1 - Planning Ahead

Planning ahead will help you make progress towards your goals and show lenders that you are prepared, which could make it easier for you to get a mortgage.

Key Steps:

Build up a solid savings balance - 100% mortgages are no longer available and so savings are important. A good savings history will make your application more appealing to lending institutions and will no doubt come in handy with the deposit. If you do not have any savings then maybe a family member could help you out with the deposit.
Cut your borrowing - Most lenders work out how much you can borrow based on your outgoings as well as your income. Reducing your outgoings, car loans, credit cards ect, will give you more to spend on your home. And as you pay off any borrowing, it will become easier for you to save.
Polish up your credit record - Lenders will look at different things but in general it will help if you have a good credit rating, especially if you need a large mortgage. Pay your outgoings, rent, credit cards and loans ect, by direct debit if possible and try to keep your bank account in good order.

You can check your credit rating with the Irish Credit Bureau at www.icb.ie

Next: working out what you can afford