Looking for your ideal home
Franklins have been selling some of the county’s finest properties since 1999. We cover the majority of the county from our landmark central Letterkenny offices. Prestigious country homes, cottages, holiday homes, semi-detached or sites – search our website or call us. Our contract ready properties means you can move quickly to contract without fuss.
New listings
A guide to buying
Obtain Mortgage Advice
Applicants should start by contacting their own Bank / Building Society. They will have a history of your financial habits and should be able to give you an answer soon after your initial meeting.
Register on our mailing list
We provide regular email alerts as new properties become available. In many cases we will call buyers who are anxious to buy quickly. Do not be afraid to ask – that is what we are here for. Let us know exactly what you are looking for and where.
Arrange a viewing/viewings.
Our online brochures are as informative as possible so once you have identified suitable properties give us a call or send an email. Tip: You can view the location of any property at Google Earth – a really useful tool that saves a lot of wasted time.
Making an offer
The negotiator or director you are dealing with will register your offer with the seller and establish your buying position (i.e. house to sell, first time buyer etc). A negotiation process then follows in order to try and agree a sale. Franklins unlike most firms do not usually ‘hold’ offers on properties. Therefore you are not normally competing with previous viewers. This system in our view is fairer and honest.
Agreeing a Sale
After a price is agreed Franklins will require a 5% booking deposit within 7 days. This is fully refundable for any reason until you sign a contract (it then forms part of the purchase price). We will then issue a memorandum of sale providing full details of the sale and the names of all parties involved.
Arrange a Survey/Architects report
In most cases buyers are advised to have their own professional assessment of the property being purchased. Franklins can recommend a surveyors to you, if you wish.
Conveyancing of Contract
You will require a solicitor to carry out the conveyancing on your behalf. Franklins can recommend a firm if required. Your solicitor will examine the contract of sale and ensure the property has good marketable title. Franklins usually assist to a fair degree once solicitors are instructed liaising between the parties to ensure a speedy transaction.
Signing of Contracts
You will be required to pay a further 5% of the purchase price to your solicitor and at this stage a completion date will be set.
Completion
The financial conclusion of the transaction. You will be asked to provide your solicitor with the balance of the purchase monies a few days before completion. This is then sent on to the seller’s solicitor. Once the money has cleared you are the proud owner of your new home and can collect the keys – usually from the agent.
Stamp Duty
Government property tax payable by buyers – 1% of purchase price up to €1 million and 2% over €1 million