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Irish abroad: ‘One local called me a potato eater . . . ironically, he was eating cheesy fries at the time'

Irish Times

a day ago

Business
Irish Times

Irish abroad: ‘One local called me a potato eater . . . ironically, he was eating cheesy fries at the time'

When I first moved to the UK , I said I'd give it six months. Now it's been six years and I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever leave. Last year I was fortunate enough to buy my first home. The elation of the achievement was tempered by the fright of having done so in London. I don't remember making a conscious choice to stay here permanently, but maybe this is it. Milestones like these hammer home the reality of living abroad. Detached from my support network, out on my own. Back in Ireland , I'd have had an instinct for the property market in terms of location and what an area might be like to live in. My parents might have popped along to a viewing and offered an opinion on how much they felt the apartment was worth. READ MORE Buying over here left me at the mercy of English estate agents. With their severe haircuts and ill-fitting suits, they look like they're running late for an Andrew Tate seminar. It starts with an oily handshake, then the lies start. 'The sellers have turned down multiple offers already.' 'The neighbours are all really lovely.' 'I kissed a girl at the weekend. No, you don't know her. She goes to a different school.' Cillian Murphy moved his family to Cork when his kids started speaking with posh English accents. I can only imagine the pain. Of course, I wouldn't abandon my child if they spoke like that, but I'd probably love them 10 per cent less. 'Papa, take Poppy and I to Waitrose to buy hummus. I'm ever so hungry.' My real fear is staying in the UK so long that I go full Pierce Brosnan The urge to put him or her in a basket and leave them on the steps of a church would be overpowering. The lilt of our voices is the birthright of any Irish baby. How we sound is our only natural advantage when we move away. Without it, we're just freckled alcoholics with translucent skin, doomed to walk the earth for eternity in a state of bleary-eyed shame. Nosferatu in an Aran jumper. Murphy was right to take his children home. It was the humane thing to do. The accent is our superpower. Meandering, dull stories become charming. Incoherent mumbling is mistaken for poetry. Birthing a baby with an Irish head but denying them the accent is an act of child cruelty. This is not universally true. There are those who hear the gentle rhythm of our speech and are overcome with a poisonous envy. Years ago, I was standing outside a kebab shop in Western Australia when a local turned to me and called me a 'potato eater'. The irony was that he was eating cheesy fries at the time. Who knows if I'll have a child or not. My real fear is staying in the UK so long that I go full Pierce Brosnan. So far removed from my origin that I become an awkward facsimile of myself. Half-remembered visions of my childhood blurring with drunken fever dreams. Perched on a barstool in a silk cravat, waxing lyrical about the old country to anyone who will listen. 'I do miss Éire,' I'd slur. 'My father built our family home from clay and sticks on the banks of the River Liffey. I often wonder if it's still standing.' Perhaps I should reflect less on what I might be losing and consider what it is that I've gained by leaving Ireland. [ The Irish diaspora setting up and running businesses abroad Opens in new window ] [ The New York island that is the final resting place for thousands of Irish emigrants Opens in new window ] Living in a foreign country gives you the chance to look at yourself a little differently, to try doing things another way. Part of it might just be a function of getting older. But, since living in London, I've definitely taken chances that I never did back home. Starting a new life is hard. Emigrating forces you to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. It's challenging, but you might just surprise yourself with how much you can handle. When things feel like too much and you feel like going home, that is actually the very moment that you should stay. Unless, of course, your kids start sounding like they're in Downton Abbey. Then it's probably time to go. Sign up to The Irish Times Abroad newsletter for Irish-connected people around the world. Here you'll find readers' stories of their lives overseas, plus news, business, sports, opinion, culture and lifestyle journalism relevant to Irish people around the world If you live overseas and would like to share your experience with Irish Times Abroad, you can use the form below, or email abroad@ with a little information about you and what you do. Thank you

Property asking prices hit another record high - but it's still a buyer's market

Daily Mail

18-05-2025

Business
Daily Mail

Property asking prices hit another record high - but it's still a buyer's market

Property asking prices have hit another record high, according to Rightmove. The asking prices of newly-listed homes went up by £2,335 (0.6 per cent) in May to hit £379,517, Britain's biggest property portal revealed. Despite reaching a record high, May's price increase is the lowest at this time of year since 2016, reflecting a more subdued spring market. This, Rightmove, said, is because the number of homes on the market has risen to levels not seen in a decade. More homes on the market means sellers are in competition to find a buyer for their property, which can keep prices in check. There has been a 32 per cent increase in the number of sellers who have changed estate agents after struggling to snag a buyer, according to Rightmove's data. This reflects the high market competition, and the frustration of some owners that their homes aren't selling. Colleen Babcock, property expert at Rightmove, said: 'The ten-year high choice of homes for sale means that sellers need to be aware of the level of competition they're facing for the attention of buyers, and the prices that are being advertised in their location. 'In the current market, buyers may well have several similar homes to choose from in their area, and a home which appears over-priced compared to the competition may not get a second look. 'This month's price increase being the lowest in May for nine years is a sign of a market that favours buyers and is more subdued than usual.' What next for house prices? Looking ahead, mortgage rates will be crucial in determining the level of buyer activity for the rest of the year. They have been trickling downwards, and there is hope that the recent interest rate cut by the Bank of England, the second of the year, may spur on further reductions from lenders. The cheapest available two-year fixed mortgage rate is now 3.72 per cent, down from 4.75 per cent last year. On a £200,000 mortgage being repaid over 25 years, that's the difference between paying £1,025 a month and £1,140 a month. Average earnings have also been going up and are now over 5 per cent ahead of this time last year, outpacing annual house price growth which is now at only 1.2 per cent. Some buyers may also find they are able to borrow now than they were at the start of the year. A number of major mortgage lenders have been relaxing their affordability rules helping buyers to borrow more. Last week, Nationwide Building Society adjusted its 'stress rates' - the hypothetical higher mortgage rates it tests borrowers' finances against when they apply for a mortgage or remortgage. Lenders do this to check whether borrowers could still afford their monthly payments if their mortgage rate increased. Nationwide reduced its stress rates by between 0.75 and 1.25 percentage points, meaning the average borrower could be loaned £28,000 more. Tomer Aboody, director of specialist lender MT Finance, said: 'As interest rates reduce, we should see affordability increase which in turn will encourage buyers to be active. This should produce a more buoyant market with higher transaction levels. 'In the meantime, buyers and sellers may well take stock of the current economic climate and wait and see before making their move. 'If there is another rate reduction in the latter half of the year, we could see a big rush in activity in the final quarter.' Estate agent Knight Frank recently revised its forecasts for house price growth this year. It now predicts that house prices will rise by 3.5 per cent over the course of 2025, up from 2.5 per cent previously. The change was made because of how much the interest rate outlook has improved. Markets now expect interest rates of about 3.5 per cent this time next year, which compares to an estimate of more than 4.25 per cent in early January. Even so, Knight Frank says that it remains firmly a buyer's market. 'Buyers are able to take their time at the moment because they have so much to choose from,' said Andrew Groocock, chief operating officer at Knight Frank. 'That sort of competition means sellers need to get the asking price right when the property is first launched. 'Even after a reduction, the risk is that a property has already become stale in the minds of buyers, which means it can then take longer to sell or the chances of it falling through are higher.' Best mortgage rates and how to find them Mortgage rates have risen substantially over recent years, meaning that those remortgaging or buying a home face higher costs. That makes it even more important to search out the best possible rate for you and get good mortgage advice. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you To help our readers find the best mortgage, This is Money has partnered with the UK's leading fee-free broker L&C. This is Money and L&C's mortgage calculator can let you compare deals to see which ones suit your home's value and level of deposit. You can compare fixed rate lengths, from two-year fixes, to five-year fixes and ten-year fixes. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use This is Money and L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you.

Selling Sunset it isn't: The secrets and reality of an estate agent's job

Irish Times

13-05-2025

Business
Irish Times

Selling Sunset it isn't: The secrets and reality of an estate agent's job

Real life doesn't imitate the art of reality TV. While the popular Netflix series, Selling Sunset, features flawlessly manicured agents in Los Angeles showing off telephone-number-priced homes and competing against other realtors, here in Ireland, the ins and outs of selling a home are rather different. And, needless to say, they don't involve an agent rocking up to a viewing in a swanky car, swinging a bunch of keys, poised to woo a prospective buyer with some outlandish purple property prose. Behind the scenes, estate agents can be called upon to be all manner of things from counsellor, to accountant, to divorce lawyer. They're glorified cleaners too as one agent, who didn't want to be named, explains. 'If you have a fox problem, that's an issue that people ignore,' she says, recalling several occasions where she had to arrive early to viewings to remove a fox's droppings from the back garden before opening the front door Selling Sunset: Heather Rae Young, Chrishell Stause and Mary Fitzgerald. Photograph: Netflix Suzanne Hawe, associate director of DNG Bray in Co Wicklow, an estate agent with more than 30 years in the business, sees her job as more of a vocation. She's a fan of the Sydney-set Luxe Listings but says that selling homes, particularly those that are vacant, is a very different proposition to the one that's presented on the screen. Would you buy from those guys? she asks. 'What you see on TV is a whole other world. We are sole agents and act for the vendor. We have to be on time, presented well and knowledgeable. You have to be very present, so phones are off,' she says. READ MORE 'You have to get there a half an hour early to take post off the hallway floor, check that no one has broken in or that a bird hasn't flown down the chimney and deposited droppings all over the furnishings and furniture,' says Haw. The Irish market is controlled by those aged 40 to 80 years of age, and they expect a trusted agent to dress in a certain way That's all in a day's work, she says, and while 90 per cent of vendors will go the proverbial extra mile to find a buyer for their home, she still likes to add her own decorative touches. 'A bowl of fruit or a bunch of fresh flowers does make a difference to vacant properties. I often bring along bunches of flowers and have vases for them in the boot of my Seat Ibiza.' Smart attire is the professional dress code, she says. 'I wear trousers with high shoes but also have wellies in my boot. I have a property in Enniskerry on a lot of land that I'm selling and there's no way I'm walking around it in my stilettos.' Estate agent Owen Reilly. Photograph: Fennell Photography 'There are parts of the job that I find glamorous: selling unique properties and meeting their owners,' says Dublin-based agent Owen Reilly . The main differences between real-life selling in Ireland and the shows we watch on TV is that the fees here are a lot lower and the average prices there are a lot higher.' He has had some on-screen experience himself, having appeared on the RTÉ show, Selling Ireland's Most Exclusive Homes. As with its more exotically located counterparts, the show is professionally scripted. At one property, however, it wasn't enough for Reilly to deliver his lines to camera. 'The vendor's son was off-camera interrupting and trying to control what I said. That was a bit uncomfortable.' [ Renovations: An interior designer's advice on how to make them easier Opens in new window ] Buyers now expect magazine levels of curation, he says. Ten years ago, to ready a home for sale he weeded gardens and washed windows. Now it's all about staging. He estimates that about 50 per cent of the homes on his books are staged to some degree for sale. 'Costs range from €4,000 to €40,000, depending on the size of the property. This staging can extend right down to the bed linen and judiciously placed dressing gowns, slippers and even laptops and books. Viewers think the vendors live there.' Reilly is a firm believer in the importance of presentation. 'One new member of the team rocked up in a suit and a pair of white runners. I'm a suit-and-tie guy. The Irish market is controlled by those aged 40 to 80 years of age, and they expect a trusted agent to dress in a certain way.' Guy Doherty, director at SherryFitzGerald Sutton Guy Doherty, a director at Sherry FitzGerald's Sutton branch in Dublin, cannot bring himself to watch the Netflix series. 'It's not real and you're talking about the one per cent of buyers. In real life it is anything but glamorous,' he says. 'It's hard graft, and it isn't nine-to-five.' As for looking the part, he drives a Lexus. 'While there is a bit of a cultural shift, if I showed up in a Nissan Micra or a Ferrari, I wouldn't get the business as I'm [being seen as] either not doing well or doing too well.' There's an element of psychology to it too, he says. 'We're dealing with people. A marriage break-up can be very difficult. It doesn't mean one wants to sell. Communication can be tricky. It can be complicated if one is still living in the house. [ Influencer James Kavanagh on life in Kilkenny: 'I wanted a big house, the fantasy of a big house' Opens in new window ] 'You have to be highly organised and adaptable too,' he says. 'Things get delayed and people are late. You have to get there ahead of everybody. If you arrive on time, you're late. It is stressful.' Even after all these years, the thought of arriving to a viewing with the wrong set of keys is enough to wake him up in the middle of the night. He says 50 per cent of the work happens after the sale has been agreed, chasing up the various parties to see that contracts are signed to ensure that a sale is completed. 'There's a lot of calls to both the vendor and the buyer's solicitors involved,' he says. Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir candle 'In these programmes it's always plain sailing. They show the house and the buyers are fabulous', says Louise Kenny, divisional director at Lisney Sotheby's International Realty . 'There is nothing about why a house is for sale, or if a sale falls through,' she notes. Behind the scenes Kenny often has had to make beds, clean kitchens, plump cushions and tie back curtains so that the house she is showing is presentable. She also likes to light a scented candle, with Jo Malone's Pomegranate Noir being her go-to scent. At Saturday morning viewings there tends to be a lot of traffic, with families with children who've just come off playing fields posing a particular challenge. She asks all her house viewers to don blue plastic shoe covers to keep the floors clean, and leads by example by wearing them over her own high heels. It's not just a sales job, she says, explaining that people sell houses for all kinds of reasons. 'You can be dealing with very delicate situations. You don't see the emotions behind the sales. It could be the death of a spouse, and you sit down to listen to them and discuss whether they sell or stay. They might not sell for two years. 'Families can be tricky and complicated, and you have to give them time and patience and the right advice. A lot of the groundwork is done before. It's not just a sales job. It's about building the relationship before the sale. There's a lot more to it than opening the door and lighting candles.'

How interest rate cuts will help revive our flagging housing market

Times

08-05-2025

Business
Times

How interest rate cuts will help revive our flagging housing market

The spring housing market is traditionally a hive of activity, with homes flanked by gardens of tulips and daffodils flying off estate agents' shelves like hotcakes. However, this spring has been a season of two drastically contrasting halves. After a frenetic start in March, where buyers set new records for deals done and mortgages taken out, it all went very quiet in April and sellers have been left pleading for attention ever since. In early spring, before the cheaper rate of stamp duty expired on March 31, there was a flurry of activity, as buyers — particularly first-timers — desperately struggled to get over the line with their purchases to make tax savings averaging £6,000 in London and the southeast. As a result of this

UK House Sales Gauge Hits Lowest Since 2023, Estate Agents Say

Bloomberg