Main findings:
- Just 12% of respondents believe enough work is being done on critical infrastructure where building is taking place, while 52% say a lack of local infrastructure has changed their ideal location to buy
- 72% say planning delays are a major reason that homes take too long to be built in Ireland
- 59% say they would consider buying a vacant or derelict property if improved financial supports were available, while 86% say not enough is being done to use vacant homes to boost housing stock
- 83% are worried about the state of the property market in general, while just 7% say recent changes to housing policy have made it easier to buy a property
- 46% have postponed a home purchase due to cost concerns, while 42% want to renovate their homes but cannot afford to do so
A new survey has suggested that just one in ten (12%) of people agree that enough is being done to ensure critical infrastructure is in place where homebuilding is occurring, while half (52%) say that a lack of local infrastructure has changed their ideal location to buy a home.
According to the survey of 2,031 people conducted in January 2026 by property portal MyHome, seven in ten (72%) people say that planning delays are a major reason that homes take too long to be built in Ireland, while just 7% of respondents say that recent changes to housing policy have made it easier to buy a property.
The survey also suggests that more needs to be done with the stock of vacant and derelict homes in Ireland. Six in ten (59%) say they would consider buying a vacant or derelict property if improved financial supports were available, while 86% of respondents say not enough is being done to use these homes to boost housing stock.
The cost of living is still having a major effect on prospective homebuyers, with nearly half (46%) saying they postponed a home purchase due to cost concerns. Seven in ten (72%) say they have to look beyond their top location choice because of price concerns, while 42% say they want to renovate their homes but cannot afford to do so.
Just over half (54%) of people believe private sector investment is needed to help deliver the homes we need, while 83% are worried about the state of the property market in general and 86% believe the Government could do more to help the property sector.
Interestingly, the recent move by some employers to scale back on hybrid working does not appear to have had a major effect – just 25% of respondents said that their employer’s move away from hybrid working had affected their property search.
Meanwhile, just over half (56%) of survey respondents expect property prices to continue to rise over the next year. This compares with 63% when the same question was asked in the MyHome sentiment survey last March. Meanwhile, the majority (56%) will aim to secure a mortgage term of over five years, which is perhaps no surprise given recent geo-political and economic volatility.
Energy costs and environmental concerns are still a major consideration for respondents, with 70% saying a new home’s BER would influence their decision to purchase it.
Joanne Geary, Managing Director of MyHome, said: “The supply of homes has for some years now been the most pressing concern facing the property market. This latest survey shows that prospective homebuyers are focusing on the reasons why it has taken so long to reverse the trend of insufficient housing completions, with planning and infrastructural issues top of mind. This is not a problem that can be solved overnight, but progress needs to be made as a matter of urgency in areas such as vacant and derelict housing to allay people’s concerns.”
She said that the cost of living was still a major factor in the housing market. “It is no surprise that cost of living concerns are still a major consideration for people, so the Government must continue to look at the scope and scale of available grants in order to satisfy acute demand not just from people who wish to buy a home, but those who wish to renovate and improve the energy efficiency of their property.”
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