One in three Irish Americans have expressed an interest in buying property in Ireland at some stage this decade, according to a new survey.
And more than two thirds of Irish American retirees, (76%), say they would look at spending part of each year based in Ireland.
The monthly Amárach Research/Irishcentral.com survey of Irish American attitudes, (the Irish Diaspora Omnibus), also reveals that Ireland scores badly as a place to do business and to get things done efficiently. But we are tops when it comes to hospitality and friendliness.
The research results backs up reports from Irish estate agents of a renewed interest by ex pats in buying property here due to a combination of falling house prices and low stamp duty rates.
The survey of 1,100 people carried out in the last week shows that while only 3% of Irish Americans living in the U.S. own property here, 33% would be interested in purchasing a house in Ireland between now and 2019.
More than half, (53%), said the key motivation for buying would be the prospect of having a personal or family holiday home in Ireland. More women, (55%), expressed an interested in becoming property owners here than men, (49%).
The majority (61%) of those who say they would buy property here expressed an interest in a “house”. 44% would be specifically interested in a “cottage’ while almost one quarter, 23%, would be interested in a “country house”.
Galway (15%), Kerry (11%), Cork (11%), Clare, Donegal and Dublin (each at 9%) are the locations that Irish Americans would ideally like to purchase in. 59% say they are driven by an instinct to find a location with links to family origins and heritage.
The prospect of tranquillity would seem to resonate with 55% expressing a preference would prefer a rural to an urban or suburban setting.
More than two-thirds (76%) of retirees would consider spending some of their time in Ireland. Of these, 56% would ideally like to spend part of every year in Ireland and the remainder in the U.S.
Meanwhile the Amárach Research/Irishcentral.com research reveals that while Ireland rates well ahead of other European countries in the personality and culture stakes, aspects of our business and personal appearance are in need of a makeover.
Only 43% of those surveyed thought Ireland was a good place to do business, and 50% think it’s a country in which to get things done efficiently. Only half (52%) think it’s a place where you get value for money. Just 41% rated Ireland when it comes to Fashion.
Not surprisingly Ireland came out tops when it came to pub entertainment with 88% of Irish Americans giving Ireland the thumbs up in this area. And when it comes to faith and religion
73 per cent consider this to be a hallmark of irishness.
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For more detail contact:
Michael McLoughlin, CEO Amárach Research
086 4198792
or
Miriam Donohoe, MD Media
087 2393914
NOTE:
Amárach Research (www.amarach.com) is one of Ireland’s leading market research companies. In 2010 it teamed up with Niall O’Dowd’s www.irishcentral.com to develop The Link, or Irish Diaspora Omnibus, an online survey of the Irish in America and Irish-Americans. It is the first survey of its kind, allowing direct, fast and cost-effective access to the Irish- American market.
The Link targets a representative sample of 1,500 Irishcentral.com users each month (i.e. Irish and Irish Americans from across the U.S. who have an established interest in Ireland).
To enquire about including questions on this survey, contact Orla Murphy at 01-4105250 or by e-mail at orla.murphy@amarach.com
