Focus on 'limited choice' in Irish fixed-rate mortgages as ECB debates rate hikes

Only two lenders offer a full range of fixed rates for 15 years or more at rates of below 3%

Traders are betting that the ECB will be forced to end its eight years of negative interest rates, sending the euro higher.

Irish mortgage holders face "a limited choice" to tap into real long-term fixed rates and prepare for likely interest rate hikes by the ECB this year, senior mortgage broker Michael Dowling has said. 

Only two lenders, Finance Ireland and Avant Money, offer a full range of fixed rates for 15 years or more at rates of below 3%, while the main banks continue to offer fixed-rate home loans of much shorter periods, Mr Dowling said.