New directions for physical planning of the built environment post-Mahon Report, along with the future of the country’s ghost and unfinished estates, will come under a planners’ spotlight at month’s end.

KBC Bank Ireland has revealed a 300% increase in sales since the launch of their Smart Access Demand Account two weeks ago.

KBC Bank Ireland has appointed Ms Dara Deering as Executive Director and Head of Retail Banking.

Irish people intend to spend 5% less this Christmas with each person set to spend an average of €605 versus €637 for last year, according a new study.

AS yet another Irish financial institution announced a mortgage interest rate hike, there appears to be no lifeline on the horizon from Europe with the European Central Bank refusing to rule out further interest rate hikes this year.

EBS is to increase interest rates on its standard variable mortgages by 0.25% from October 1, the company said today.

A MORTGAGE today will cost a first-time buyer couple half of what it cost five years ago.

A SECOND raft of interest rate increases could be on the way for homeowners as EBS adds an extra €100 a month to a €300,000 mortgage.

HOMEOWNERS are spending almost €700 less per month on their mortgage repayments, but experts said it has never been harder to get a home loan.

New figures show the average first time buyer working couple is now allocating 12.6% of their joint income to mortgage payments.

GONE are the stretch limos, diamante-studded tiaras and dresses the price of a small car.

A new survey released today has indicated that a majority (67%) of first-time buyers feel that now is a good time to purchase their first home.

HOUSES are more affordable now than at any time in the last quarter of a century with first-time buyers accounting for a third of the mortgage lending sector.

House prices are forecast to fall by up to a further 10% this year.

EBS Building Society said today its share of the Irish retail mortage market had grown by 6.6% since last year to 21.7%.

PERSONAL savings are falling dramatically as people dip into reserves to make ends meet, according to the latest research.

THE affordability index for first-time buyers continues to improve dramatically despite recent cuts in incomes.

FIRST-TIME buyer couples can save €2,600 when purchasing a home compared with two years ago.

The average first-time house buyers are paying a smaller proportion of their wages in mortgage repayments compared with a year ago, according to a new report.

EIGHT out of 10 working people save about €299 a month but most still borrow rather than save for a large purchase, a study shows.

Irish people would rather go into debt than save for spending sprees, a new survey released today reveals.

Affordability has remained stable for the average first-time buyer working couple in Ireland throughout 2007, according to the latest EBS/DKM Affordability Index, published by Irish Property Buyer magazine.

THE amount of income spent by first-time buyer couples nationally servicing their mortgages has rocketed from 14.5% in 1996 to 27%.

Couples buying their first home spend up to a third of their income on a mortgage, a survey showed today.

A new survey conducted by EBS Building Society and estate agents Gunne Residential shows that 63% of property investors intend to increase their bricks and mortar portfolio within the next five years.

Mortgage holders were urged to examine their payments today as it emerged people are overpaying by around €119m a year.

OVER 80% of respondents in a new survey still believe property is a safer investment bet than shares.

Niamh Hennessy