The Irish Property Podcast

Michael Houghton

Hosted by Michael Houghton, creator of The Irish FIRE Podcast, The Irish Property Podcast explores the real world of property investing in Ireland. Each episode dives into deal breakdowns, investor stories, financing strategies, landlord lessons and the occasional disaster that comes with building a property portfolio. Whether you're starting out or already investing, this show shares practical insights and real experiences from the Irish property market.

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8 episodes
monthly
Avg 17 min
English

Episodes 8

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S1 · E8
October 1 · 29 min
Getting a Mortgage in Ireland: Where Do You Start? With Ben Caffrey
Getting a mortgage can feel overwhelming, particularly for someone going through the process for the first time. So where should a first-time buyer actually start? In this episode of The Irish Property Podcast, Michael Houghton is joined by Ben Caffrey of Mortgage Line to talk through the first steps involved in getting mortgage-ready in Ireland. Ben became a mortgage broker in 2024 and has developed a particular interest and expertise in buy-to-let mortgages and property investment finance. But this conversation starts right at the beginning of the mortgage journey. Whether someone is hoping to buy their first home, wondering if they are mortgage-ready, or simply wants a better understanding of how the mortgage process works in Ireland, this episode provides a practical introduction to getting started. Mortgage Line are supporting this episode of The Irish Property Podcast. Ben was invited onto the podcast independently of that sponsorship, and the podcast retained full editorial control over the conversation. Show Notes: Get in touch with Ben: ⁠ben@mortgageline.ie⁠ or visit ⁠www.mortgageline.ie⁠. Subscribe to The Irish Property Podcast newsletter: https://www.propertypodcast.ie⁠⁠ This episode is supported by ⁠⁠MortgageLine⁠⁠. Stephen Hamilton Financial Services Ltd trading as is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
S1 · E7
September 1 · 17 min
Two Properties by age 24, with another on the way
In this episode, Michael sits down with Sean, a property investor based in Limerick, who purchased his first property at age 23, his second a year later, and has recently gone ‘sale agreed’ on a third property. Sean has defined the norm, owning property at an exceptionally young age and Michael sits down to have an informal conversation with him about how he has gone about building a property portfolio at such a young age. Show Notes: Subscribe to The Irish Property Podcast newsletter: https://www.propertypodcast.ie This episode is sponsored by MortgageLine. Stephen Hamilton Financial Services Ltd trading as is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
S1 · E6
August 3 · 17 min
The True Cost of a Property Deal
In this episode Michael breaks down one of his most recent purchases from start to finish. The property was bought for €292,000 and initially appeared to offer a gross yield of just over 9%, but the headline figure told only part of the story. Michael goes through the full cost of the deal, including the deposit, mortgage and refinancing fees, solicitor, acquisition costs, renovation and furniture costs. This is an honest look at property investment, including the costs, compromises and mistakes that are often missing from deal breakdowns. Show Notes: Subscribe to The Irish Property Podcast newsletter: https://www.propertypodcast.ie This episode is sponsored by MortgageLine. Stephen Hamilton Financial Services Ltd trading as is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
S1 · E5
June 21 · 10 min
Property bidding strategies
In this episode, Michael reflects on the reality of bidding wars in the Irish property market and the different strategies buyers can use when trying to go sale agreed. He explains how even the highest bid is not always enough if a vendor’s expectations are higher than the market is willing to pay. Michael shares examples from two friends who recently went sale agreed on their first homes. Ian succeeded by being flexible on location, widening his search area, making his strongest bid early, and staying in position when other bidders dropped out. Isa took a different approach, focusing strongly on location, building relationships with auctioneers, and trusting the process until the right property eventually came along. Michael also discusses his own recent buy-to-let purchase, where he placed a strong offer above asking with a seven-day deadline in an effort to avoid a drawn-out bidding war. The episode finishes with the reminder that while bidding strategies matter, buying property is ultimately a numbers game: the more suitable properties a buyer views, and the more reasonable bids they make, the better their chances of eventually getting sale agreed. Show Notes: Michael's interview with Sean Moncrieff: https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-moncrieff/is-there-a-right-way-to-bid-on-a-home Subscribe to The Irish Property Podcast newsletter: https://www.propertypodcast.ie This episode is sponsored by MortgageLine. Stephen Hamilton Financial Services Ltd trading as is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
S1 · E4
May 20 · 19 min
The property purchase check list
In this episode, Michael walks through his property purchasing checklist, using a recent real-life purchase as the example. The property had been sitting on the market for around six months, needed a fair bit of work, and wasn’t presented particularly strongly online - but the numbers, location, auctioneer relationship, and vendor circumstances all created an opportunity. Michael breaks down the key questions he asks before buying: is the property still available, is there a rent cap, would he live there, does he trust the auctioneer, is the BER workable, does the yield stack up, will the bank valuation and engineering report support the purchase, what repairs or furniture are needed and is the vendor reasonable. The main message is that good property investing is not about falling in love with a house or chasing a bargain blindly - it is about having a process, knowing the numbers, and understanding the risks before committing. Sometimes the best opportunities are not the shiny turnkey homes with perfect photos and lots of interest. They can be tired properties with poor presentation, realistic vendors, straightforward auctioneers, and enough room in the numbers to spend sensibly and add value. In this episode, Michael explores how to spot those opportunities and how to avoid emotional decisions by sticking to a clear checklist. Show Notes: Subscribe to The Irish Property Podcast newsletter: https://www.propertypodcast.ie This episode is sponsored by MortgageLine. Stephen Hamilton Financial Services Ltd trading as MortgageLine is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
S1 · E3
April 20 · 14 min
The art of property financing
In this episode, Michael explores the fundamentals of property financing in Ireland, sharing how investors move beyond simply “getting a mortgage” to using finance as a strategic tool for growth. He reflects on his own journey, highlighting the importance of building strong relationships with mortgage brokers and lenders, and explains why many investors turn to specialist lenders like ICS rather than traditional banks. Michael outlines the key criteria lenders look for—such as deposit size, yield, and location—and emphasises that, unlike pillar banks, these lenders focus more on the strength of the deal than on personal financial circumstances. Michael then introduces one of the most powerful concepts in property investing: recycling your deposit. Using a real-world example, he explains how refinancing a property after it has increased in value can release equity, which can then be used as a deposit for further investments. This approach shifts the strategy from generating short-term cashflow to building long-term wealth through leverage, allowing investors to scale their portfolios more quickly. He contrasts this with a traditional cashflow-focused approach, noting that holding too much equity in a single property can limit growth potential. Finally, Michael highlights the risks involved, including market fluctuations and interest rate changes, while reinforcing the importance of conservative assumptions and a long-term mindset. He also underlines the value of working with a mortgage broker, who can help structure deals, navigate lender requirements, and speed up the process. The episode sets the foundation for understanding property finance as a repeatable system, and tees up the next discussion on how to evaluate property deals beyond just the numbers. Show Notes: Subscribe to The Irish Property Podcast newsletter: https://www.propertypodcast.ie This episode is sponsored by MortgageLine. Stephen Hamilton Financial Services Ltd trading as MortgageLine is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
S1 · E2
April 6 · 14 min
Property investing is a numbers game
In this episode of The Irish Property Podcast, Michael breaks down one of the most important concepts in property investing - and one that’s often overlooked by new investors: yield. While buying your own home is driven by emotion, investing in property is a numbers game. Michael shares a personal story of buying a holiday home versus a buy-to-let property, and how differently each decision felt - highlighting why successful investing requires discipline, not emotion. At the core of every good property deal is one key metric: rental yield. Michael explains in simple terms how yield is calculated, why it matters for both profitability and financing, and how the same property can go from an average deal to an excellent one depending on rental income. He also shares real examples from his own portfolio over the past few years, showing how he targets strong yields - typically 8% or higher - to protect himself against market downturns. The episode also dives into Michael’s approach to navigating the Irish property market - particularly his strong stance against bidding wars. Instead of chasing deals and overpaying, he explains why he’s happy to come second, how often property sales fall through, and how patience can lead to better opportunities. This is a practical, honest look at how to approach property investing with a long-term mindset - and why sticking to your numbers is the key to success. Show Notes: Subscribe to The Irish Property Podcast newsletter: https://www.propertypodcast.ie
S1 · E1
March 23 · 11 min
Why I love property investing
In this first episode of The Irish Property Podcast, Michael shares his journey from arriving in Ireland in 2011 with just €50 and no long-term plan, to building a portfolio of seven properties and achieving financial independence. What started as a short trip quickly turned into a new life - meeting his wife, starting a family, and navigating the challenges of the recession - all of which laid the foundation for his approach to money, investing, and risk. Michael explains how his path into property began almost by accident during his FIRE journey, when refinancing his first home allowed him to upgrade and become a landlord. Since then, he has scaled his portfolio through a mix of personal and company-owned properties, focusing on one key principle: yield. By targeting strong rental returns and using bank leverage wisely, he has been able to grow equity over time and reinvest into new opportunities. While honest about the risks, setbacks, and effort involved, Michael shares why he still loves property investing — from analysing deals to building long-term wealth. Despite negative headlines about landlords exiting the market, his core message is clear: property investing in Ireland is still very much possible for those who understand the numbers, structure deals properly, and take a long-term view. Show Notes: The Irish FIRE Podcast: https://www.firepodcast.ie Subscribe to The Irish Property Podcast newsletter: https://www.propertypodcast.ie

Showing 1–8 of 8 episodes