Choice of two by city’s premier water amenity

TWO by two by two — a brace of semis in parallel streets by Cork’s Lough are listed with selling agent Darragh Taaffe, of Keane Mahony Smith.

With both on the market in time for the new-year lift, the attractions of each house are obvious: green space and wide waters in the heart of Cork city.

University College Cork is a two-minute walk away, and, for commuters, the city is a walk of 20 minutes.

The first of the two houses, Fatima, on Hartland’s Road, is a two- to three-bedroom semi-detached that is selling for €410,00 and it is a “dotey place,” says Mr Taaffe, as well as a suburban investment.

The house is renovated and modern and is on the market in ready-to-go condition.

The main living rooms are open plan and the house has two good bedrooms, with the third bedroom used as a study.

On the Glasheen Road side of the estate, Fatima is ideal for ‘starters’ or ‘down-sizers’, or even investment, says the agent.

In the same area, Beltra, number 15, St Finbarr’s Park, is a mature semi-detached dating from the 1930s and is on the market at €495,000.

Closer to the Lough, the back garden has uninterrupted views and is not overlooked.

Beltra has spacious grounds, and, while in need of some modernisation (it has aluminium windows), it is in sound condition and also has a rear extension.

Most importantly, according to Mr Taaffe, it has views over the Lough, from every room at the rear, and water views from the garden.

The location of Beltra, plus the bullish nature of recent sales (a house in the park made close on €650,000 recently), will make for strong interest, Mr Taaffe says.

Accommodation includes a hallway with original tiles, a living room to the right, and an extended kitchen/dining/family room to the rear.

It includes a ground-floor bathroom and three bedrooms, and a main bathroom overhead.

The attached garage comes with planning permission for a two-storey extension and the attic is suitable for conversion.

With a little extra spending and a modest renovation, Beltra could be transformed into a glossy, well-located, five-bedroomed house.