First-time buyers hit by Stamp Duty changes

Estate agents Savills have today pointed out that the Government’s changes to the Stamp Duty regime mean that potential first-time house buyers could pay €2,500 more today than had they bought the same property on Monday.

Ronan O’ Driscoll, Director of the Residential at Savills Ireland said: "I welcome the Stamp Duty changes for the market because the new rates will undoubtedly help the market. The previous rates were penal, particularly for larger properties and we should start to see some more movement at the top end of the market as a result.