Our products

We can help first-time buyers, self-builders (first time) and fresh start applicants to secure their first home anywhere in the Republic of Ireland. Click below to find out more

New Build

Helping eligible first-time buyers to purchase their new home in a private development anywhere in the Republic of Ireland

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Self-Build

Supporting eligible self-builders to build their first home on their own site anywhere in the Republic of Ireland

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Tenant Home Purchase

Helping eligible tenants to purchase the home they are currently renting anywhere in the Republic of Ireland

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Click here to check your eligibility for the Scheme

Eligibility Calculator
Let’s bridge the gap

Start your Journey today!

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The application process is user-friendly and designed to support your journey to homeownership.

With a simple online application process, clear guidance at each step, and a team providing personalised support to you, we work with you to make the journey to owning your first home as easy as possible.

How it Works

How it works

Step 1
Step 1

Securing FHS Approval

If you meet the eligibility criteria and have Mortgage Approval in Principle (AIP) from a Participating Lender, you can apply to the Scheme. You will also need to know the Local Authority Area in which your new home will be located. Once approved you will be issued with an Eligibility Certificate. This certificate will indicate the FHS amount you may qualify for to help bridge the funding gap to secure your new home. This can be up to 30% of the purchase price or build cost of your new home, or 20% if you are availing of the Help to Buy (HTB) scheme.

Find my local authority area
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Qualifying buyer (single or joint)

Purchase price or build cost:

€350k

Household income:

€65k

Mortgage (AIP):

€260k

Deposit:

€35k

Funding required from FHS:

-€55k
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Step 2
Step 2

Securing your FHS Funding

Once you provide your Eligibility Certificate to your lender, they will issue you with a Mortgage Letter of Offer confirming your mortgage and FHS funding amount. Provide this Letter of Offer and any other required documents to us to progress your application.

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Funding

Maximum mortgage:

€260k

Deposit:

€35k

FHS funding:

+€55k

Total:

€350k
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Step 3
Step 3

Getting your Home

Once you return your signed contract and supporting documents, we will release your FHS funds to your solicitor who will finalise the property purchase on your behalf in parallel with your mortgage drawdown. For self-builds, we will release your FHS funds to your solicitor in line with the stage payment process.

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Scheme Participants

Participating Lenders do not advise or consult with consumers on the Terms & Conditions of the FHS.  FHS independently and exclusively manages the administration of the Scheme, and all queries pertaining to the Scheme should be directed to the FHS.

Important notice

WARNING: We strongly recommend that you seek advice from an independent financial adviser and legal adviser if applying for a First Home Scheme product.

WARNING: Property prices can go up and down. As the equity facility is linked to the value of your home, any change in property prices will affect any partial or final redemption amounts. If property prices increase/decrease over time, the percentage equity you have to redeem will remain the same but the € amount will increase/decrease. See examples in the case of a price increase below:

Example 1: Home Purchase (private development)
Customer purchases a property for €350,000, availing of €35,000 from the First Home Scheme (FHS) which means the FHS has a 10% FHS Equity Share in your home.
Sometime in the future you decide to buy out the FHS Equity Share. The home is now valued at €400,000. As the FHS Equity Share is unchanged at 10%, you will now need €40,000 plus any accrued service charges payable, to redeem the FHS Equity Share in the home

Example 2: Self-build (own site)
Customer owns a site valued at €100,000 and builds a house on that site at a cost of €300,000.Customer avails of €30,000 from the First Home Scheme (FHS) which means the FHS has a 10% FHS Equity Share in your house built on the site.  

Sometime in the future you decide to buy out the FHS Equity Share. The property, including both house and original site is now valued at €500,000.  
At the time of build, the site value represented 25% of the total value of the home (i.e.€100,000) and this 25% will now be discounted from the current value before calculating the FHS equity amount to be redeemed (€500,000 less current site value of €125,000, equals €375,000).  As the FHS Equity Share is unchanged at 10%, you will now need €37,500 (10% of €375,000) plus any accrued service charges payable, to redeem the FHS Equity Share in the home.

WARNING: The First Home Scheme is not regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and the equity product is not governed by the Central Bank and its statutory codes of conduct and/or other regulations to include the Consumer Protection Code. However, this does not affect your rights under consumer law.