Cois Chuain homes tower over harbour

THIS estate of three-year-old houses in Glounthaune is not, as the name suggests, next to the harbour, but rather towers over it.

Built on a high, hilly site it has some views all the way over the inner harbour to the parkland of Fota and beyond. In between, the Midleton Parkway looks like a scalextric set in the distance.

Almost completed, and with huge grassy open spaces, Cois Chuain is in increasing demand and could show a 45% return on the original selling price if the first re-sale here hits above the €600,000 mark.

Cois Chuain was designed by architect, Roddy Hogan, whose other Cork housing estates have shown a notable appreciation in value, in particular, the Lindville Estate in Blackrock where prices have increased by 300% since construction began in the late nineties.

The first phase of houses at Cois Chuain topped 3,000 square feet with an average site of a quarter of an acre, making it one of the most generous and low-density estates in the city.

There are just 63 house planned overall with 16 remaining in the final phase.

Construction of these is reliant on the Midleton main sewage system, and as work hasn't yet started on this, the last phase won't be sold until connection.

Catherine McAuliffe of HOK is marketing this development and her colleague, Mark Kelly, is handling the sale of number 9, Cois Chuain, along with joint agents, Dan O'Connell and Co.

With brick and copper touches and including a sun room, number 9 is at the very top of the estate and has impressive living space spread over three-storeys.

From the ice-white drawing room carpet, to the light oak joinery, wide plank timber flooring, and granite and maple kitchen, expense hasn't been spared here. These three-storey, 3,100 square foot houses are very grand inside.

Already there's an offer of €600,000 on this six-bedroomed house and with at least 70 names on the waiting list for the last phase, some of those might jump at the chance to buy into phase one even with stamp duty of around €55,000.

This house has buckets of room for a family, (even two generations), and is in perfect condition. Included is a double garage, two patio areas and a garden shed. The location makes it close to the Lee Tunnel, but it's also just a walk to the local primary school and there's also a rail like from Glounthaune to the city.

What more could you want?