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Affordable purchase calculator (Starter Home Purchase Scheme)

The Starter Home Purchase Scheme (formerly the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme) has no income cap on paper, but three ratios decide everything: 4x income, 85.5% and 95% of market value. Enter your numbers and the home’s advertised figures from any scheme page.

Household income (gross, before tax)

Max 10% of basic counts

Max 10% of basic counts

Max 30% of basic counts

Mortgage and money

Used instead of 4x income when lower

Up to €35,000 for first-time buyers of new homes (Budget 2027 figure, from 7 October 2026)

The home

How the price you pay is worked out

  1. Assessable income: basic pay plus overtime (capped at 10% of basic), bonus (10%) and commission (30%), for all applicants.
  2. Mortgage capacity: four times that income, or your lender’s approval in principle if it is lower. Must be at most 85.5% of the market value, or the council says you can afford the home without help.
  3. Deposit: 10% of the price, so the mortgage is the other 90% and the deposit is the mortgage divided by nine. On €73,000 of income that is a €292,000 mortgage and a €32,444 deposit (the Housing Agency’s own worked example).
  4. Purchasing power: mortgage plus deposit plus any savings above the deposit and a €30,000 disregard. Must be at most 95% of market value, so the council keeps at least 5%.
  5. Price payable: mortgage plus deposit, or the minimum price advertised for the home type if that is higher; the difference is cash you add (savings, Help to Buy, a gift). The gap to market value is the council’s equity share.

Councils also apply a scheme of priority: date and time of application, then household size for larger homes. Rules from the Housing Agency FAQ and Purchasing Power Calculator, checked 2026-10-11.

Questions people ask

What is the income limit for affordable purchase?

There is no fixed limit. Your mortgage capacity (4x gross household income, or your approval in principle if lower) must not exceed 85.5% of the home’s market value. For a €420,000 home that is about €89,775 gross; for a €300,000 home about €64,125.

What is the equity share and do I pay anything on it?

The council covers the gap between what you can pay and the market value and holds that share as equity (minimum 5%). No rent or interest is charged. You can buy it out in stages or at once at the market value at the time, and must redeem it if you sell.

Can I use Help to Buy and the First Home Scheme?

Help to Buy can be part of your deposit as a first-time buyer of a new home. Budget 2027 raised the maximum from €30,000 to €35,000 from 7 October 2026, subject to the Finance Bill; the 10% of price and four years of tax limits stay. The First Home Scheme cannot be combined with this scheme, and Budget 2027 did not change it.

Do savings count against me?

Savings above your 10% deposit plus a €30,000 disregard are added to your purchasing power, which raises the price you pay and lowers the council share. If purchasing power exceeds 95% of market value you do not qualify, because the council must hold at least 5%.