Brendan Burgess: How the State takes on first-time buyers in Ireland's costly housing market

If the government really wants to help first-time buyers, it could start by incentivising builders to build starter homes instead of building very expensive homes

Brendan Burgess says the State could help those trying to buy a home by reversing the advantages that investors have over first-time buyers.

Let's imagine you are a 30-year old couple, working in teaching and nursing, and you want to buy a house.  

To save on rent, you moved back with your parents and have managed, somehow, to put together €50,000. The bank will lend you €300,000.