The Irish Property Podcast

Michael Houghton
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Investing
  • Updated Biweekly

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.

Episodes

  1. May 20

    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.

    19 min

  2. Apr 20

    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.

    15 min

  3. Apr 6

    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

    15 min

  4. Mar 23

    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

    12 min
  • 4 Episodes

About

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.

Information

You Might Also Like