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THE NUMBER OF mortgages drawn down in Ireland during the first half of the year was the highest number over the same period since 2009.
Draw-down figures from the Banking Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI) showed that 10,157 new mortgages valued at €2.25 billion were drawn down by borrowers during the second quarter of 2019.
It follows the drawing down of 8,577 mortgages worth €1.9 billion during the first three months of the year, making the total number of mortgages drawn down in 2019 the highest number this decade.
The last time that the number of drawdowns was at this level was 2009, when 23,863 mortgages were taken out, with the number of new homes coming on the market and increasing levels of employment a factor in the recent increase.
The latest figures are a rise of 8.8% in volume and 11.7% in value on corresponding figures for the second quarter of 2018.
They also show a strong increase in volume (18.4%) and value (19.4%) on the first quarter of this year.
First-time buyers remain the single largest segment by volume (49.6%) and by value (50.5%), while those re-mortgaging their loans also showed a year-on-year increase of 11.0% in volume and 12.8% in value.
The BPFI has also revealed the latest figures from its Mortgage Approvals Report for June 2019, which show that 4,478 mortgages were approved last month, a 4.8% increase on June 2018 but a 9.1% decrease on the figure for May.
Mortgages approved last month were valued at €1 billion, of which first-time buyers accounted for €550 million (53.3%), a value which rose by 7.3% year-on-year but fell by 9.2% month-on-month.
BPFI’s director public affairs, Felix O’Regan said that the latest figures showed good growth on corresponding activity in 2018, which he said was not a surprise.
“The growth in mortgage switching over the last 12 months supports our assessment showing activity in this area returning to a level last seen in 2008,” he said.
“Mortgage approvals in the year to June show good growth at 4.8%, while activity is down on the preceding month of May – which could be down to seasonality.”
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With only nine per cent of the street lamps being ornate, it means that DCC really don’t care about the finishing touches to or streets. Example: Stephen’s green along the Loretto stretch has fantastic architecture, but shitty looking Motorway style street lights. This is lazy and careless planning. Why not take the ornate lampposts from in front of the office blocks on Earlsfort terrace and put them on the Green, or if that’s too expensive, then get replica lamp posts for that stretch of street.
Street furniture in our key streets really should be looked at in more detail. Finishing touches to or streets, if done right can make residents feel better about their city.
What about the five lamps ?.
@itzme: go hang your bollocks on them !
@Ian Holmes: he he. Was waiting for that.
Looks lovely, clean up Dublin though and then I’ll go have a look, brought my kids into town to see the crimbo lights, two drunks kicked head off each other on packed Luas then saw a junkie on ground blood everywhere, her boyfriend saying sorry her shouting f/off, after 10 minutes my 10 year old with tears in her eyes asked why we have to see that just to see some lights, got a taxi home, never ever again
@Jeni Moriarty: never a story about Dublin without junkies blah blah blah.this is a story about street lamps and you have to shoehorn in the usual ‘i was in Dublin recently’ nonsense.
Loads of the old ones have been replaced, and been replaced badly when they could easily have been preserved. This article is mishearing. The corporation’s efforts to salvage and promote this little bit of Dublin character is pathetic as usual. There is a nice display of various old ones in Merrion square that look original.
That one on Fr Matthew Square is a real gem
Most of us genuine Dubs have pissed up against at least one of them
The one with the overhead tram cables hanging of them are lovely.
Have any of them been repainted in the past 5 years?
Last time I walked around the Customs house, the lamp standards were a mucky disgrace, & as for Bus Arus, the one time architectural gem has declined into a slum like appearance.
Don’t know who in the octopus of state bodies is responsible, but it seems nonsensical to spend tax money promoting tourism, when simple maintenance is neglected.
have your say