Second chance to buy the better half

EARLIER this summer, a period semi-detached house, Rosnalee, sold on Cork's Cross Douglas Road; now the other half of the suburban twin - Trasna - is on the market.

Which means the selling agent for Rosnalee, Noelle Morrison, hasn't far to travel to put up her For Sale boards again. Nor does she have to look very far for potential buyers. She's been busy contacting the under-bidders on the next-door sale only a few months ago in case they're interested in a second bite of the cherry. But they can expect to dig deeper into their pockets.

Rosnalee hit the market with a €450,000 price guide, and might have been expected to make about €500,000. Instead, in very strong bidding, it went eventually for €595,000.