How this calculator works
The Central Bank of Ireland sets two caps on new residential lending, and the maximum you can borrow is the lower of the two. The loan-to-income cap multiplies your gross income by 4 for a first-time buyer or 3.5 for a second or subsequent buyer. The loan-to-value cap works through your deposit: with a deposit D and an LTV cap L, the price is D ÷ (1 − L) and the loan is D × L ÷ (1 − L). The calculator computes both and reports which one is binding, then estimates the repayment on that maximum loan at the rate and term you enter.
Worked example
A first-time buyer with a €80,000 gross income and a €50,000 deposit is capped at 4× income, or €320,000, by the loan-to-income rule. The deposit would allow €450,000 (a 90% loan), so income is the binding limit and the maximum loan is €320,000, for a property up to €370,000. At 3.9% over 30 years that loan costs about €1,509 a month.
What changes how much you can borrow
- Gross income — sets the loan-to-income ceiling; combined income counts for a joint application.
- Buyer type — first-time buyers get the higher 4× multiple and the lower 10% deposit.
- Deposit — a small deposit relative to income makes the loan-to-value cap the binding limit.
- Lender assessment — your own affordability check, existing debts, and credit history can lower the figure below the Central Bank ceiling.
A note on accuracy
This calculator applies the standard Central Bank caps and does not model the limited allowance lenders have to approve exceptions, nor a lender's own affordability assessment. The limits reflect the measures in force since January 2023. For background, see the Central Bank of Ireland mortgage measures and Citizens Information, and our methodology for the formulas and sources.