It’s written in stone that this bungalow’s in the right location

THERE’S a touch of the famine folly wall to this house at Ballyleigh, in Waterfall in Cork - its large back gardens have a long run of cut stone walls as a boundary, as well as stone patios and terraces, with evidence of months of work for masons.

The c1970s bungalow is four miles from Ballincollig and will appeal to traders-up who can’t get a site west of the city to build on for love, money or cajoling of the planners.

It has a price guide of just under €400,000 and about 1,700 sq ft of space: by contrast, estate agent Barry Nagle of Global Properties says those selling four-bed semis in Ballincollig could expect to get around €260,000 for their own homes, or €210,000 for a three-bed, making the trade-up leap even larger.

(Builders Fleming Construction are due to launch an up-market scheme of 2,000 to 2,500 sq ft homes on large sites by O’Shea’s pub in Waterfall in a month’s time, through Cahalane Skuse auctioners. Expect prices to start over 500,000 for sought-after Waterfall.)

This €395,000 bungalow with Global Properties is ready to move into, however, and its space includes large sitting room, living room (both with gas fireplaces), kitchen, dining room, utility and four bedrooms, one with an en suite, plus main bathroom.

The site is securely bounded, with great country views to the back. There are mains services, a detached garage, and the house has oil heating and PVC double glazing.