Affordable homes go on sale in Ratoath

Ten three and four bedroom affordable homes went on sale at Wellfield, Ratoath last Thursday (16th October) with the lowest property price available at €340,000.

Meath County Council in conjunction with Kingscroft Developments Limited are making a total of 10 affordable homes available for purchase by eligible applicants.

The houses on offer are three mid-terrace three bedroom houses; one end terrace house with three bedrooms. three ‘Type C4’ semi detached three bedroom houses; one ‘Type C5’ three bedroom semi detached house and two four bedroom bedroom semi detached houses.

The affordable homes are part of a wider development by Kingscroft, where private buyers had expressed concern at lengthy delays, some of over a year, in getting the keys to their new homes.

Cllr Nick Killian welcomed the provision of affordable houses.

"People really need houses that they can afford and get mortgages for. I would have concerns about the delays at the site, as there have been long delays for private purchasers."

He said that although described as affordable, he noted they were still quite expensive. "The reality is that houses in Meath are still far too expensive," he said.

Cllr Yvonne Everard said she felt the council offering the homes at this stage was premature given the issuses some private buyers are having with the same development.

Eligible applicants for the affordable homes can apply via an online portal link which will opened at 12 noon on Thursday 16th October.

Applicants will need a valid phone number and email address to apply. Applicants who have already logged into the portal for previous schemes should use their existing username and password to apply.

The three bedroom terraced houses are available to purchasers with a maximum household income of €94.050 per annum and the minimum purchase price is €340,000, while the market value is €440,000.

The minimum purchase price for the end terrace house is €350,000, the market value is €450,000 and the household income limit is €96,188.

There are three semi-detached three bedroom houses at a minimum price of €360,000 and a market value of €460,000. The maximum household income limit for those houses is €98,325.

There is one other three bedroom semi detached house at a minimum price of €365,000. The market price is €465,000 and the maximum household limit is €99,394.

There are two four bedroom semi detached houses available. The minimum price is €430,000 and the market value is €530,000. The maximum household limit for these homes is €113,288.

The minimum price is the price paid by applicant when the local authority's equity share has been deducted from the full market price. Equity shares are calculated on an individual basis and are linked to applicants’ income, savings (if any) and mortgage capacity.