Budget 2027 will be delivered on Tuesday, 6 October, and once again housing is expected to be one of the central themes. For buyers, sellers and homeowners here in Sligo and across the northwest, the outcome matters more than the national headlines might suggest — regional markets like ours tend to feel the effects of changes to schemes such as Help-to-Buy, stamp duty and mortgage interest relief just as directly as Dublin does, often with less room to absorb added cost given the tighter stock of family homes currently available locally.

Pre-budget submissions from across the industry have called for a range of measures this year, including an extension of Help-to-Buy to second-hand homes rather than new builds only, a dedicated retrofit tax credit to help offset the cost of energy upgrades, and further supports aimed at bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. That last point is particularly relevant to our area, where older housing stock and vacant town-centre properties represent a real opportunity for buyers if the right financial supports are in place to make renovation viable. Sligo already has a scheme of its own in this space: the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, administered by Sligo County Council, currently offers up to €50,000 towards refurbishing a qualifying vacant property, rising to €70,000 where the property is also confirmed derelict. It's a scheme well worth factoring into any Budget-related plans this year, particularly if additional supports for vacant and derelict stock are announced.

For anyone currently weighing up a purchase, a sale, or a mortgage switch, the days immediately following Budget day can bring genuine clarity — or in some years, a reason to pause and reassess. Changes to stamp duty thresholds, first-time buyer reliefs or mortgage interest relief can shift the numbers on a deal that's already in motion, so it's worth knowing exactly what's changed before signing anything or fixing a rate.

If you have a purchase, sale or mortgage decision on the table that could be affected, get in touch with our property or financial team directly — we're happy to talk through your options ahead of the announcement.

Call 071 9140 404