Buying a home in Ireland while living in Australia: One young couple's experience
Moving from Australia, baby and all!
Breffnie first connected with these clients when they emailed her from Australia, having been recommended her service by an Irish estate agent who was selling a property that this young couple’s relative was viewing on their behalf. They are a young, married, Irish couple who have decided to move back to Ireland. As well as planning this move they are expecting their first child.
Prior to calling Breffnie, they had been trying, remotely, through family members, to view properties and bid on properties and it was not working.
They were at a bit of a loss, in a different time zone;
They were trying to navigate the often long winded Irish real estate system;
They were at the mercy of whatever spare time their families could afford and so there wasn't enough momentum to get this deal done.
A real estate agent recommended Breffnie
In fact it was a real estate agent who recommended they contact Breffnie.
Breffnie spoke with the couple on the phone. They wondered would it be possible for them to purchase a property from Australia, without ever setting foot in Ireland. Would it be legally possible?
Breffnie assured them that it was indeed possible. The couple had a good sense of what they were looking for and where they were hoping to live. Breffnie’s role was to refine their brief to ensure total clarity. Then she viewed the properties, making descriptive videos to share with the clients.
Breffnie also undertook a price comparison review, not only of properties that were for sale but also of rental properties to ensure that they understood exactly how the market was currently. Breffnie also found them a mortgage broker, a solicitor and a surveyor, all essential professionals in a house purchase. Breffnie then liaised with these professionals on their behalf. It wasn’t plain sailing: a bid was accepted on an apartment and then the vendor pulled out. Subsequently an apartment was found at a keener price in the same block so all was well that ended well!
A clear plan of action
The particular issues for these clients were no access to professionals on the ground and being located in a different time zone. Breffnie set out a clear plan of action and working process from the outset. She uses Zoom in order to be able to talk and share her screen to discuss properties and documents more easily.
They purchased the property, Breffnie found them a property agent and the property is being let while awaiting their return from Australia.
You can listen to the full five case studies on this episode of At Home with Breffnie
All episodes of At Home With Breffnie are available on iTunes and Podbean.
Subscribe and get the latest about property buying in Ireland.
