Advice First Financial

14/10/2026

🏠 Budget 2027 brings potentially good news for eligible first-time buyers and self-builders: the Help to Buy limit is increasing from €30,000 to €35,000.

But timing matters.

If you signed your contract before Budget Day, or you have already drawn down the first stage of your mortgage on a self-build, the increase may not apply to you. The existing rules still matter too — including the 10% limit, qualifying properties and the usual eligibility requirements.

If you’re planning to buy or build, now is the time to check the numbers properly rather than assume the full €35,000 applies to your situation.

Have questions about Help to Buy, buying or building? Get in touch. 📩

13/10/2026

💰 The “Government savings plan” announced in Budget 2027 may not be quite what the name suggests.

From July next year, the plan is expected to allow people to invest up to €12,000 per year, with a total limit of €50,000, under the new tax treatment.

But the important distinction is this: it is an investment, not a Government-funded savings account. The Government is not paying money into it, and it is not a guaranteed return. The main change is the tax regime.

The sensible approach for now? Keep saving, gather the detail and don’t rush into a new plan before the full rules are clear.

We’ll share more as further information becomes available. If you have questions, get in touch. 📩

For information purposes only. This is not personal financial advice and does not take account of your individual circumstances. You should seek advice tailored to your own situation before making financial decisions.

Advice First Financial Services Ltd trading as Advice First Financial and Find a Mortgage is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

13/10/2026

📣 We’re hiring a Financial Adviser in Donegal

Good financial advice starts with listening. If that’s how you work, we’d love to hear from you.

At Advice First Financial, we’re looking for an experienced, QFA-qualified adviser to join our team, helping people make informed decisions about their money and their future.

What’s on offer?
✅ €50,000–€60,000 salary, depending on experience
✅ Performance-related bonus
✅ Company pension, death-in-service cover and health insurance
✅ A supportive team that values good advice and lasting client relationships

You’ll need at least three years’ experience providing financial advice in Ireland, a QFA qualification and a genuine interest in helping people.

Already living in Donegal—or thinking about coming home? We’d be delighted to talk.

👉 Full details and how to apply:
https://advicefirst.ie/finance-jobs-donegal/financial-advisor-letterkenny-buncrana/

Know someone who would fit our team? Please share this with them.



https://advicefirst.ie/finance-jobs-donegal/financial-advisor-letterkenny-buncrana/

Pension & Financial Advisor Letterkenny & Buncrana - Start a career with Advice First Financial. Experts on Financial Services in Co Donegal

12/10/2026

💶 Every Budget comes with talk of being “better off” — but what does Budget 2027 actually mean for your family and your finances?

Before waiting for the Government to change your financial position, check what is already available to you:

✅ Tax credits
✅ Health insurance reliefs
✅ Pension and AVC benefits
✅ Salary protection options
✅ Help to Buy eligibility

The video also covers the newly announced savings plan — and why calling it a “Government savings plan” could give the wrong impression. It is not a Government contribution or a guarantee; the key change is to the tax treatment of the investment.

If you couldn’t afford to save before the announcement, the announcement itself won’t change that. Take advice, read the detail and don’t rush into a new plan before all the information is clear.

📖 Read the full article here. Link in the comments below.

For information purposes only. This is not personal financial advice.

WARNING: Your home is at risk if you do not keep up payments on a mortgage or any other loan secured on it.

WARNING: If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating, which may limit your ability to access credit in the future.

Advice First Financial Services Ltd trading as Advice First Financial and Find a Mortgage is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

07/10/2026

Budget 2026 quietly included something that directly affects people in Letterkenny and most people haven't heard about it. 🏠

The Living City Initiative has been extended to include Letterkenny as one of Ireland's qualifying regional towns. This is significant.

Here is what it means in plain terms. If you own or are considering purchasing a property in a qualifying area of Letterkenny that was built before 1975, you may be entitled to income tax relief on the cost of refurbishing or converting it into a residential property.

The relief applies to owner-occupiers and allows you to deduct qualifying renovation costs from your income over 10 years. For older properties in the town centre, this could represent a very meaningful financial benefit that most people buying or renovating in Letterkenny are not aware of.

This is exactly the kind of measure that gets announced in a Budget and then gets lost in the noise. If you own an older property in Letterkenny or you are considering buying one, it is worth understanding whether you qualify.

📞 074 910 3938
🔗 advicefirst.ie
📅 Book a consultation: advicefirst.ie/initial-financial-consultation/

For information purposes only. This is not personal financial advice and does not take account of your individual circumstances. You should seek advice tailored to your own situation before making financial decisions.
Advice First Financial Services Ltd, trading as Advice First Financial and Find a Mortgage, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

06/10/2026

The best financial decisions are made before you need to make them, not during.

05/10/2026

Your bank works for your bank. A Trusted Advisor works for you. Here is the difference in practice.

Most people in Donegal manage their finances through their bank. It is familiar, it is convenient, and it feels straightforward. But there is a significant difference between what your bank can offer you and what a Trusted Advisor can do for you and that difference has a real cost over time.

-A Trusted Advisor searches the whole market for you.
-A Trusted Advisor gives you advice that is not tied to a product.
-A Trusted Advisor stays with you when your life changes.

After 30 years of doing this in Donegal, the people I have seen make the best financial decisions are almost always the ones who had the right advice at the right time.

📞 074 910 3938
🔗 https://vist.ly/5k25d
📅 Book a consultation: advicefirst.ie/initial-financial-consultation/

For information purposes only. This is not personal financial advice and does not take account of your individual circumstances. You should seek advice tailored to your own situation before making financial decisions.
Advice First Financial Services Ltd, trading as Advice First Financial and Find a Mortgage, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

02/10/2026

Irish mortgage approvals hit their highest level since 2008. Here is what that means for buyers in Donegal.

That is a striking number. And it tells an important story about what is happening in the Irish mortgage market right now.

Demand from first-time buyers has never been higher. Lending conditions have been relatively stable. And government schemes like Help to Buy and the First Home Scheme have helped thousands of buyers bridge the gap between their deposit and the purchase price.

But here is the part of that picture worth paying attention to. Despite record mortgage approvals, supply is still falling short of demand across the country. Which means competition for available properties remains intense, particularly for new builds where the government schemes apply.

For anyone thinking about buying in Donegal in the next 12 months, the lesson from this data is straightforward. Get your mortgage approval in place early. Know exactly what you can borrow. And be ready to move when the right property comes up. In a market this competitive, preparation is everything.

📞 074 910 3938
🔗 advicefirst.ie/mortgage-advice-centre/
📅 Book a consultation: advicefirst.ie/initial-financial-consultation/

For information purposes only. This is not personal financial advice.
WARNING: Your home is at risk if you do not keep up payments on a mortgage or any other loan secured on it.
WARNING: If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating, which may limit your ability to access credit in the future.
Advice First Financial Services Ltd, trading as Advice First Financial and Find a Mortgage, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

01/10/2026

This August, Zara proved she is anything but afraid of heights. 🪂

Our Administrative Assistant Zara jumped out of a plane in aid of Lifestart Services Donegal, supporting children and families across Donegal from birth to six years old.

Zara, you were incredible. So proud of you for taking on this challenge and doing it with a smile on your face. 🧡

30/09/2026

If you work in the public sector in Donegal, your Superannuation scheme is one of the most valuable financial benefits you have.

Your Superannuation pension is a defined benefit scheme. That means your retirement income is based on your salary and your years of service, not on how markets perform. It is a significantly more secure arrangement than most private sector workers have access to.

But understanding what you are actually entitled to, when you can access it, and how decisions you make now, like leaving the public sector, taking career breaks or making additional voluntary contributions, affect the eventual outcome, is something very few people have clarity on.

At Advice First, Pascal and the team help public sector workers across Donegal understand their Superannuation entitlements clearly so there are no surprises at retirement.

📞 074 910 3938
🔗 https://vist.ly/5kefp
📅 Book a consultation: advicefirst.ie/initial-financial-consultation/

For information purposes only. This is not personal financial advice and does not take account of your individual circumstances. You should seek advice tailored to your own situation before making financial decisions.
Advice First Financial Services Ltd, trading as Advice First Financial and Find a Mortgage, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.