The Crazy House Prices Podcast

Ep 43: Mushrooms, The Script & The "Illegal" Housing Estate

Quick roundup of Ireland's housing madness - from a damp garden studio with mushrooms (you read that right) to families stuck after paying deposits, a brutal shortage of tradespeople slowing construction, and even a cheeky idea to crowdfund a historic mansion.

Join me for 12-minute cut-through of the week’s wildest stories, a bit of context, and a couple of hopeful wins that might actually matter to you.

Sponsors: Beat the Bank

Please support the Podcast and Instagram if you can over on my Patreon

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and if you want to support the page and podcast, head over to my Patreon and get access to over 100 extra exclusive podcasts.

Ep 42: Deleted PR Video & 50-Year Mortgages: Ireland’s Housing News

Quick roundup of the recent Irish housing chaos: a tone-deaf government video got pulled, 50-year mortgage ideas are floating around (terrible idea), the central bank’s calling out weak housing targets, and the EU’s finally moving on illegal Airbnb rentals. There’s also a new digital bank in town and mortgage rates are starting to fall; some good bits amid the nonsense.

If you care about buying, renting or just not being priced out, this episode packs the latest stats, a bit of ranting, and useful context to help you make sense of it all.

You can order my book: "How to buy a home in Ireland" here

Sponsors: Financial Planning Matters

Please support the Podcast and Instagram if you can over on my Patreon

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and if you want to support the page and podcast, head over to my Patreon and get access to over 100 extra exclusive podcasts.

Ep 41: Mortgage Masterclass - Your Complete Guide to Getting a Mortgage in 2026

In today’s episode I’m joined by Sinéad O’Carroll from Finance Solutions to break down the full mortgage process in a clear, practical way.
We talk through what you should have in place before applying, how lenders look at income and repayment ability, why your credit report matters, and why using a broker can save you time and stress.

We also answer the questions you sent in, including:

• Borrowing above the purchase price for renovations
• How mortgage exemptions work and who qualifies
• Switching your mortgage when your home’s value has increased
• What second-time buyers need to know when selling and buying at the same time
• Buying far from your workplace when you’re remote or hybrid
• How banks assess mixed PAYE and self-employed income
• Common credit report issues and how long they stay on record

If you’re hoping to buy in 2026, planning to switch, or want to understand how lenders make their decisions, this episode will give you a full roadmap.

Follow @crazyhouseprices on Instagram for more insights.
To support the podcast and access extra Q&As, you can join my Patreon for €3 a month.

Sponsor: Finance Solutions - experts in mortgages and winners of Best Mortgage Broker at the 2025 Brokers Ireland Awards.

Ep 40: How to Cope with Housing Stress with Ann Bracken

Psychotherapist Ann Bracken joins me to talk about the emotional toll the housing crisis is taking on people across Ireland — and what you can do to manage it.

We cover:

• Why housing stress puts you in survival mode

• How it affects sleep, mood, and relationships

• Tools to calm your nervous system and feel more in control

• What’s in your control (and what isn’t)

• How to build resilience without burning out

This isn’t medical advice, but it’s an honest chat with a professional who gets it — and who’s been through it too.

More on Ann’s work at annbrackentherapy.com

 

Follow @crazyhouseprices on Instagram for more insights and updates.

Sponsor: Beat The Bank

Please support the Podcast and Instagram if you can over on my Patreon

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and if you want to support the page and podcast, head over to my Patreon and get access to over 130 extra exclusive podcasts.

Ep 39: 21 Ways We Could Actually Fix Housing in Ireland

The housing crisis isn’t inevitable, it’s a choice.

In this episode, I share 21 real, practical ways Ireland could fix housing if we actually wanted to.

From banning fake bids and bringing back vacant homes, to creating a sovereign housing bank and taking housing out of politics completely; these are all ideas that already work in other countries.

Other countries fixed it. We can too.

🎧 Listen, learn, and share this episode so more people realise that the housing crisis can be solved.

Follow @crazyhouseprices on Instagram for more insights and updates.

Sponsor: Beat The Bank

Please support the Podcast and Instagram if you can over on my Patreon

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and if you want to support the page and podcast, head over to my Patreon and get access to over 130 extra exclusive podcasts.

Ep 38: Who Is Buying All the New Homes in Ireland?

In this episode of The Crazy House Prices Podcast, I’m joined by housing expert Lorcan Sirr to dig into the numbers behind Ireland’s new homes. Last year, just 4% of new homes in Dublin were sold to households; the rest went to investors or the state. We talk about €875,000 apartments, why 9 out of 10 new builds never come on the market, and how government policy is geared towards landlords instead of families. If you want to know who is really buying homes in Ireland, this episode lays it bare. 

Sponsor: Beat The Bank

Please support the Podcast and Instagram if you can over on my Patreon

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and if you want to support the page and podcast, head over to my Patreon and get access to over 130 extra exclusive podcasts.

Ep 37: Renting vs Buying: The Real Numbers

Rents in Ireland have hit record highs with just 1,652 properties available to rent nationwide as of August 2025. At the same time, the June Daft.ie House Price Report shows only 12,100 homes for sale, far below the 30,000 needed for a healthy housing market.

In this episode of The Crazy House Prices Podcast, I compare renting vs buying in Ireland in 2025, using the latest Daft rent and house price reports plus the CSO Residential Property Price Index. We cover Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford, Airbnb’s impact on supply, and the upcoming Rent Pressure Zone changes in 2026 with a clear verdict on whether it’s smarter to rent or buy a home in Ireland right now.

You can order my book: "How to buy a home in Ireland" here

Sponsor: Beat The Bank

Please support the Podcast and Instagram if you can over on my Patreon

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and if you want to support the page and podcast, head over to my Patreon and get access to over 130 extra exclusive podcasts.

Ep 36: Buying in a Chain? Here’s How to Stop It Falling Apart

Buying in a chain in Ireland? In this episode, I share proven tips to keep your home sale and purchase from collapsing. Learn how property chains work, why they’re so hard in today’s Irish housing market, what you can control, and how to prepare for delays, closing dates, and last-minute surprises. Essential listening for first-time buyers and second-time buyers in Ireland.

You can order my book: "How to buy a home in Ireland" here

Sponsors: Financial Planning Matters

Please support the Podcast and Instagram if you can over on my Patreon

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and if you want to support the page and podcast, head over to my Patreon and get access to over 100 extra exclusive podcasts.

Ep 35: Buying a Home in Ireland: 8 Questions with Honest Answers

In this episode, I answer 8 of the most common and frustrating questions about buying a home in Ireland right now. From being stuck at “sale agreed” for 6 months, to whether you should fix or switch your mortgage, to the madness of 4 person mortgages and overpriced One Stop Shops. I also share honest advice on how kids affect your borrowing power, how to agree a price off-market, and whether the government is actually doing anything to fix the broken housing system.

Whether you're a first-time buyer, thinking about retrofitting, or just fed up with bidding wars and solicitor delays, this episode is for you.

You can order my book: "How to buy a home in Ireland" here

Sponsor: Beat The Bank

Please support the Podcast and Instagram if you can over on my Patreon

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and if you want to support the page and podcast, head over to my Patreon and get access to over 130 extra exclusive podcasts.

Ep 34: Are House Prices Going To Crash? The Current State of the Market with Lorcan Sirr

This is one of my most sobering and important podcasts yet. If you’re trying to buy, rent, or just stay sane in the Irish housing market, you need to hear it.

In this episode, I chat with the incredibly knowledgeable Dr. Lorcan Sirr about the current chaos that is the Irish housing market. We cover everything from skyrocketing house prices and the unrelenting demand on resources like water and electricity, to government policies that seem to make things trickier instead of easier.

You can order my book: "How to buy a home in Ireland" here

Sponsor: Beat The Bank

Please support the Podcast and Instagram if you can over on my Patreon

Make sure to follow me on Instagram and if you want to support the page and podcast, head over to my Patreon and get access to over 130 extra exclusive podcasts.