HOW TO HIRE · BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a mortgage broker in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A mortgage broker in Ireland costs €0–€1,500 per application, typically around €500. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a mortgage broker in five steps
- Are you on the Central Bank's Register of Authorised Firms, and what is your number?A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — ongoing Support — mortgage brokers provide ongoing support throughout the mortgage process, including advice on insurance products and potential refinancing options.
- How does complexity of your financial situation change the price?The more decisions involved, the longer the job runs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does services you require change the price?It is the part of the job hardest to judge from a photograph. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does amount of research required change the price?The headcount decides how many people have to be there. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Market Research — A key role of a mortgage broker is to conduct market research to find the best mortgage rates and terms available — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a mortgage broker job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
the Central Bank Register of Authorised Firms
TWO THINGS TO CHECK, NOT ONE. Being authorised is not the same as being appointed: a mortgage intermediary needs an authorisation and a letter of appointment from each lender whose products they place. The registers are searchable by name or partial name at registers.centralbank.ie — the Register of Mortgage Credit Intermediaries and the Insurance Distribution Register are the relevant ones. The register can LAG recent appointment changes, so if a broker says an appointment is new, ask for the lender to confirm it. Under the Consumer Credit Act it is an OFFENCE to engage in the business of being a mortgage intermediary without an authorisation AND at least one letter of appointment from a lender. An insurance intermediary must be registered to carry out insurance distribution, and it is an offence to do it unregistered.
Search the Central Bank's Register of Authorised Firms for the name or the registration number before you agree a price. registers.centralbank.ie →
Insurance
Expect professional indemnity insurance, which authorisation requires. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
Identity
Providers on Locufy prove who they are with photo ID before they can be booked; the ID-checked badge shows who has done it, and the document itself is deleted once the check is made. For a mortgage broker coming into your home it is the cheapest check there is.
Look for the ID-checked badge on the card, before you message anyone.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: A number you can look up yourself before you agree a price — ongoing Support — mortgage brokers provide ongoing support throughout the mortgage process, including advice on insurance products and potential refinancing options.
A good answer: The more decisions involved, the longer the job runs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It is the part of the job hardest to judge from a photograph. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The headcount decides how many people have to be there. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Market Research — A key role of a mortgage broker is to conduct market research to find the best mortgage rates and terms available — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a mortgage broker job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect professional indemnity insurance, which authorisation requires — mortgage Application Assistance — mortgage brokers assist clients in completing and submitting mortgage applications.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the mortgage broker starts, and an itemised invoice after — initial Consultation — during the initial consultation, a mortgage broker assesses your financial situation and discusses your borrowing needs.
Getting the quote right
- Complexity of your financial situation — the more decisions involved, the longer the job runs.
- Services you require — it is the part of the job hardest to judge from a photograph.
- Amount of research required — the headcount decides how many people have to be there.
- Size of the mortgage — scale is the first thing a provider measures before quoting.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They are not on the Central Bank's Register of Authorised Firms, or the number does not resolve to the name on the quote
- They will not talk about it: complexity of your financial situation — the more decisions involved, the longer the job runs
- They will not talk about it: services you require — it is the part of the job hardest to judge from a photograph
- They will not talk about it: amount of research required — the headcount decides how many people have to be there
- A price for the mortgage broker before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
What a mortgage broker costs: €0–€1,500 per application
The figures are for the job, per application, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. First-time homebuyer consultation and Refinancing assistance each carry their own band. Mortgage Broker price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Mortgage brokers near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstComplexity of your financial situation — the more decisions involved, the longer the job runs — that is what the mortgage broker is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneServices you require — it is the part of the job hardest to judge from a photograph — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfAmount of research required — the headcount decides how many people have to be there — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherSize of the mortgage — scale is the first thing a provider measures before quoting — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the mortgage broker is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, property type — a basic option and a premium one are different jobs.
- Initial Consultation
- During the initial consultation, a mortgage broker assesses your financial situation and discusses your borrowing needs.
- Mortgage Application Assistance
- Mortgage brokers assist clients in completing and submitting mortgage applications.
- Market Research
- A key role of a mortgage broker is to conduct market research to find the best mortgage rates and terms available.
- Ongoing Support
- Mortgage brokers provide ongoing support throughout the mortgage process, including advice on insurance products and potential refinancing options.
- First-Time Homebuyer Consultation
- A session where the broker educates first-time buyers on the mortgage process, available products, and financial preparations.
- Refinancing Assistance
- Guidance on refinancing an existing mortgage to secure better rates or access equity in the property.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a mortgage broker: questions people ask
The cost of hiring a mortgage broker can vary based on the complexity of your financial situation and the services you require. Factors such as the number of lenders you want to approach and whether you need assistance with special mortgage products can also affect pricing.
While general mortgage brokers can assist most clients, a qualified specialist may be necessary for complex situations, such as self-employment or adverse credit. It's advisable to choose a broker with relevant experience and qualifications for your specific needs.
Emergency or same-day services may be available, but they often come at a premium and depend on the broker's workload. It's best to discuss your urgency with the broker to understand their ability to accommodate your needs.
Many mortgage brokers can coordinate multiple related services, such as insurance and financial planning, to provide a comprehensive approach. Inquire about their ability to bundle services to potentially save on costs.
Mortgage brokers typically do not handle legal work, such as property conveyancing, or provide financial advice beyond mortgage options. It's important to clarify the scope of services with your broker to avoid any misunderstandings.
Search the name or the registration number. If the number does not resolve to the name on the quote, stop there.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in business & professional
Mortgage brokers near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- Central Bank — Register of Authorised Firms
- Central Bank — mortgage brokers and intermediaries
- Central Bank — insurance brokers and intermediaries
- CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Revenue — ACCOUNTANTS' SERVICES — Standard rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only