Buying
Mortgage Affordability Calculator
Find the maximum mortgage you could be offered under the Central Bank of Ireland's loan-to-income and loan-to-value rules.
Irish mortgage lenders must follow Central Bank rules that cap loans relative to both your income (loan-to-income) and your deposit (loan-to-value). Enter your income, deposit and buyer category below to see the maximum loan and property price these two rules would allow.
About your mortgage
Determines which Central Bank limits apply.
Income
Leave at €0 if you're applying alone.
Deposit
Maximum mortgage
€240,000
Your income is the limiting factor — you could afford a bigger deposit-driven loan, but the loan-to-income rule caps you first.
Max loan by income (LTI)
€240,000
4x combined income — this is what limits you
Max loan by deposit (LTV)
€270,000
Min. 10% deposit required
Lenders can exceed these limits for up to 15% of their new lending in this category each year — but that's flexibility a bank applies across all its customers, not something you can personally request or rely on.
Estimates only. This calculator is for general guidance and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Always confirm figures with Revenue, the RTB, your lender, or a qualified professional before making a decision.
Last reviewed: 18 June 2026. Sources: Central Bank of Ireland — mortgage measures.
How the limits work
Two separate rules apply, and whichever produces the smaller loan is the one that binds. The loan-to-income (LTI) rule caps your loan at a multiple of your gross income — 4.0x for first-time buyers, 3.5x for second-time or subsequent buyers, and no limit at all for buy-to-let. The loan-to-value (LTV) rule sets a minimum deposit — 10% for first-time and second-time buyers, 30% for buy-to-let — which caps your loan relative to the price you can afford to pay for that deposit.
This calculator applies the published Central Bank limits exactly — it doesn't model individual lender exceptions, which are capped at the bank level (not something you can personally request) and depend on each lender's own credit policy. Your actual maximum offer also depends on a full affordability assessment, including existing debt, other commitments, and lender-specific stress testing.
Frequently asked questions
- How much can I borrow for a mortgage in Ireland?
- Since 1 January 2023, the Central Bank's rules cap regulated lenders at 4.0 times your gross annual income if you're a first-time buyer, or 3.5 times if you're a second-time (or subsequent) buyer. Separately, you need a minimum 10% deposit (first-time or second-time) or 30% deposit (buy-to-let). Whichever of the two limits gives the smaller loan is the one that applies.
- What counts as a first-time buyer for these rules?
- Generally, someone who has never previously purchased or built a residential property to live in, in Ireland or abroad. The Central Bank's mortgage measures use this category specifically for the higher 4.0x loan-to-income limit — it's a different test from schemes like Help to Buy, so check with your lender if your situation isn't straightforward (for example, after a separation).
- Can a lender ever go above these limits?
- Yes, but only at the lender level, not as something you can personally request. Each year, lenders can exceed the limits on up to 15% of their first-time buyer lending, 15% of second-time buyer lending, and 10% of buy-to-let lending, by value. Whether you'd be considered for one of those exceptions is entirely at the lender's discretion.
- Does the loan-to-income limit apply to buy-to-let mortgages?
- No — buy-to-let mortgages aren't subject to a Central Bank loan-to-income limit. They are subject to the loan-to-value limit (minimum 30% deposit), and lenders typically assess affordability separately against expected rental income and their own stress-testing criteria.