Buying your first home in Roscommon or Athlone? Three Government schemes can bring the price within reach, and since Budget 2027 Help to Buy is worth more than ever. Here is how each one works, with real numbers from our area.
At a glance
| Scheme | What you get | Which homes | Price limit (Roscommon / Westmeath) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Help to Buy | Up to €35,000 towards your deposit | New builds and self-builds | €500,000 |
| First Home | Up to 30% of the price as shared equity | New builds and self-builds | €400,000 / €400,000 |
| Local Authority Home Loan | A mortgage of up to 90% of the home’s value | New and second-hand homes, and self-builds | €310,000 / €345,000 |
Help to Buy: up to €35,000 towards your deposit
Help to Buy gives you back income tax and DIRT you have paid over the previous four years, to put towards the deposit on a new home. From 7 October 2026 the maximum went up from €30,000 to €35,000.
You get the lowest of these three amounts:
- €35,000
- 10% of the purchase price (or 10% of the approved valuation for a self-build)
- the income tax and DIRT you paid in the previous four tax years
The home must be a new build or self-build worth €500,000 or less, bought from a Revenue-approved developer, and you must live in it as your home for five years. The scheme runs until the end of 2029.
Example: a new three-bed in Athlone at €330,000. Ten percent is €33,000. If you and your partner have paid at least that much tax in the last four years, Help to Buy covers your entire 10% deposit.
First Home: shared equity to bridge the gap
If your mortgage and deposit don’t quite reach the price of a new home, the First Home scheme can make up the difference. The State and participating banks take a stake of up to 30% of the price, or up to 20% if you are also using Help to Buy.
The price ceiling is €400,000 in both Roscommon and Westmeath, for houses, apartments and self-builds. The scheme is funded until at least June 2027.
Local Authority Home Loan: when the banks won’t lend enough
The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for first-time buyers who can’t get enough from a bank. It works for second-hand homes as well as new builds and self-builds, which makes it especially useful in our area.
- Borrow up to 90% of the home’s market value
- Income limits: €80,000 for a single applicant, €85,000 for a couple
- Maximum price: €310,000 in Roscommon and €345,000 in Westmeath (raised in 2026)
You apply online and your application is assessed by your local council.
How much can you borrow?
Under the Central Bank’s mortgage rules, first-time buyers can usually borrow up to four times their gross income, with a minimum deposit of 10%. Banks have some room to lend above these limits to a share of their customers each year.
Example: a couple earning €90,000 between them could borrow around €360,000. With a 10% deposit, that puts homes up to about €400,000 within reach, which covers most of the market in Roscommon and Athlone.
The other costs to budget for
- Stamp duty: 1% on homes up to €1 million, so €3,000 on a €300,000 home
- Legal fees for your solicitor, plus VAT and outlays
- A survey before you sign contracts
- Mortgage protection and home insurance, which your lender will require
Buying an older home? First-time buyers of existing homes can get up to €2,500 from SEAI towards attic insulation, and there are SEAI grants for heat pumps, solar panels and more.
Which scheme suits you?
- Buying a new home or building your own? Start with Help to Buy, and add First Home if you need to close a gap.
- Buying a second-hand home and the bank won’t lend enough? Look at the Local Authority Home Loan.
- Not sure? A mortgage broker can tell you which combination gives you the most buying power.
Ready to start looking? Browse homes for sale and set up a property alert so you hear about new listings first. Or call into either of our offices for a chat.
This is a general guide, not financial advice. Scheme rules change, so check the details with a mortgage adviser before you commit.
Sources: Citizens Information, Help to Buy (Oct 2026); First Home scheme price ceilings; gov.ie, Local Authority Home Loan changes (Feb 2026); Revenue, stamp duty rates; SEAI home energy grants.
