Negative equity: 'It's good to know what we now need'

Brian Dempsey with wife Grace and daughter Isobel (6) who are currently renting but want to buy a home

Independent.ie Newsdesk

Brian Dempsey (40) and his wife Grace say they're "just happy all the talk is over" and they can now "move on" following the Central Bank's announcement.

The married couple, with their two children, are currently renting in Bray, Co Wicklow having sold their home in 2007.

They're eyeing up a new home, somewhere in south Dublin in the €500,000-€800,000 region, which under the new rules as second-time buyers means at least €100,000 on a deposit.

"The talk of the bad news was worse than the outcome itself," Brian says. "It doesn't really changes things for us."

"As second-time buyers, we will have to come to the plate with 20pc but I don't think there's anything wrong with that. At this stage in life, I think I should be able to put up that little bit more.

"We have aspirations like anyone else but we have flexibility as well. We aren't confined to Dublin. If somewhere nice comes, we'd take it."

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