Mortgage approvals reached their highest monthly levels in at least 15 years in July, latest figures from Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) show.
BPFI said first-time buyers (FTBs) continued to drive approvals, accounting for over half (3,575) of the 6,253 mortgages approved during the month.
The total number of approvals was 14.4% higher than July 2025.
Those remortgaging and switchers made up one fifth of all approvals – which was a 71.6% rise on last year.
In terms of value, mortgage approvals in July surpassed €2 billion, which was up 15% year on year.
BPFI Chief Executive Brian Hayes said these were “the highest monthly levels since the data series began in 2011, although it’s worth noting that mortgage approval activity typically peaks between May and July each year”.
“Looking at the annualised figures, there were 55,307 mortgage approvals in the 12 months to July 2026, valued at €17.9 billion.
“This represents a moderate increase on the 12 months to June 2026, with volumes up 1.44% and values up 1.51%.
“Taken together, the figures point to continued momentum in the mortgage market, with first-time buyers remaining a key driver and switching activity adding further to the lending pipeline,” Mr Hayes said.
