Trade up and enjoy a large home with its own stream

AS a family trader-up home, Brook Lodge has a lot going for it. The 2,250 sq ft dormer home is in Ballyburden, in popular Waterfall, just a few minutes' drive from Cork's western suburbs.

Access to the city and all main routes has been made easier with the opening of the last, vital stage of the Ballincollig bypass.

Norma Healy of Sherry FitzGerald guides this three/four-bed quality home at €645,000, which puts the 9% stamp duty burden on to this one-acre property.

Close to Maglin Bridge, there's scope on the grounds for children to kick a ball around, and a stream for fishing for tiddlers. There's also a riding school just a few hundred yards away for those into horses.

Built in 1999, brick-faced Brook Lodge will appeal to buyers looking to trade up from areas like Bishopstown or Ballincollig, says Ms Healy, or it might find a buyer from further afield.

In its current layout, one of its three bedrooms is very large, and could easily convert back to two separate rooms to give a fourth bedroom if required, and the master bedroom has both an en suite and a walk-in wardrobe area.

Another large room is the kitchen/dining space, which measures 34' by 12' and is largely open plan, with a conservatory off it.

Other rooms include a lounge and family room, and quality features in the house take in solid maple floors, mahogany staircase, partial underfloor heating, surround sound and higher than average ceilings.

Brook Lodge has oil heating, double glazing, alarm and sensor lighting, and is in private grounds.