Bray Real Estate: Houses and Apartments for Sale in Wicklow

Bray has a long seafront promenade, Bray Head and the cliff walk to Greystones, plus a DART and rail station that gets you into Dublin in under an hour. The Dublin Mountains and Wicklow Mountains are close. Greystones is the closest listed town, a short drive or walk along the cliffs. Dun Laoghaire, Blackrock, Foxrock, Dundrum and Donnybrook are Dublin suburbs on the coast and rail routes to the north, giving a price comparison.

Irish sales are often agreed above the asking price, especially for good three-bed houses within walking distance of the DART, so look at recent sold prices on the national property register rather than relying on adverts. Ask about the Building Energy Rating (BER), because a poor rating raises running costs, and about management company fees for apartments, which can be considerable in older blocks.

If you are a non-resident, a solicitor will ask for proof of funds and identity to meet anti-money-laundering rules. Allow time for these checks and for surveys, since coastal homes can have damp or salt-air wear that a survey will flag. Local property tax and water charges are small but should be in your budget.

Foreigners can buy freely. Stamp duty is 1% up to €1m and 2% from €1m to €1.5m and 6% above €1.5m, plus legal fees and Land Registry costs, so verify the current rates. Sales are agreed subject to contract, then a solicitor handles closing, which can take two to three months.

Read the Ireland buying guide, Irish financing and the Ireland country page.