Investors size up appealing villa

WHAT is it about McCurtain Villas in Cork city that has seen its house values ratchet up above its neighbours in recent years?

It is location, first and foremost, given its convenience to the city centre just a stroll away along Barrack Street, and its proximity to the Lough, Bon Secours hospital and UCC in other directions.

Over the last five years this locational bonus has been prized by house hunters. Houses here were relatively affordable up until just a few years ago, but now it is one of Cork city’s residential battlegrounds between private and investor buyers and prices have soared.

UCC is just a quarter of a mile away, so college lectures are a couple of minutes sleepy stumble away: the convenience of the location has seen the student population swell, and with Section 50 student accommodation being built nearby in places like Bandon Road, this influx is set to continue.

No 15 McCurtain Villas, end of terrace and hence semi-detached, is on a generous corner site and this house with rear extension edged up in offers just prior to Christmas to top 270,000 with Brendan Quinlan of CB Hamilton Osborne King.

Its four bedroom status possibly boosted its appeal to investors. However, with two of these rooms coming in at 6’ 7” by just over 6’, and another at under 7’ by 6’ 8”, there isn’t much room to swing a party in for student occupants.

Built in the mid 1900s, McCurtain Villas has an exterior style which still has parallels in today’s townhouses, with maintenance free brick at lower level and unpainted render overhead.

No 15 is a modernised and extended end of terrace house, semi-detached with double glazing, gas heating, and a fourth bedroom squeezed in at first floor level where the bathroom traditionally might have been. It has a small front sitting room with cast iron fireplace, a larger family room leading to a big kitchen/dining room, plus ground floor bathroom and hot press.