Buying your first home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will ever make, and the legal process in Ireland can feel daunting if you do not know what to expect. As a solicitor who has guided hundreds of first-time buyers through the conveyancing process in Wexford, I want to demystify the journey from sale agreed to getting the keys.
Step 1: Get Your Solicitor Involved Early
Ideally, you should engage a solicitor before you go sale agreed. This allows your solicitor to review the booking deposit terms and flag any issues before you commit financially. At the very least, instruct a solicitor as soon as you have agreed a price. Your solicitor will handle the legal side of the purchase, known as conveyancing, which includes title checks, contract review, and the closing process.
Conveyancing fees for a standard residential purchase in Ireland typically range from EUR 1,500 to EUR 3,000 plus VAT, depending on the complexity. Many solicitors — ourselves included — offer fixed-fee quotes so you know exactly what to budget.
Step 2: Mortgage Approval and the Loan Offer
While you may already have Approval in Principle (AIP) from your lender, you will need a formal loan offer before contracts can be signed. Your solicitor will review the mortgage loan pack to ensure the terms match what was agreed and that all conditions can be met. Common conditions include a satisfactory valuation report, life assurance, and home insurance.
Step 3: Pre-Contract Enquiries and Title Investigation
Your solicitor carries out detailed checks on the property, including:
- Investigating the title — confirming the seller has the legal right to sell and identifying any restrictions, rights of way, or covenants
- Reviewing planning permission and building compliance — ensuring extensions, conversions, or the original build have proper planning and comply with building regulations
- Checking for any outstanding charges, liens, or judgments against the property
- Raising pre-contract enquiries with the seller's solicitor about boundaries, services, disputes, and fixtures
This stage is critical. It is far better to discover a problem before you sign contracts than after you are legally committed.
Step 4: Signing Contracts and Paying the Deposit
Once your solicitor is satisfied with the title and all queries are resolved, you will sign the contract for sale. At this point, you pay the balance of the deposit (typically 10% of the purchase price, less any booking deposit already paid). After both parties sign and the contracts are exchanged, the sale becomes legally binding. A closing date is set, usually four to six weeks later.
Step 5: Help to Buy Scheme
If you are buying a new-build property, you may be eligible for the Help to Buy (HTB) scheme, which provides a tax refund of up to EUR 30,000 to first-time buyers. Your solicitor can advise on the qualifying criteria and ensure the application is processed correctly before closing. The scheme is currently available until the end of 2025, though it has been extended several times, so check the latest position with Revenue or your solicitor.
Step 6: Closing and Getting the Keys
On the closing date, your solicitor draws down the mortgage funds from your lender, adds your deposit, and transfers the full purchase price to the seller's solicitor. In return, the title deeds and keys are released. Your solicitor then registers the property in your name with the Property Registration Authority and stamps the deed with Revenue.
The entire process from sale agreed to closing typically takes eight to twelve weeks, though new builds may take longer depending on the construction stage.
What to Watch Out For
Common issues that can cause delays or problems include boundary disputes, missing planning documentation, defective title, and lender conditions that prove difficult to satisfy. An experienced conveyancing solicitor will anticipate these issues and work proactively to resolve them, keeping you informed at every step.