Moving back to Dublin, talk to me about the house market

[Paq]

Early on in contemplating a move back to Ireland after 20+ years away and naively horrified at the price of houses! 😱

Has anyone bought a house in Dublin recently? What's it like?

Family home sold for circa 700k a year ago, northside of Dublin. 3 bed semi, big garden, decent area but not somewhere with a 'name' if you get me.

Where are you looking to buy?

Its crazy. The areas you might have avoided in your youth are the places which are affordable now. Alternatively plan to commute if you know where you'll be working, you'll get way more house and have less school placement issues.

I would also look at the commuter belt like maybe Meath or Kildare. You will get something far more affordable and transport is getting better here if you disregard the metro which I believe they planned on starting in around 1984 lol

Are there commuter towns that are also nice to live in?

I am spoiled right now - large 4 bed house with lovely garden. 15 minute cycle to work. I always thought I would retire back to Ireland in 10-15 years time. Only thinking of moving back now because the UK is a bit of a shitshow and my industry in particular is being trashed by government policy failures.

Schools are not a consideration btw - DD is close to finishing secondary education. Just me, DH and the dog.

Family member bought a house there recently. Two and a half bedrooms attached on both sides. Tiny garden and in quite an undesirable area at the edge of the City. They paid 500K plus. The only reason they got it at that price was because the couple selling were divorcing and wanted it sold fast and family member was not in a Chain.

Here's an Irish time guide - A guide to Ireland’s popular commuter towns: house prices, transport links and education – The Irish Times https://share.google/dgLmBNfhkCcQDJ465

Depends what you want really, and how close you want to be to family and Dublin itself. I know the north better - Navan is underrated, and there is lots of new estates, Rush and Lusk seem very popular these days too. But people commute from Wexford and Waterford these days. Pick an upgraded motorway or a train line and see where you fancy.

Kind of depends what you are looking for - close to a beach, close to parks, a more city vibe. Many variables. Loads of lovely places but loads of shiteholes too. Do you drive?

Where are you likely to be working, @Paq? Put it this way, my brother is commuting from Carlow on the days when he has to be in the office in Dublin.

I'd look at Arklow. It's on the main Dub/Wex train line.
It's in Co Wicklow, or as the locals would say, Aaarkla is in Wickla

Property prices there seem to be a bit lower than elsewhere. A friend of mine looked at houses there a few years ago, and was put off by the wastewater set-up there at that time.. lack of pre-treatment, if you get what I mean...

There is now a brand new wastewater treatment plant in operation since the end of last year, and I wouldn't be surprised if Arklow became more popular and therefore more expensive.
Currently the median price for a semi-d is listed at €350k ish
Property Sales in Arklow, Wicklow (2025) | HousePrice.ie

It's an interesting town with a long history of ship/boat building.
Arklow Town - Arklow Heritage Museum
Arklow is also the home town of the wonderful Róisín Murphy, though I don't expect that will butter any parsnips for you

Thanks for the link @turkeyboots My target employers are in the city centre and southside. I do drive but I'd prefer to commute by public transport.

@MarieDeGournay I have a cousin in Arklow but 1.5+ hours train to Dublin - ouch! Even on hybrid working that is a long day.

Maynooth, Kilcock maybe worth a look or the other side of Ashbourne etc.

It all depends on your budget - do you have an idea of what this might be: . The nicer parts of Dublin north and south, are on the coast and I would also look along the Luas and Dart lines.

If you have the budget, places like Malahide , Dun Laoghaire, Howth are
lovely and well served by public transport

Imagine how bad it might be, then double that. Which isn't to say don't do it, property prices aside I think Ireland is currently better to live in than UK. But that's just an opinion, and also I bought 25 years ago so very cushioned.

Hi OP, if you will both be working, can you commute early/late to avoid traffic and if yes, will you get parking with your jobs?
Remember too, as we get older (not saying you are old) we need services like hospitals and being able to drive there easily or take a taxi is a must.
I have a friend who 20 years ago married into a farming family and got a beautiful house and land with a view and just stunning surrounds but her refrain to me every single year, as the weather gets colder, wetter and daylight is but a memory is “ you can’t live in a view”.

So, coming from the UK, what facilities will you not compromise on? That will help you eliminate some counties/towns.
Additionally, will you need easy access to the airport and maybe an airport shuttle that services your chosen area if your adults kids will come to visit?

As others have said, unless you are selling a decently sized house in SE or Greater London, be prepared to nit be able to afford to live where you grew up, unless you downsize in a big way. The Irish Times article posted above is a very good take on things here. But do investigate Proper.ie to see what the sale price is for houses in the areas you want to buy.

Its an hour commute to dublin city from carlow. Plenty of places in dublin take longer to get to if you were going north to south on m50 you wouldnt do it in an hour. Carlow has decent housing, pubs, restraunts near bigger cites and good transport to dublin. Portlaoise , portarlington and navan be similar. It really depends if op will be living city centre and working or what level of commute suits

Thanks all, much appreciated. My budget is totally unrealistic for Dublin prices so I either need to triple my salary or give up on my dream completely 😀 I would net around £600k from a property sale and we have about £100k in other investments. I suppose I could take on a decent mortgage but I am pretty close to paying it off so that would be a galling.

The alternative is to stay put until retirement and buy somewhere in the country or on the west coast.

I'd love to move back Paq but living in UK 18 years now - DC going through Scottish Highers. I don't think we'd get back into the housing market so staying put. All best luck to you.

A colleague is currently house hunting in the south city suburbs. She's got 4 bed semi here already but is looking to up size from that Everything she's interested in is going for 100k - 200k over asking price. She's now considering staying put and doing an attic conversion instead!

You will definitely get something in a nice area for the budget without a mortgage . That's about 750k euro . You'd get a 3 bed semi near us in Stepaside for that and it's a lovely south side village - near the mountains , you can see the sea, on the Luas line , near lots of good towns !
And there are many equivalent areas so I think you will be fine .

Look at myhome.ie and check Malahide and a highest price of 700k and there are several decent 3 bed semis.

The south side will be pricier as will closer to the city.

Thank you all sincerely. I won’t give up on my homecoming dream just yet.

I will come across as a total princess but I am having trouble imagining downsizing to a bog standard semi in an blah street in exchange for my entire worldly goods. I live in a big detached 4 bed, large garden, garage, home office in the garden, private lane, moments from a lovely town centre and award winning beaches. 15 minutes to work. Just a shame it’s in the UK!

If it was just me I’d be happy in a studio apartment in the best Dublin location I could afford, but DH has different views.

I was looking 2 years ago - on a salary of €97k, and with a €50k deposit and no other loans, I could get a mortgage big enough for a 1 bed flat in Tallaght (not the nice part). There was an article in yesterday’s Irish Times about someone commuting 3 hours each way from Leitrim after 20+ years of renting in Dublin, as the only way she could buy a house. Many colleagues are only managing because they have bought outside of Dublin and only need to be in the office 2 days/week.

We could swap so! Im half an hour from dub city centre myself but bought a long time ago. Your set up sounds amazing, not sure I would rush home to give up what you have being honest it sounds amazing.

Ah then Dublin just isn’t realistic - wow houses within 15 minutes public transport of the city centre ,or even within an hour train/bus from the city, are generally hugely expensive.

It’s kind of like London in that way, it’s horrible anyone starting off