With so few signs of a sharp rise in home prices, many people are forced to think outside the box in their pursuit of home ownership. Real estate prices are increasing at a rate not seen since May 2018. Many believe that runaway home prices – along with central bank mortgage rules – are preventing or delaying much of the climb up the real estate ladder. The central bank’s decision last month to leave its mortgage rules unchanged will have disappointed many home hunters.
If you have lost your patience with the housing crisis and think that your only chance of owning your home is to explore an unconventional path, what options do you have?
compound
said Alan Kelly, president of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI), a voluntary organization that advocates for the use, maintenance and protection of Ireland’s inland waterways.
Kelly himself lived in houseboats in Ireland – the first time was between 2003 and 2005 on a narrowboat (a type of canal boat). He also lived on his current boat Rigmarole from 2005 to 2007.
“You can pay anything from 30,000 euros for a used ship that needs some work — like retrofitting the interior and re-insulating if you’re going to live on it — up to 150,000 euros for 60 new, fully equipped cars,” Kelly said.
According to Kelly, a lot of Irish-owned canal boats and barges are bought from the UK.
One of the biggest challenges you will face if you plan to live in a boat house is finding a location where you can moor your boat for long periods of time.
There are 20 residential berths at the Grand Canal Dock and eight residential berths at Shannon Harbor – these residential berths are operated by Waterways Ireland, along with their supporting facilities.
“Currently, permits have been granted for all 20 residential piers at the Grand Canal Dock and for all eight residential piers at Shannon Harbor,” a spokeswoman for Waterways Ireland said. “The residential marinas are currently fully occupied.”
All residential berths at the Grand Canal Dock are designated on a first-come, first-served basis and it is unlikely that one of these licenses will become available in the near future, according to Waterways Ireland. “There is also a large list of interested parties seeking to take advantage of these berths in the Grand Canal Dock,” Waterways Ireland says on its website. “This list is now extensive and unlikely to move in the short or long term – so it is now closed to new applicants.”
The limited facilities along Ireland’s waterways present another challenge for those who live by boat. “There is not much in the way of infrastructure [on the Irish canal system] Kelly said. “Even something as simple as a mooring dock can be hard to come by. Security is also something you need to think about because it is not as readily available as it might be in an apartment.”
Go in with your eyes open if you’re buying a houseboat, Kelly advised. “You need to become very self-sufficient,” Kelly said. “You have to be cut out. There are ongoing costs and maintenance that is not cheap. The costs of running an apartment [or house] It won’t be the same for a boat—but you may have larger occasional bills with a boat because you rely on an engine.”
Kelly advised that it is important to properly insulate your boat if you intend to live in it. “If it’s poorly insulated, it will freeze in the winter — and the condensation will drive you crazy,” Kelly said. “If your boat is well insulated, well ventilated and you have a way to heat it so that it doesn’t cause health risks, it can be a very comfortable place.”
There have been a number of moves recently that could give more people the option to live on boats in the future. Waterways Ireland has commissioned a feasibility study on sustainable water-living options on Ireland’s canal network. This study is scheduled to be completed in early 2022.
A Waterways Ireland spokeswoman said, “Any potential future development of the Sustainable Living on Water program will be undertaken in consultation with local communities and familiar with the local canal environment.”
typical house
Prefab homes have risen in popularity recently. A modular home is essentially a home made up of sections or units that are largely built off site – then delivered and finished on site. Building a modular 150-square-meter home could cost between €150,000 and €225,000 if you hire someone to build it for you, according to estimates by some construction experts – although this does not include the cost of preparing the site before construction begins.
“Be aware that when you look at modular chassis, the price that the modular chassis vendor is offering is only your starting point,” Merriman said. “You need to factor in the cost of operational things as well: like access to the site; the process of erection and services like sewer, electricity, and water. Factor in the physical completion of the home as well—including things like the roof, gutters, and drainpipes; and the home’s interior décor. Before committing to a modular home, read on Lowercase and add all things not included in the price.
Make sure any modular home you’re considering meets building, health, and safety standards.
“Not all prefab buildings are the same,” Rawicz said. “It is important for any modular home you are considering to be up to specification with building regulations – including insulation requirements and cold bridges. I have seen one case where an individual purchased a three-bed home where the seller said in all documentation it was fully compliant – however, There were no papers showing that it complied with anything, including modern insulation standards.You also need to convince your local authority that you have met all the rules regarding sewage and waste.I’ve seen some really interesting composting toilets in Europe – but I feel it might be It’s hard to get approval from your local authority to use a composting toilet here.”
Modular homes are often wood framed but some are steel framed. “Make sure the steel bears the CE mark [a manufacturer’s declaration that the product complies with EU safety regulations and safety standards] Rawicz said.
Consider practical issues like transportation, too. “If you live in a secluded location or down a back lane, consider the physical size of the modular structure — and the practicality of moving it to the site,” Merriman said. “Consider working with a paneled construction system – where components are flat-packed and assembled on site – rather than taking an entire building to the site. Otherwise, you might need a separate truck to move each room in a modular structure.”
log house
You can buy a new four-bed wooden house for between 50 thousand euros and 80 thousand euros and above – anyway The total cost of your home will likely be a multiple of the initial quotation for the structure by Overtime costs (eg electricity, septic tank etc.) in factors.
One-way To build a wooden house is to buy it from a company that sells such structures and then Install it on your site. A number of Irish and international companies sell timber houses. You are You may face an uphill battle for planning permission though. “It is very difficult to get planning permission for wooden houses in Ireland – Although people do and there are a number of log houses across the country,” Merriman said. “It is unlikely that building regulations will achieve using a log house Unless you build it with very dense timber. You may need Put extra insulation on it.”
Also keep in mind that you may not get your money back for your log home if you sell it along the line.
“It is very difficult to get mortgages or financing for wooden houses, so if they are sold or left to children, you can Not Get the [sell-on] Merriman said. “over there There are a lot of risks associated with going toHead and build a log for the house – be sure to hire a professional in advance. “
As always, buyer beware – especially when it’s home.
