Reasons to be cheerful as family home hits market

THE asking price on 19 Bridgewater might be €575,000, down from last year’s levels of c €630,000 for similar sales, but it is realistic for the current market.

So says estate agent Con Nagle of Global Properties of the 1,600sq ft family home near Ballincollig, Co Cork, as he also finds reasons to be cheerful in the current housing market.

“Price growth in the residential housing sector is likely to be flat for 2008. Vendors’ expectations, in most cases, have come back in line with what can be realistically achieved in the market. This should be seen as welcome news for aspiring homebuyers. But, will they take hold of the opportunity or let it pass them by?” asks the auctioneer who has an MA in economics to bolster and, even, temper his selling skills.