Switcher.ie Reveals Ireland’s Most Affordable Places for First Time Buyers as Deposit Saving Time Soars

Why It Matters

Rising deposit‑saving times and regional price gaps tighten first‑time buyer access, especially as new‑build supply concentrates in pricey Dublin‑area markets.

Key Takeaways

• Joint buyers need ~7 years to save deposit nationwide (up 2.5 years).
• Longford offers fastest joint buyer deposit time: 2.3 years.
• Dún Laoghaire requires 21 years for couples, 66 years for singles.
• 65% of new builds sit in 10 priciest regions, limiting affordable supply.
• Rural counties like Longford, Leitrim, Donegal rank among top affordable spots.

Pulse Analysis

The Irish housing market is entering a new phase of affordability strain, as Switcher.ie’s latest First‑Time Buyer Affordability Index highlights a sharp increase in the time required to amass a 10 % mortgage deposit. For an average dual‑income household, the saving horizon has stretched to over seven years, driven by a 7 % rise in property prices throughout 2025 and stagnant household savings rates. This slowdown erodes the purchasing power of first‑time buyers, especially in high‑cost counties where median home values exceed €550,000 (about $600,000), pushing the deposit timeline beyond two decades.

Regional disparities are stark. Longford, Leitrim, Donegal and other mid‑land counties emerge as the most attainable markets, with joint buyers needing just over two years to save a deposit and sole buyers around three and a half years. In contrast, Dublin‑area locales such as Dún Laoghaire‑Rathdown demand 21 years for couples and an astonishing 66 years for single purchasers, reflecting income‑to‑price ratios that exceed 1:5. These gaps are amplified by the concentration of new‑build developments: 65 % of 2025 completions occurred in the ten most expensive regions, leaving affordable counties with a scant share of eligible homes for Help‑to‑Buy schemes.

Policy implications are clear. While flexible‑working laws broaden geographic options, the supply‑side imbalance means first‑time buyers must rely more heavily on government incentives and mortgage brokerage expertise to navigate financing hurdles. Expanding affordable‑housing quotas in rural counties and incentivising developers to target lower‑price markets could rebalance the ecosystem, shortening deposit‑saving periods and revitalising homeownership pathways for a generation of Irish buyers.