Episode 3:
23 years ago, Ann and Martin left the rat race in London and relocated to Ireland. They were after the good life and they found it in County Wexford, Ireland’s sunny south east. 10 years later, with their family grown up and gone they began to consider selling up to retire to sunny Spain. At the height of the boom, the property, with four bedrooms, three acres and an outdoor swimming pool was valued at €925,000. They had no problem finding a buyer, but with unfortunate timing the property market crashed, the buyer pulled out and the deal fell through. Fast forward another 10 years and they’re still here and they’re still trying to sell the house. The price has been slashed to €495,000 but they’ve had very few viewings and no offers. The couple now has to consider dropping the price to sell or staying put and shelving their dream of retiring to Spain.
“We’re lonely here. No one ever comes up our driveway other than the postman.
We want to move but for now, we browse websites for places in Spain and dream.” Ann & Martin Butcher
Originally from Killarney, Margaret is putting down new roots in Galway. Her top location is along the Salthill coast where she had holidayed with her family as a child.
“I used to swim in the sea here with my father. After he died, I came back here and felt such an overwhelming sense of connection to him that I knew this is the place for me. Margaret McCarthy
Recently separated and with her own family raised, Margaret wants a small apartment with a sea view. But prices in Galway have risen by 10% in the last year and it’s becoming a real challenge to find the right place within her budget.
She finds an apartment being sold through auction. It’s a daunting prospect. The price could go way above her budget before the hammer falls.
Series Overview:
Filmed across the Spring and Summer of 2017, this highly topical 2nd series follows stories with those trying to buy, rent and sell homes all across the country. There’s a growing demand for housing that’s still in short supply, which is fuelling competition amongst buyers and pushing prices upwards. Across six episodes, the series offers a glimpse into the often fraught process that buyers go through once they have their heart set on a home.
We meet first-time-buyers, excited to be getting a foot on the property ladder, who are surprised that their monthly mortgage repayments will be less than what they would have paid in rent. Rental values are sky-rocketing in every city in the country, making the search for a decent, affordable place to live not for the faint-hearted.
Also featured in the series are some unique, beautiful homes reminding us that you can get a lot more bang for your buck if location isn’t the number one priority.
FIND ME A HOME offers a unique insight into what is really going on in Ireland’s hugely competitive property market.