- More competition under £300k: If lots of first-time buyers are clustering around the same budget, desirable homes can attract more viewings and tighter timelines.
- Price ‘bunching’: In some areas, properties may be marketed just under key thresholds (e.g., £299,950) to capture buyer demand.
- Budget planning matters more: Your monthly payment is still the big cost — but stamp duty can change how much cash you need upfront.
If you’re close to the boundary, it’s worth looking at the total cost to complete (deposit + fees + stamp duty + moving costs) rather than just the headline purchase price.
Practical next steps
If you’re buying in Northern Ireland, the best approach is usually to do three things early:
- Sense-check affordability with a realistic rate and term (not just the best-case headline rate).
- Decide your deposit strategy — sometimes a slightly larger deposit improves pricing enough to matter.
- Get a Decision in Principle so you’re ready to move quickly when the right home appears.
If you’d like, we can help you map out the numbers and compare options based on your deposit and target price range.