Thinking outside the box

THE real beneficiaries of rampant house price inflation in this country are the internationally-mobile, those able to capitalise on their Irish property nest eggs and move to nest abroad.

Those of us destined to continue living and working see risen (and still-rising) Irish property values as a moot advantage if you sell and reap the gains of a purchase of even a few years ago, you still have to buy back into a strong market.

Some Irish people have however sold up, made a property killing and moved for lifestyle reasons to other countries or continents: a Dublin 4 terraced home might buy a small chateau and vineyard in the remoter regions of France.