Affordability Crisis: Kildare Among Toughest Areas For Couples Earning €107k To Buy A Home

Wednesday, 14 August 2024 10:37

By Martin Osborne

A recent SCSI study examined whether a couple with a combined income of €107,000 could afford a new three-bedroom semi-detached home in five areas, including Kildare.

Kildare has emerged as one of the areas where prospective home buyers are struggling the most to get on the property ladder.

A recent SCSI study examined whether a couple with a combined income of €107,000 could afford a new three-bedroom semi-detached home in five areas, including Kildare.

The SCSI's analysis considered the couple's borrowing capacity at 3.5 times their income, even though recent changes to Central Bank rules now allow first-time buyers to borrow up to four times their income.

It found, however, that the couple could only afford a home in Meath, and only with additional support from the First Home Scheme (FHS).

SCSI spokesperson Gerard O'Toole highlighted the challenges, noting that even with government schemes, many first-time buyers in Kildare are being priced out of the market.

"Last year our case study 'couple’ could buy in three locations without the support of the First Home Scheme (FHS). This year a new home is only affordable in one and that is with FHS support, so the widening affordability gap is a real concern," he said.

He added: "While buyers with savings should be able to overcome the gap in Meath, Galway and Cork, new three-bed homes in Wicklow and Kildare remain totally out of reach for people on these salaries."

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