Home Building Finance Ireland (HBFI), the Government-established lender dedicated to supporting residential construction, has reached a significant milestone with total loan approvals exceeding €3 billion as of mid-2025. This marks a 13% increase since the end of 2024, highlighting the ongoing demand for housing finance across the country.
In the first half of 2025 alone, HBFI approved €336 million in new loans, which supports a robust delivery pipeline of over 15,186 new homes in 206 developments spanning 25 counties. Of these homes, 8,852 are either sold, contracted for sale, or sale-agreed, with approximately 6,000 already completed.
HBFI operates on a market-based lending model designed to fill gaps left by traditional banks, particularly for small and medium-sized developers. The company’s flexibility allows for agile financing decisions that cater to regional housing needs and supports a variety of tenures. Nearly half (48%) of funded homes are intended for owner-occupiers, while social and affordable housing accounts for 39%, and rental properties 8%.
Since its inception, with initial funding of €730 million from the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), HBFI has recycled loan repayments to expand its lending capacity. With no fixed cap on funding, HBFI is well-positioned to continue supporting housebuilders as they scale up operations, ensuring finance is not a barrier to increasing housing supply.
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe reiterated the Government’s commitment to addressing Ireland’s housing shortage, praising HBFI’s role in providing tailored financial solutions across the housing market. “Increasing the supply of housing is one of the key priorities for this Government,” he stated, adding that HBFI’s flexibility and product range are instrumental in supporting developments across all tenure types and regions.
