Could this White House be the right ‘happy’ house?

REASONS to be cheerful — for the buyer at least? The price on Sonas (the Irish word for happiness) is a manageable €375,000, but back in the glory days a suburban semi in a location like this one could have made closer to €600,000.

Sonas, aka 43 Laburnum Drive, is one of those ‘good’ addresses, off the Model Farm Road in Cork city’s western suburbs.

It is a bang-on location for family life, with good suburban supports and schools, clubs, and easy access to the city’s two main third level colleges, UCC and CIT. And, for those employed in the health services, it also close to the Bon Secours, and Cork University Hospital.

Sonas will serve any new owners well, and already ticks many boxes. A mid-1900s three-bed semi-detached, it can be moved into right away and has extra useful space alongside in the guise of a detached garage, across a narrow side access passage.

That garage also allows for easy side extension options, either single or two-storey, while there’s also scope to wrap around the back of the house, subject to planning permission, of course.

The back is west-facing and the back garden is a good size, so there’s plenty of outdoor space left over when any extension is done and dusted.

Selling agent is Ann O’Mahony of Sherry FitzGerald, who says this older style c 1,400 sq ft home is in good overall condition, with attractive features.

It already has three reception rooms, one quite formal one to the front, with white marble fireplace. There’s a family room mid-ships with double doors to the back dining room off the kitchen, and a rear hall could make for study space.

There’s a ground floor guest loo, and overhead, three bedrooms and a family bathroom.