Put your stamp on one of the highlights of Celtic Tiger times

THE times are not only a-changing, they have changed fairly radically in the property market.

A location that shows some of the hopes and hubris of the Celtic Tiger era is Hilton, off Cork’s Model Farm Road, that was happily reinventing itself up until the boom came down with a bang.

Individual houses in this estate of big detacheds made over €1.5 million at peak, such as the Hilton house which sold for about €1.6m. That 5,000 sq ft home on a 0.8-acre site was flattened, with a huge replacement home now almost complete, and with another house site left over to the rear.

At the entrance to Hilton, a certain O’Gara family built a modern, contemporary house in the gardens where a certain Ronan played rugby, and then sold up their original family house.

Now, neighbourhood renewal is on the doorstep of Glengara, a 3,000 sq ft four-bed with great ground floor living space, at the very back of Hilton.

It was put up for sale exactly two years ago for €1.6m, but the vendors subsequently decided to build on half of the three-quarter acre site, taking out the former tennis court area for a contemporary stone, render, cedar and glass home.

They’ve now made the move over the newly-built back wall to their bright new abode, so Glengara is back for sale with Sheila O’Flynn of Sherry FitzGerald.

Its asking price now is €850,000; the times have changed dramatically, but the big reduction is mostly due to the fact that a lot of the former grounds are now hived off and separately built on.

At this price it is a hugely attractive trading-up option for many families, and given that it needs to be modernised for new occupation, there’s a chance to put an individual stamp on it.

It doesn’t really need extension, but rather a make-over and upgrade, so budget for a kitchen, flooring, insulation, windows and such.

The house already has a good master suite, with dressing room and, a bit of a statement of the day, steps up to a step-down bath in the en suite.

Most of the ground-floor rooms flood with light, thanks to an architect’s input from day one and smart window positioning for garden views, while the remaining grounds are fully mature, untouched really near the house, despite its overall area being truncated.

The vendors’ new home has been designed and built so that neither new nor old really overlooks the other. Sure, the back of the new home is visible, but windows were put above head height, so as not to overlook.

Selling features include a good range of family space (say, about four reception rooms) with a large 25’ by 13’ formal drawing room with antique fire basked in a period-style marble chimney piece, and there’s a big utility leading to an attached garage.

A great western suburban address, and good bones at Glengara to work with.