The value of mortgages taken out by sole borrowers has grown by 51.2 per cent since 2019Solo borrowers made up nearly two-thirds of mortgages taken out for apartments and almost a third all first-time buyer mortgages, new figures show. This rate is still far below the levels seen in the mid-2000s when sole borrowers represented more than 45 per cent of first-time buyer mortgages. The report also found that the median household income of first-time borrowers has increased substantially – by €20,000 – in the past six years. The average mortgages taken out by first-time buyers and those moving homes both hit records in the period, at €314,810 and €373,393 respectively. Dublin also had the highest median property and loan values as well as basic household incomes.

Source: The Irish Times November 21, 2025 09:41 UTC