Find out how much you can borrow for an Irish mortgage. Our calculator applies the Central Bank of Ireland's mortgage lending rules — including the loan-to-income (LTI) limit and loan-to-value (LTV) limit — to give you a realistic borrowing estimate for 2026.
Loan-to-Value (LTV)
The ratio of a mortgage loan to the property's value, expressed as a percentage — the headline metric for how much equity a buyer has and what rate they can get.
Loan-to-Income (LTI)
The ratio of a mortgage loan to the borrower's gross annual income — the Central Bank caps this at 4× for most Irish buyers.
Mortgage Stress Test
The Central Bank requirement that lenders assess affordability at an interest rate at least 2 percentage points above the offer rate before approving a mortgage.
Help-to-Buy (HTB)
An Irish tax-relief scheme refunding up to €30,000 of income tax and DIRT paid in the prior four years toward a new-build home deposit for first-time buyers.
This calculator applies the Central Bank of Ireland’s macro-prudential mortgage rules. The loan-to-income (LTI) limit caps mortgage borrowing at 4× gross annual income (or combined income for joint applications). The loan-to-value (LTV) limit caps borrowing at 90% for first-time buyers and 80% for second-time buyers. Your maximum mortgage is the lower of the LTI and LTV limits, and the mortgage stress test further constrains affordability based on net disposable income. Some lenders may apply stricter internal credit policies.
Under Central Bank rules, you can borrow up to 4 times your gross annual income. For a single person earning €60,000, this means a maximum mortgage of €240,000. For a couple earning €90,000 combined, the maximum is €360,000. The LTV limit also applies: first-time buyers need at least a 10% deposit, second-time buyers need 20%.
The Central Bank of Ireland limits mortgage lending to 4 times gross annual income. This means if you earn €50,000 and your partner earns €40,000, your combined income is €90,000 and the maximum mortgage is €360,000. Some lenders may offer exceptions above the LTI limit in limited cases.
First-time buyers need a minimum deposit of 10% (LTV of 90%). Second-time buyers (and those who have previously owned a property) need a minimum of 20% deposit. Buy-to-let investors need at least 30% deposit.
Lenders consider basic salary, guaranteed bonus, regular overtime, commission (averaged over 2-3 years), rental income, and certain State payments. Variable income (bonuses, commission) is often weighted at 50%. If you're self-employed, lenders typically average your net profit over the last two to three years.
Yes — banks can issue a proportion of mortgages above the LTI limit each year as 'exceptions'. First-time buyers may be able to borrow up to 4.5x income in some cases. However, exceptions are at the lender's discretion and typically require strong creditworthiness and stable employment.
A practical Q&A on the maximum mortgage you can get in Ireland in 2026 — the 4× and 3.5× income multipliers, the 90% LTV deposit rule, the lender stress test, and which constraint actually binds at your salary level.
The Central Bank of Ireland's mortgage rules set limits on how much you can borrow relative to income and property value. Here's what the rules say in 2026 and how lenders actually apply them.
Last updated: January 2026 · Rates sourced from Revenue
