Kenley home may appeal to FTBs

Model Farm Road, Cork, four-bed property comes with extension, Tommy Barker reports

IT’S been a while since a good suburban home at this price level was pitched at first-time buyers, but that could again be the case as Budget 2012 brought some relatively good cheer in terms of a generous mortgage interest relief from 15% to 25% for buyers who make the purchase jump by the end of 2012. (And, sticking to promises in the Programme for Government, mortgage interest relief of 30% is confirmed for FTBs who took out mortgages in the peak-cost period 2004-2008.)

The week’s budget got a broad welcome for several initiatives to stabilise the property sector, on both commercial and residential fronts, but the real key still remains access to funding and borrowing.

However, some lucky FTBs with secure jobs may well go on the hunt now in Cork’s western suburbs: possible employment backgrounds could be medical, IT or education.

If so, the likes of 10 Kenley Close Upper, off the Model Farm Road, is going to appeal. For the peak property market price of standard two-bed suburban apartments, house-hunters can now get a four-bed, 1,450 sq ft traditional but extended semi-d, with a good 25’ by 14’ double aspect living rom, a family room, kitchen, large utility, guest WC and four overhead bedrooms.

Overall condition is good, says agent Johnny O’Flynn of Sherry FitzGerald, with gas heating, double glazing, off-street parking and it has a block-built shed in the back garden.

VERDICT: A lot of house on offer here, just needing a bit of personalising.