Look B4 you leap, there’s a choice in choice Ballincurrig

FRONT row, or back row? Two similar suburban homes, in the same well-regarded estate, hit the market in the same week with agents Marshs and Property Team O’Sullivan.

Now, this week’s duo join two other semis also still for sale in the same quiet setting, one with Casey and Kingston, the other with Savills.

Location in Ballincurrig Park, a cul de sac off the main Douglas Road in Cork, a residential estate where re-sales traditionally had been extremely rare – people moved here for life.

But, estates age just like their resident families and now more than a few of the property offerings in places of this vintage are executor estate sales.

One of the strongest recent sales was the extended semi-d Elyian, making around €750,000 back in 2006.

Auctioneer for Elyian then was Hugh McPhillips of Marshs, and now he has another Ballincurrig four-bed semi on his hands for sale. Kilbracken needs modernisation but he pins what seems a low €425,000 price tag to the house and comments “I want to sell.”

It is in the back section of Ballincurrig, west-facing in front with lots of scope in the extra-wide east facing back garden for future extension.

It has had its windows replaced, as were fascias and sofits, it has gas central heating and work on the drains has also been tackled a few years ago. Other than that, it needs a fairly thorough modernisation. It has two main reception rooms, a basic kitchen with narrow annex behind, there’s a ground floor WC/shower and first floor main bathroom, and four bedrooms.

It joins a very similar vintage and room specification house, Dungourney, aka 14 Ballincurrig Park around the next/front row of the rectangular block.

Conor Smith of Property Team O’Sullivan has put a €495,000 asking price on it, next door to that c €750,000 2006 seller Elyian.

Both sub-€500,000 prices at Dungourney and Kilbracken contrast with the other two houses for sale here, such as Comeragh which came up for sale in October 2008 with Casey and Kingston, seeking €585,000, and the more recent arrival Adrigole, guiding €560,000 with Savills.

Having two more Ballincurrig four-bed semis for sale now adds to a mix and choice not seen since built 50 years ago. Vendors mightn’t like it, but it has made this spot a buyer’s market.