sackofspuds

Friend of mine looking to buy a cheap house in Republic of Ireland. He will be buying cash; no mortgage. He's there now looking at houses. He holds both Australian and Irish passports having been born and brought up in Australia. He has never lived in Ireland.

He has to buy a cheap house because he is jobless and so couldn't get a mortgage. By cheap he is talking 50k Euro. It would be impossible to buy anything habitable for that money in Australia or the UK.

He was told he'd need both a bank account and PRSI which he was told is like a UK National Insurance number in order to buy a house.

He has a UK bank account with Natwest having lived in the UK for a number of years (and a UK NI number but I imagine this is irrelevant).

From what I can gather, I can't see why he needs a PRSI number or an Irish bank account to buy a house for cash and I can see it being a problem obtaining either since he has no address in Ireland.

He's looking at a few areas:
1. Enniscorthy / New Ross area
2. Cork - though very little for 50k euro. I found literally 2.
3. Limerick - bit more than in Cork but obviously only a handful, ie, I found 7.

Now I'd probably try for a 2 up 2 down in Cork or Limerick because I feel there would be more to do but obviously he'll make his own choices. Any suggestions welcome. I think he'd like to be near either an International airport or ferry (friends and relatives in the UK) so all the above areas tick that box.

Any general advice about buying a house welcome too.

As I say, he is out of work and although he will obviously seek work in Ireland he is 60 and may find it difficult. Apart from the money for the house, a car and some furniture he has no other assets or income so presumably he will qualify for means tested benefits once he buys the house. Sorry if that sticks in the craw of Irish taxpayers but he is an Irish citizen even though he has not paid a cent in Irish tax and plenty of EU citizens are claiming benefits in EU countries other than the ones they paid contributions to.

Londonuck

Just what Ireland needs, another ponce.

sickntired

Don't forget he can get a Medical Card so he can get free health care as well.

If he buys the house and can't afford the furniture don't worry he will be able to get a grant from the Social Welfare officer for furniture / household goods.

He will also get more if he brings a wife and children. I hear you can get a special deal on some Eastern European websites that specialise in that sort of thing. No need to buy a house with a wife and kids - sure Paddy will give them a council house.

If he makes out he's disabled they will also give him a grant for a car. Also a travel card if he doesn't fancy taking the car out he can take the train free of charge.

All welcome to the land of plenty. The streets are paved with gold.

sackofspuds

But does anyone know if you need an Irish bank account and PRSI to buy a house?

sickntired

You don't need an Irish Bank Account or have a PRSI Number to buy a house in Ireland.

michaleen oge

Hey,Londonuck,glad to see you are still about. Hope all is well with you. Things remain the same in sunny Espana. By the by, is ponce the Irish name for a good-lookin', nearly 70ish,fit-as-a-fiddle returnee? Cos I fit the lot!!!

Londonuck

Hello mate good to see you're still trying to get home. It will come, someone will buy Oge Towers.

Can you believe the neck on that other fella? I bet hes got something to say about people coming into leafy Berks, from abroad, jumping on the housing list ahead of someone who needs/deserves it and poncing off the state. Incredible.

michaleen oge

Ah, I take everything written on here with a pinch of salt,sometimes a large pinch. See my sis is marching in Dublin with the rest of the crowd all bemoaning the new taxes which are coming in!! She won't be happy unless she is maced and gassed like those in Turkey. More salt please,Vicar.
Oge Towers still on the market,no sign of any movement and don't think there will be any for years to come. As I am due a lottery win, it won't matter. Take care mate,watch out for stray mooses.

sackofspuds

Yup, I do object to the Irish and other EU citizens coming over here jumping on the housing list etc. I wish the UK would leave the EU and get control back of its own borders.

I also get sick of those who go from the UK to Ireland with their EU health card and charge everything back to the NHS for that matter.

My mate has no intention of bludging off the state but he's an optimist and I'm a realist/pessimist so I thought I'd mention it. Wish I hadn't.

Another couple of points:
1. He wouldn't be ahead on any "housing list" cos he'd be buying cash. There was a huge surplus of property in Ireland even when the tiger was snarling.
2. He's an Irish citizen.

Londonuck

So how at 60 is he going to do that in a country with massive unemployment?

And I meant getting unemployment and benefits not housing benefit.

I truly hope your mate goes over from Oz and has a wonderful life working and contributing, I really do. If you'd read other comments on here from before, its a touchy subject, and rightly so - especially when you admit it winds you up.

sackofspuds

Yes, I have the same concerns about how he's going to make money but he says:

Anyhow he is driving round Ireland now looking for properties.

taragreen

You DO need a PPS number to buy a house, it is needed to register the deeds with the registry. - PRSI is the Irish equivalent of UK National Insurance. But it is less than a formality, the Solicitor you engage to handle the conveyance can fill the forms in for you, and send, and then probably chase up the Department for you. I know this as I bought a house in Co. Limerick last October. While he is here he needs to engage a solicitor, we were advised to do this rather than use a UK solicitor...

The lateness of the department giving us our PPS numbers held up the transfer of deeds and completion on the property - , but this being Ireland, the vendors agreed for us to be allowed to move in before completion (UNHEARD of in the UK!!!) as we had removal firm who were less than flexible in the circumstances...

He doesn't need an irish bank account, in fact we COULDNT get one here until 2 or 3 months after moving over, as you need utility bills etc in your name, in your property, to get one.

You say he has never lived here - then he'll need to be fairly ambivalent about the change in climate - sure we just had summer but I've lost count of the times/weeks I haven't been able to see the end of my garden for fog. But that suits me, I like fog.

Not sure about benefits, but he's only five years off retirement, make sure he gets confirmation of his 'stamps' or pension entitlements in writing from the state department.

Regarding limerick properties, there's a lot less on the market than the same time last year when I was looking, so he needs to find that desperate buyer and make canny offers. Some are still on the market since when I was looking, so there must be a lack of cash buyers - in fact, they could be rarer than hen's teeth right now... but habitable for 50k will be a challenge, for that you're really going to get a Challenge on a hilltop 3 miles from the nearest shop or a small apartment in Limerick city itself maybe - maybe he should check out the apartment blocks by name, and then keep an eye on Allsop Space irish auctions - think an aprtment on Dock Road went last month for 34k, but it could be dodgy - try www.boards.ie for local knowledge and ska on the area...

Have a survey. Definately do that. Electrics in particular. It may look habitable after the week of summer we've just had....

I think once you have paid at least a few month's 'stamps here, your previous contributions can be recognised.

taragreen

Next auction by Allsops is July 4th - link to properties...

http://www.auction.co.uk/irish/onlin...7043WK,5BJJN,1

sackofspuds

Thanks for that. He has found a house now and had an offer accepted. He liked Limerick but, as you suggest, even with unemployment at - according to Wikipedia - 28%, not much available at that super cheap level.

Cork also too expensive but he more or less knew that already.

That's what I thought. Need proof of Irish address before getting a bank account. His solicitor has a trust account so that's fine. Presumably the solicitor will also help with the PPS number.

Yup, he is definitely getting a survey and wouldn't buy without one.

Many of the houses he saw were being sold because of marriage breakdown, ie, forced sales. Guess you don't sell in a market that has crashed unless you really need to.

He's both excited and apprehensive. He would have preferred to buy in the UK but just next to nothing available at that price.

My suggestion is to renovate the house then look to trade up, then repeat. Plenty have done just fine out of this simple strategy but time will tell.