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How to get your foot in the door with Help-to-Buy incentive

Cathal Lombard Solicitors are assisting an increasing number of First Time Buyers who are interested in purchasing in 2017 with the benefit of the Help to Buy Scheme. Please feel free to give us a call or schedule an appointment when we can guide you through the process. http://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/property-mortgages/how-to-get-your-foot-in-the-door-with-helptobuy-incentive-35342998.html

First-time buyers' Help-to-Buy scheme opens for applications today Applications from first-time homebuyers for financial support under the Government’s Help-to-Buy scheme open today, 3rd January 2016. The measure will allow purchasers to claim a rebate of income tax already paid up to a maximum of €20,000, depending on the value of the property. First-time buyers either purchasing newly built homes or building their own can apply for rebates via a form available at the website of the Revenue Commissioners – revenue.ie. The scheme allows purchasers to claim back a rebate on income tax or Deposit Interest Retention Tax (Dirt) on bank savings paid over the four years prior to the year they are buying or building their first home. If they have worked in Ireland for fewer than four years, or have paid only limited income tax, the amount available in any rebate will be lower. The maximum rebate is 5 per cent of the value of the property, up to a maximum of €20,000.

From everyone at Cathal Lombard Solicitors, we wish you all a very happy New Year and we hope that you reap the rewards of your endeavors in 2017.

We are delighted to welcome Dan Sheehan as Solicitor in our property team. Dan brings a wealth of experience and adds an additional layer of expertise within the firm. Our firm's transaction activity in both Residential and Commercial Property has grown significantly year on year and we have added significant weight to our capabilities in these areas in anticipation of further growth in 2017.

The Central Bank has made changes to its mortgage lending rules for home buyers. First-time buyers will now be able to borrow any amount with a deposit of 10%, if they meet other lending criteria. Up to now, new borrowers could have been approved for a mortgage with a deposit of 10% for borrowings up to €220,000. They needed a 20% deposit for all amounts over that. The changes will take effect from January. At the moment, a first-time buyer purchasing a home for €300,000 needs a deposit of €38,000. From next year, the new buyer should qualify for mortgage approval with a deposit of €30,000. This will give the buyer an extra €8,000. And if the buyer qualifies for the Government's Help-to-Buy scheme for new homes, they will get a tax rebate of €15,000. For second-time buyers, such as movers, there will still be a 20% deposit needed. However, banks will now be able to offer exemptions for up to 20pc of the value of second-time buyer mortgages. This should help some of those who bought in the boom and now want to move.

The firm is proud to be race sponsor to the Colin Ronayne Memorial Fund Race Night at Curraheen Park on Saturday night 26th November. This promises to be a fantastic event with huge local support, raising vital funds for Mallow Search and Rescue. Please lend your support by purchasing tickets on sale at €10 each and supporting the event on the night. We look forward to seeing our guests, colleagues, friends and neighbours on the night. Please see @colinronaynememorialfund on Facebook for more information.

Photos from Cathal Lombard Solicitors's post

We recently launched our firm newsletter, which will be distributed quarterly. You will be able to subscribe to the electronic version of the newsletter on new website when it launches shortly. Please take a look at our inaugural newsletter and we would be delighted to receive any feedback.

LEAVE A LEGACY GIFT - My Legacy

Our firm is participating in Best Will Week 2016 which runs from 31st October to 7th November 2016. In addition, we will be donating the entire of our fee to your nominated charity for all Wills made or reviewed during Best Will Week. We will be open late evenings and on Saturday morning 5th November to facilitate additional appointments. Check www.mylegacy.ie and @mylegacy_ie on Twitter for more information.

Seven things you need to know to apply for the 'Help to Buy' tax rebate

http://www.independent.ie/business/budget/seven-things-you-need-to-know-to-apply-for-the-help-to-buy-tax-rebate-35132587.html

Thanks to everyone who entered our competition on Twitter over the past four days. The winner of the voucher for Peppers Restaurant was Aisling O'Connor from Mallow. Congratulations to Aisling! Keep a regular eye on this facebook page and our Twitter account @LombardSolrs for more events and giveaways in the run up to the launch of our exciting new website shortly.