Government determined to bring “Housing for All”

The “First Home” Affordable Purchase Shared Equity Scheme sees the State stepping in to help people buy their own homes — viewed as normal practice a couple of decades ago

An apartment and retail building construction site in Bettystown, Co Meath, one of many new developments being incentivised ‘Housing for All’ plan.

“The Government are trying in different ways to incentivise first-time buyers to buy new homes,” says Elizabeth Hegarty, Associate Director of Savills Cork Residential.  “There has been an increase in house prices and the Government are trying to make new homes as affordable as possible at the moment.” 

 The Government’s “Housing for All” plan is a grand nine-year roadmap which will see the imbalances of the housing market put right again. Within that framework, one of the forthcoming elements is the “First Home” Affordable Purchase Shared Equity Scheme. This much-anticipated development is due to make an appearance early this year. Final plans haven’t yet been unveiled but the idea is that the ever-widening gap between what first-time buyers can afford and the price of a house will be bridged by the State stepping up with cheap equity.