"The data from Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) show almost €14.5bn worth of mortgage drawdowns in 2025, the highest since 2008. First-time buyers borrowed the lion's share of that - accounting for 60pc of loans and 61pc of the total amount drawn down - many to buy new builds or fund self-builds. That is good news for first-time buyers, showing more are qualifying for home loans and more are successfully finding a place to buy despite the dysfunction in the housing sector."
"He does not think it is a question of homeowners being happy to stay put but is evidence of a poorly functioning market, where conveyancing is slow and opaque and where the traditional "sales chain" is no longer an option. "Existing homeowners are reluctant to move - they fear being unable to secure another home once they sell their own," he said."
Almost €14.5bn of mortgages were drawn down in 2025, the highest annual total since 2008. First-time buyers accounted for 60% of loan counts and 61% of the total value, with many purchases directed at new-builds or self-builds. In the final quarter of the year, first-time buyer drawdowns rose 4% to 8,371 while mover drawdowns fell more than 10% to 2,454. Mover purchases fell to their lowest annual level since 2014. Existing homeowners are increasingly reluctant to move because conveyancing is slow and opaque, the traditional sales chain has broken down, and sellers fear being unable to secure replacement homes.
Read at Irish Independent
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