ranked by years to save (hardest first by default). Click any column header to re-sort.
| County↕ | Median Price↕ | 10% Deposit↕ | Years (Avg Wage)↓ | Years (Dublin Wage)↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DublinLeinster | €520,000 | €52,000 | 7.0 | 5.0 |
| WicklowLeinster | €420,000 | €42,000 | 5.7 | 4.0 |
| CorkMunster | €385,000 | €38,500 | 5.2 | 3.7 |
| KildareLeinster | €380,000 | €38,000 | 5.1 | 3.7 |
| MeathLeinster | €360,000 | €36,000 | 4.9 | 3.5 |
| GalwayConnacht | €330,000 | €33,000 | 4.5 | 3.2 |
| LouthLeinster | €295,000 | €29,500 | 4.0 | 2.8 |
| LimerickMunster | €295,000 | €29,500 | 4.0 | 2.8 |
| ClareMunster | €270,000 | €27,000 | 3.6 | 2.6 |
| WexfordLeinster | €255,000 | €25,500 | 3.4 | 2.5 |
| KilkennyLeinster | €248,000 | €24,800 | 3.4 | 2.4 |
| KerryMunster | €245,000 | €24,500 | 3.3 | 2.4 |
| WaterfordMunster | €230,000 | €23,000 | 3.1 | 2.2 |
| TipperaryMunster | €215,000 | €21,500 | 2.9 | 2.1 |
| CarlowLeinster | €210,000 | €21,000 | 2.8 | 2.0 |
| WestmeathLeinster | €205,000 | €20,500 | 2.8 | 2.0 |
| SligoConnacht | €210,000 | €21,000 | 2.8 | 2.0 |
| LaoisLeinster | €195,000 | €19,500 | 2.6 | 1.9 |
| MayoConnacht | €195,000 | €19,500 | 2.6 | 1.9 |
| DonegalUlster | €195,000 | €19,500 | 2.6 | 1.9 |
| OffalyLeinster | €188,000 | €18,800 | 2.5 | 1.8 |
| CavanUlster | €185,000 | €18,500 | 2.5 | 1.8 |
| MonaghanUlster | €188,000 | €18,800 | 2.5 | 1.8 |
| RoscommonConnacht | €175,000 | €17,500 | 2.4 | 1.7 |
| LongfordLeinster | €165,000 | €16,500 | 2.2 | 1.6 |
| LeitrimConnacht | €160,000 | €16,000 | 2.2 | 1.5 |
| Source: BPFI / PPR / CSO — Savings capacity based on national avg wage. Click column headers to sort. | ||||
How the HTB Scheme Affects Your Deposit
Revenue's Help to Buy scheme refunds income tax paid over 4 years and applies it directly to your deposit on a new-build home.
Without HTB
€52,000
Full deposit required from savings
With HTB contribution
€29,900
After avg HTB of €22,100
HTB scheme impact on deposit gap
Deposit needed vs. HTB contribution vs. remaining gap from savings
Source: Revenue — Help to Buy Statistics 2024
Ways to Build Your Deposit
Help to Buy Scheme
New builds onlyRevenue's HTB scheme refunds up to €30,000 in income tax (capped at 10% of the purchase price on new builds). The average claimant receives €22,100, directly reducing the cash savings needed.
First Home Scheme
New builds · shared equityThe government-backed First Home Scheme (FHS) provides shared equity top-ups of up to 30% of a new home's price. This bridges the gap between your mortgage + deposit and the property value, without requiring extra cash savings.
Credit Union Savings
All property typesMany Irish first-time buyers build their deposit through credit union share accounts. Regular contributions build a savings history that lenders view favourably, and credit union membership can support your mortgage application.
Parental Gift
38% of FTBs38% of Irish first-time buyers receive a cash gift from parents or family, with an average of €28,000. Banks require a signed gift letter confirming no repayment is expected. Large gifts may have CAT implications.
Average Deposit Saved by FTBs 2015–2025
The average deposit saved by first-time buyers has grown 86% since 2015, tracking rising house prices and tighter macro-prudential rules.
Average deposit saved by first-time buyers
Annual average, Ireland, 2015–2025
Source: Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) — Mortgage Market Profile
How these figures are calculated
Deposit data source
Average deposit data is sourced from the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) Mortgage Market Profile report, which aggregates data from all regulated mortgage lenders in the Irish market.
Help to Buy figures
HTB contribution data is sourced from Revenue Commissioners published statistics on the Help to Buy scheme, updated annually. Average contribution figures reflect approved claims across all eligible new builds.
Savings timeline calculation
Years to save is calculated as the 10% deposit divided by an assumed annual savings capacity of €7,400 (national average) or €10,400 (Dublin). The savings capacity is based on CSO average earnings data with a 20% net savings rate applied.
Median property prices
County median prices are derived from Residential Property Price Register (PPR) transaction data for the most recent full year available. Median is used rather than mean to reduce distortion from high-value outliers.
Update frequency
This page is updated annually. Data on this page covers 2015–2025, last updated 31 December 2025.
Frequently asked questions
How much deposit do I need to buy a house in Ireland?+
First-time buyers in Ireland are required to have a minimum 10% deposit under the Central Bank of Ireland's macro-prudential mortgage rules. On a median-priced home of €520,000, that is €52,000 for Dublin. The average first-time buyer nationally saves €52,000 before purchasing.
Can I buy a house in Ireland with a 10% deposit?+
Yes — if you are a first-time buyer. The Central Bank rules set a 10% minimum loan-to-value (LTV) floor for first-time buyers. Second and subsequent buyers must have a 20% deposit. Lenders may require more in practice depending on the property and borrower profile.
How long does it take to save a deposit in Ireland?+
On a national average wage, it takes approximately 7 years to save a 10% deposit. This varies significantly by county — Dublin buyers face the longest timeline due to high prices, while counties like Leitrim and Longford can be achievable in under 4 years on the same income. The Help to Buy scheme and parental gifts can meaningfully shorten this timeline.
Does the Help to Buy scheme count as a deposit?+
Yes. Revenue's Help to Buy (HTB) scheme provides a refund of income tax and DIRT paid over the previous four years, up to €30,000, which can be applied directly to the deposit on a new-build property. The average HTB contribution is €22,100, which significantly reduces the amount a buyer needs to save themselves.
What is the First Home Scheme in Ireland?+
The First Home Scheme (FHS) is a government shared equity scheme that bridges the gap between a buyer's mortgage and deposit and the market price of a new-build home. The government and participating banks take a stake in the property — typically up to 30% — in exchange for topping up the buyer's funds. This stake is repaid when the home is sold or refinanced.
Can my parents give me money for a house deposit in Ireland?+
Yes. Parental gifts are permitted and widely used — 38% of first-time buyers in Ireland receive a cash gift from family, with an average gift of €28,000. Your mortgage lender will require a signed gift letter confirming the money is a gift and not a loan. The gift may also be subject to Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) if it exceeds the lifetime small gift exemption thresholds.