Buying · First-time buyers
Two schemes.
Both apply here.
Between them, Help to Buy and the First Home Scheme can close most of the gap between what you have saved and what a new home costs.
Help to Buy
Up to €30,000
towards your
deposit.
Help to Buy is a refund of income tax and DIRT you have already paid over the previous four tax years. It goes straight towards the deposit on a new home.
The maximum is €30,000, or 10% of the purchase price, whichever is lower — and you can only claim back what you actually paid in those taxes.
To qualify you must be a first-time buyer, the home must be newly built or a self-build costing €500,000 or less, and you need a mortgage of at least 70% of the price.
First Home Scheme
The State takes
a share, so you
need less.
The First Home Scheme is a shared equity scheme. The State pays part of the price of your new home and takes an equity share in return — up to 30%, or up to 20% if you are using Help to Buy as well.
Eligibility is based on your borrowing capacity rather than a household income cap. You apply for your maximum mortgage, up to four times income, and the scheme covers part of what is left.
Each local authority area has a price ceiling. In Leitrim it is €400,000, for houses and apartments alike — raised by €25,000 from 1 July 2026. Every home at Townparks is below it.
Ceilings are reviewed twice a year. Check firsthomescheme.ie for the current figure before you commit.
Questions
Can I use Help to Buy and the First Home Scheme together?
Yes. Most people do — about two thirds of First Home Scheme buyers also use Help to Buy. One rule to know: if you use both, the maximum First Home Scheme equity share drops from 30% to 20% of the purchase price.
What is the First Home Scheme price ceiling in Leitrim?
€400,000, for houses and apartments alike. That ceiling rose by €25,000 with effect from 1 July 2026. Ceilings are reviewed every six months, so check firsthomescheme.ie for the current figure before you commit. Every home at Townparks sits comfortably below it.
How much can I get from Help to Buy?
Up to €30,000, or 10% of the purchase price, whichever is lower — and capped at the income tax and DIRT you have actually paid over the previous four years. If you have paid €20,000 in those taxes, €20,000 is your ceiling regardless of the price of the home.
Do I have to be a first-time buyer?
For Help to Buy, yes — and if you are buying jointly, both of you must be. The First Home Scheme is mainly for first-time buyers but also covers people building a first home on their own site, and some tenants buying the home they rent.
Does Help to Buy work on second-hand homes?
No. Help to Buy applies only to newly built homes and self-builds. That is one of the reasons a new home can work out more affordable than an older one at the same asking price.
Is the First Home Scheme free money?
No. The State takes an equity share in your home in return for its contribution. You can buy that share back later, or it is settled when you sell. There is no charge for the first five years, after which a service charge applies.
This page is general information, not financial advice. We are not mortgage advisers. Talk to a broker or your lender about your own circumstances, and check the current rules at revenue.ie and firsthomescheme.ie.
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