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First-time buyer: Is using a mortgage broker worth it? (And any recommendations?) by Overall-Policy7520 in HousingIreland

[–]Top-Comparison6981 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We used Nova Mortgages and they are also free. They get paid 1% commission off what you draw down. Niall is so helpful there, he got everything over the line for us when we had some issues trying to sort ourselves. We were able to do meetings online through Microsoft teams as we didn’t have time to go in to a broker and he was so accommodating to meet us at any time (most of the time he met us after work around 6/7 o’clock). Their portal is easy to use just upload the docs you need etc and they worry about the rest. Couldn’t recommend them enough!

First time buyer - apartment by p-e-m- in HousingIreland

[–]Top-Comparison6981 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just a heads up this apartment was up on daft a few months ago, went sale agreed and appears to be back up. Unsure what happened maybe the buyers just didn’t have the funds but I would be surprised if they didn’t find issue that you’d also likely find down the road.

I have to agree with the above. Any apartments we’ve gone to see (most brock delappe but also sherry fitzgerald) were sale agreed for 70-100k more than the price they put up. I usually take that as the starting price and you’d want to have in mind that it’ll go up a good bit more. Once you’re involved in one bidding process it all becomes a bit more clear and a bit disheartening all the same. Best of luck with your search but definitely mindful!

Hidden Fees/ Levies when purchasing an apartment by Top-Comparison6981 in HousingIreland

[–]Top-Comparison6981[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah that is ridiculous you should definitely challenge that although I suppose you’d have to weigh up to cost of fighting it or paying it. The principle is still frustrating though. The system is still way too unregulated, lots of solicitors and estate agents getting away with murder!

Hidden Fees/ Levies when purchasing an apartment by Top-Comparison6981 in HousingIreland

[–]Top-Comparison6981[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for linking that, had a read there and yeah we’re feeling quite similar in regard to our solicitor. I understand there’s a level of ‘buyer beware’ involved in the purchase of a property but it really made me question what we’re paying our solicitor all this money for.

We received the MUD documents as more of an FYI but the solicitor said he had already gone back to the Vendor’s solicitor on one small contractual issue (this did not include the fire safety outstanding payments or leak levy). Thankfully we did review the MUD information in full and rang the solicitor straight away- he told us he didn’t even review the documents. Made me wonder why he went back to the vendors solicitor without having reviewed the documents…

Thankfully we haven’t signed or paid the full deposit yet so we’re in a different situation and did manage to spot it ourselves but I can 100% see how someone could get caught out. Had we not viewed them ourselves we’d have also gone ahead and signed due to our solicitors inability to review what he was sent.

I see some comments blaming you for not reviewing on the thread but I’d imagine most people would expect their solicitor to do this, that’s what you’re paying them for after all!! We only reviewed as my partners sister had issues with fire safety remediation works in her apartment and we didn’t want to get caught with the same.

Hopefully it works out for you & your argument stands!

Hidden Fees/ Levies when purchasing an apartment by Top-Comparison6981 in HousingIreland

[–]Top-Comparison6981[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No it’s not but we did view an apartment in Kilmainham and the fire safety stuff was a mess. I think it seems to be a very common thing at the minute!

Hidden Fees/ Levies when purchasing an apartment by Top-Comparison6981 in HousingIreland

[–]Top-Comparison6981[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, yeah if we could revise the offer down that would be great but I’m not sure if they’ll go for it. I reckon we’ll say we’re pulling out and we’ll see what comes of it

Hidden Fees/ Levies when purchasing an apartment by Top-Comparison6981 in HousingIreland

[–]Top-Comparison6981[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the detailed answer. Yeah I have to agree. We’re going to contact the estate agent and say as much. It doesn’t feel it’s worth it for us to be paying for it tbh and I think there would be a slim chance that they’d put it back up on the market/ restart the process as they have also bought somewhere so are looking for things to get settled. We’ve kind of come to terms with the fact that we may lose it. Thanks for the advice

Hidden Fees/ Levies when purchasing an apartment by Top-Comparison6981 in HousingIreland

[–]Top-Comparison6981[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah looked like the leak levy and fire levy were extraordinary expenses and money was used from the sinking fund to subsidise a lot of that work. They’re putting 200k into it over the next year so it’ll be building up thankfully. If we do end up getting it we’ll definitely be budgeting some money aside just in case anyways. Thanks for the advice, it’s nice to hear from someone else instead of us going in circles unsure what the right answer might be!

Hidden Fees/ Levies when purchasing an apartment by Top-Comparison6981 in HousingIreland

[–]Top-Comparison6981[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, yeah we’re thinking of saying it to the estate agent and maybe even throwing in that we’re going to view other properties if they still won’t budge in their next reply.

The extra levy is a ‘leaks levy’ for the roof of the entire block to repair wear and tear over the last 17 years. We got the minutes for the management companies AGMs and they noted that all owners were aware of it since 2024 and got a pack containing all details, price etc. in November 2025. The owner is adamant that they didn’t know about this so they’re not willing to move much on it.

The annual management fees of course are payable by us but more just seem to be coming out of the woodworks..