Balbriggan: Commuter Houses in North County Dublin

Balbriggan is a coastal town on the Dublin-Belfast rail line, about 30 km north of the capital. The commuter trains are a big draw. Swords, Malahide and Portmarnock are closer to Dublin and typically pricier, while Drogheda lies north in County Louth. Finglas and Glasnevin are Dublin city suburbs and a different market.

Foreign buyers face no general restrictions. A solicitor handles contracts, and stamp duty is 1% on homes up to €1 million and 2% from €1m to €1.5m and 6% above €1.5m. Bidding often happens before contracts, so arrange finance first. Non-resident mortgages are difficult to obtain, and government first-time buyer schemes are for residents. Read the Ireland guide and mortgage options.

Many Balbriggan homes are in suburban estates built over the last few decades. Ask for the BER energy rating, the age of the boiler and windows, and whether the estate has been taken in charge by the council. Check for any pyrite or mica issues in homes built in affected periods, an issue some buyers in Ireland face; a surveyor can advise. Management fees apply to apartments.