A new interest rate hike expected to be announced by the European Central Bank (ECB) later this week could significantly add to Irish homeowner's mortgage repayments.
The 0.75 per cent increase is predicted to be put in place on Thursday following an ECB meeting on its key lending rate.
It will mark the third rise in rates since the summer, which could add a total of €1,620 a year to the cost of a tracker mortgage taken out during the boom.
