The bank is keen to see that you can afford to take on a mortgage and still have enough money left each month to enjoy your new home

Here are some of the things the bank will take into consideration as part of your application:

• Your savings - It is useful to set up a regular savings account to save your deposit. This has the added benefit of showing your ability to save money each month. MortgageSaver is a Bank of Ireland savings product that rewards first-time buyers with a bonus of 10 per cent on the savings in their MortgageSaver account when their mortgage is drawn down.
• Your day-to-day finances - Make sure you manage your accounts so that you don’t go over your credit limit – banks like to see that you have been managing your finances effectively for a period of time before you apply for your mortgage.
• Your other borrowings - It’s a good idea to pay down credit cards and personal loans, if you have any, as much as possible, as additional borrowing could affect the amount you can borrow for your mortgage.
• Additional costs – You will need to show how you can cover additional costs such as stamp duty, legal fees and any additional expenses that might be required to make your new property habitable.

Yes, the bank will take into account the monthly rental payments you have made – it demonstrates your ability to support this level of monthly repayments. You should arrange to pay your rent through your bank account – even if you are living at home and making a contribution to the household. This is the best way to demonstrate regular rent payments over a period.

An online mortgage calculator is a great way to get an indication of how much you could borrow, the deposit you need and what the monthly repayments would be – have a look at the mortgage calculators here.

Valuation: Before you draw down your mortgage, the property will need to be independently valued by a professional valuer – you should expect to pay a fee of between €150 and €250 plus VAT, but this can vary.

Legal fees - You will need to pay legal fees to your own solicitor. As part of your own arrangement you need to agree with him or her whether this is a flat fee or a percentage of the purchase price.

Stamp Duty - Stamp duty will also apply to the purchase. The current rates are 1 per cent of the purchase price up to €1,000,000 and 2 per cent of any value over that.

Insurance/assurance - You will also need life cover and home (buildings) insurance – the costs of these can vary depending on your requirements and circumstances. Life and buildings cover will need to be in place before you draw down your mortgage.

Under Central Bank rules introduced in February 2015, first-time buyers can borrow up to 90 per cent of the value of a property. This means that they will need to have saved at least 10 per cent of the purchase price of their new home. Both applicants must be first-time buyers for a joint mortgage to be a First Time Buyer mortgage.

Yes, Bank of Ireland provides “House-Hunter mortgage approval in principle” which means you can apply for your mortgage before you have found a suitable property. This approval in principle lasts for six months and allows you to house hunt with confidence.

Mortgages of up to 35 years are available to first-time buyers. Terms of up to 30 years are available to those trading up or down.

No. You can apply to Bank of Ireland for a mortgage even if you’re not a Bank of Ireland customer. You will need to provide ID documents for all parties to the mortgage – generally a valid passport or driving licence, and a utility bill (less than six months old) to confirm current permanent address.

Most lenders look for information about your income, employment, living costs and existing loan repayments to help them decide whether you can afford to repay a loan.

If you are a PAYE employee, you will typically need to provide:

• Your most recent P60 (original)
• Your last three months’ payslips
• The last six months bank account statements (if your personal account is not with that bank).

If you are self-employed:

• Your last two years’ certified/audited accounts
• The last six months business bank account statements (if business account is not with that bank).

You may also be required to provide identification documents and confirmation of your address. This is usually a current valid passport or driving licence and recent utility bill.

If your application is approved in principle, the following are examples of documents that you will also be asked to provide: PAYE applicants: a Certificate of Income (a standard form provided by the bank for completion by your employer). Self-employed: your accountant’s or auditor’s written confirmation that your personal/business tax affairs (PAYE/ PRSI/VAT) are up to date, and your management figures for the current trading year.

The application process is the same if you’re self-employed except, instead of a salary, additional documents required include your last two years’ certified/audited accounts, your accountant’s or auditor’s written confirmation that your personal/business tax affairs (PAYE/ PRSI/VAT) are up to date, and your management figures for the current trading year.

Saving for your first home? Get your savings working harder with MortgageSaver from Bank of Ireland and enjoy a 10 per cent bonus on your savings when you draw down a Bank of Ireland mortgage. Find out more here or call 1890 365 345 for details.