From the U.S. to Ireland: Our Journey
Moving to a new country is equal parts exciting and overwhelming—and doing it with a family adds an entirely new layer of complexity. If you're considering a similar move, we hope our experience—and a few lessons along the way—help you feel more prepared.
We would be happy to share our checklist and resources we compiled while planning, and researching and completing our move to Ireland.
Our Move
For us, the idea of moving to Ireland wasn’t impulsive. It started as a quiet conversation years ago centered around what life might look like there, what we valued, and how we wanted to raise our family. After our daughter was born, those conversations became more real, more urgent.
We found ourselves drawn to the idea of being closer to family, giving our children the chance to grow up alongside their cousins, and embracing a more grounded pace of life.
Of course, making the leap meant leaving behind familiarity—our routines, careers, and the comfort of what we knew. It forced us to ask some big questions: What matters most in this next chapter? And how do we make it work?
The Reality of Planning an International Move
Long before we packed a single box, we were consistently researching and planning. Moving internationally isn’t something you figure out overnight—it requires patience, organization, and a lot of research.
Some of the biggest early steps included:
Securing housing
Securing visas and understanding residency requirements
Researching and planning career changes
Building a realistic budget for the move
Deciding what to bring, sell, or store
Researching schools and planning for our children’s transition
Each decision felt significant, and together they formed the foundation for everything that followed.
House Hunting in Ireland: What Surprised Us
With full work schedules and a newborn at home, we quickly realized we needed support on the ground in Ireland. We decided to work with a buyer’s agent in Ireland—someone who could represent us locally and guide us through an unfamiliar process.
Even with my background as a realtor in the U.S., buying a home in Ireland was a completely different experience. The systems, expectations, and pace all came with their own learning curve.
Some of the biggest differences we encountered included:
The pace of the market: It moved in ways we didn’t expect, requiring both patience and quick decision-making
The bidding process: More nuanced and less transparent than what we were used to
The legal process: Navigating solicitors, contracts, and documentation added layers of complexity
Timelines: Everything took longer—and flexibility became essential
Very quickly, we learned that success in this process came down to staying adaptable, trusting the right people, and managing expectations.
This journey has been filled with challenges, but also incredible growth. While there’s still more to share—from settling in to building a new life—we hope this gives you a glimpse into what it really takes to start fresh in a new country.
Having gone through the process of buying a home and relocating from the US, we’ve experienced firsthand the value of working with a buyer’s agent in Ireland. This experience has been the driving force behind the service we now provide.
With over a decade of real estate experience in the US, combined with a deep understanding of the nuances of both the US and Irish markets, our goal is to serve as trusted “boots on the ground” for those looking to make a similar move.
