For Buyers

SMART Property

If you are a first time buyer or it’s just been a while since you last bought a property you will find our step by step guide to buying very* useful. The process can seem overwhelming and not for the faint hearted! But broken down into stages it is a lot more manageable.

View available Properties

Saving for deposit

Opening a savings account is a good idea to regularly save money, and to be able to prove to a mortgage lender that you have a solid savings record.

The Central Bank’s Loan To Income Rules limit the maximum amount you can borrow to 3.5 times your annual salary. So for example if you earn €60,000 you can borrow a maximum of €210,000. If you were borrowing with your partner who also earned €60,000 this would allow you to borrow €420,000.

The Central Bank has discretionary lending rules though which allow 20% of first time buyers to breach this limit and 10% of second time buyers to also breach it.

The second mortgage lending Central Bank Rule is the Loan To Value Rations. First time buyers are required to provided a minimum of 10% deposit unfront.

Working out your budget

When deciding what your budget is for buying a property other costs involved in the purchase must be taken into account. Some of these costs are :

Stamp Duty – 1% of the price of the house up to €1m and 2% of the price above that

Legal fees – typically €2,500 or above

Surveyors Fee

Moving Cost

Repairs, furniture and decoration

Applying for your mortgage

It can be useful to speak to mortgage lenders about amounts you would be able to borrow based on earnings which will help you work out how much you need to save. When you have your deposit saved you can approach them about a fixed or variable mortgage either directly or using a broker. The most important aspect to consider is the interest rate. Whilst many lenders offer appealing incentives such as cash-back you need to take into account the overall cost of the mortage and interest rate and what will of greater benefit to you in the longer term. It is important to have mortgage approval before you start looking at properties so you have a very clear picture of the price range you are in, and it also ensures vendors take you seriously if you wish to make an offer.

It is imperative to take out mortgage protection as lenders can insist of you having this cover and can refuse you a mortgage if you do not have it. Shop around though as you do not have to take out your lender’s insurance and may find one more suitable or better value.

Appoint a solicitor

As you start the search for a property be sure to appoint a solicitor. A conveyancing solicitor is one who looks after all aspects of transferring ownership from the seller to yourself. When your offer is accepted your solicitor’s details will be required immediately by the estate agent to be provided to the seller’s solicitor.

Shop around for quotes from solicitors – their fees traditionally were based on a percentage of the house price but more recently are a flat fee. Be sure to ask for a breakdown of their professional fees and costs.

Appoint a solicitor

Start House Hunting

When you are beginning your search for a property thoroughly research the areas you have decided to focus on. Ensure there are good transport links and commuting options available if necessary, and a good range of shops, facilities and amenities. Take note of management fees if looking at properties in a complex. BER ratings are important as they will dictate the cost of heating and running your home. The higher the rating the better.

Ask the seller’s agent what is included in the sale in terms of fixtures and fittings. Find out if there are any current offers on the property and what the level of interest in it is. Know the position of the seller is in terms of readiness and reason to move. Having this information puts you in a much better position to ensure making an offer is the right way forward.

Making an offer and negotiating

When making an offer know what your maximum price is and don’t go beyond that. Sometimes it can be easy to get carried away if there is another party bidding against you. Factor in the condition of the house and can you afford further investment in repairs and redecoration if required. Look at the property’s sale history on the Property Price Register and also at similar properties that recently sold in the area. This will give you an indication of what level you should be making an offer.

Factors taken into account when you make an offer to the estate agent are what your own position is and if you can prove you can afford the property. Being ready to go in terms of not having a property to sell or being close to closing your own sale will be looked on favourably by the sellers who will not want delays. Having proof of funds ready, whether that is mortgage approval and/or bank statements will be looked upon favourably. The highest offer is not always the one that is accepted as it is not always to the benefit of the sellers.

Going Sale Agreed

When your offer has been accepted the property is marked as sale agreed and you pay a booking deposit. This is fully refundable until contracts are signed and usually starts at around €5,000 and increases from there depending on the value of the house. Paying this deposit signals your strong intent to purchase the property and ensures it is taken off the market until contracts are signed.

Once agreed details of the sale are sent to both your solicitor and the seller’s solicitor. This document contains details of the price, estimated closing date, names and addresses of anyone involved in the sale and conditions of the sale. When the vendor’s solicitor receives this from the estate agent they issue the contracts along with the Title Deeds to your own solicitor. When you have signed the contracts they are sent back to the seller’s solicitor for countersign

Our available Properties

For Sale

Apartment 9, 12 Railway Road, Clongriffin, Dublin 13, Co. Dublin

Apartment

SMART Property is delighted to present Apartment 9, 12 Railway Road, a bright and well-appointed top-floor penthouse apartment boasting a…

€275,000

1 1

For Sale

Apartment 5, 18 Marrsfield Avenue, Clongriffin, Dublin 13, Co. Dublin

Apartment

SMART Property are delighted to present Apartment 5, 18 Marrsfield, a spacious and well-presented first-floor three-bedroom apartment situated within the…

€380,000

3 2

For Sale

11 Churchwell Close, Belmayne, Co. Dublin

House

Viewings are available on Wednesday evenings by private appointment. Please contact our office to arrange a suitable viewing time. SMART…

€540,000

4 2

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      EXCELLENT  
   Based on 42 reviews 
    
 
 
 
   
 
 
       Posted on Google  
   
   Gillian Scully 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Could not recommend David and Chelsea enough they were so incredible to work with and so professional,will be forever grateful
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Angelina Ball 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I can't thank the Smart Property team enough for guiding me through the sale of my apartment. Nothing was too much trouble and I always felt valued as a client. I highly recommend them to anyone going through the process of selling or buying a home.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   P Tynan 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. It was an absolute pleasure to deal with Conor in the recent sale of my property.  nothing was too much trouble and the response time was always excellent when I had any concerns. From the initial start to finish, everything was stress free and seamless. The level of customer care is outstanding and I can’t recommend Conor highly enough. I will deal with them again and highly recommend Smart Property!
Thank you👏👏👏
Paula
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Monika Sulik 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have nothing but nice things to say about Smart Property: all staff are professional, polite and very helpful. My recent dealings with Juanita Cahill in their office just reconfirmed that: she was proactive, very easy going and professional in handling my queries. I strongly recommend their services to anyone: buyers, sellers, renters or landlords.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Tamás Balázsi 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Our experience with David Higgins and Conor Murphy was truly outstanding. They were highly professional and attentive, providing exceptional support during our home purchase. Also their use of online bidding through daft.ie made everything incredibly convenient. We highly recommend their services to anyone in search of a dedicated and skilled estate agent. Thank you for your exceptional service!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Hayley Byrne 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. After searching for a long time for a property to rent in the area finally I found a property within the clongriffin area the whole process from start to finish was made so easy with Juanita I cant take her enough for all her help. Juanita was always so quick, helpful and professional she made my moving in process so smooth. Smart property is lucky to have her! I have finally moved into my property and could not be happier ! 5 stars all round especially for Juanita !
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Morgan Casey 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I recently had the pleasure of working with Smart Property to sell my apartment, and I cannot recommend them highly enough. From start to finish, their service was exceptional, and David and his team went above and beyond to ensure a smooth transaction.
Throughout the process, they kept us well-informed and were always readily available to answer any questions or address any concerns we had. This level of responsiveness and transparency gave us a lot of confidence and trust in their expertise.
When we encountered a minor hiccup during the sale, David and his team demonstrated their professionalism and problem-solving abilities, ensuring that the process continued smoothly, despite the challenges.
Not only did Smart Property excel in selling my apartment, but they were also greate when I initially rented it out. Working with Juanita , their comprehensive approach to property management truly impressed me, and it's clear that they are dedicated to providing great service to their clients, whether you're buying, selling, or letting.
David and his team are a class act, and I am grateful for the great service they provided. I wouldn't hesitate to work with them again in the future. Thank you, Smart Property!
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Corvus Cornix 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I sold my property through Smart Property. During all the process which was difficult due to external causes, Smart Property and specially David Higgings proved to be the most reliable party. I would recommend them.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Ingrid Kavanagh 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A pleasure to deal with David and the team at Smart Property.  Extremely professional and helpful.  I would highly recommend them to either rent or sell your property.
  
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Srinivas Panchangam 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I was associated with Smart Property  for close to 5 years and I must say it was  a very fruitful journey. People in Smart Property are so nice & kind and had addressed any issue in priority during my stay in the apartment.
I now moved to my own house, however I am taking away with me sweet memories of the days spent during my stay.

I highly recommend SMART Property to my friends and others who would like to avail other services.