Many people in their 20s and 30s fear they will never be able to buy their own home, and it has become especially difficult during the pandemic.
Alison Healy, Today FM's Head of Digital, tweeted about her own experience of trying to buy a house:
Trying to buy a house in a pandemic?
Enjoy insane bidding wars between you and 12 other parties (TWELVE) who have never even set foot in the house resulting in offers going in at €70,000 (🤢) over asking.
This has honest-to-gaff happened 3 times in the last week 🙃 pic.twitter.com/rZ15Ogh9Bu— Alison Healy (@allyhealy) March 10, 2021
Michael Dowling, managing director of Michael Dowling Mortgage and Financial Services, says he is dealing with clients in the same position.
Under new guidelines agreed by the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers and the Society of Chartered Surveyors of Ireland, you cannot view a property unless it is sale agreed and the contracts are drafted for the sale of the property.
Alison and Michael spoke to Matt about this issue on The Last Word.