Slashed price guidelines for The Borough on Maryborough Hill

HEY ho — how times change. These houses at The Borough on Cork’s Maryborough Hill are sitting on some of the most expensive real estate in the city — the land was bought at peak, but the majority of the development came to fruition after the downturn.

Now, ERA Downey McCarthy are offering slashed price guidelines for large detached houses, a range of two-bed and three-bed duplex apartments and townhouses in this medium density scheme.

Designed by architects James Leahy, and developed by Aceville Investments, The Borough is almost at the summit of Maryborough Hill and has incredible views — as far as Watergrasshill on a clear day.

And now it has incredible value too — with prices at almost half what they were three years ago.

And while that’s tough on those who’ve bought in the boom, it’s a big bonus for the small number of cash-in-hand buyers out there.

It means picking up a large, detached house in one of Cork’s premier addresses at €425,000 and the full-fit showhouse for €495,000.

The houses don’t follow the standard layout one comes to expect for estate properties, but have that design edge that makes for a bright, modern home. For instance, the entire south-facing rear of the showhouse is one room, with an integrated sun room that adds passive gain to the large, kitchen/living/ dining space. It comes fitted with walnut floors, a walnut kitchen with quartz worktop and there’s a fully fitted utility with gas boiler for the pressurised and zoned system.

The front of the house has a formal living/TV room with a wide picture window that runs all the way to the master bedroom.

The main entrance, meanwhile, faces north is protected from the wind and rain of the Irish weather by an integrated porch/vestibule, is a good square space with guest bathroom and the main staircase tucked into one side.

Overhead, there’s a surprisingly large landing, with the piece de resistance of the property, a double size master bedroom with big box bay. This faces north-west and has fantastic views, and it comes with a generous en suite and a range of built-in units.

There’s a second, en suite room, a main bathroom and a double and a large single bedroom with some dramatic flourishes in the decor. On a manageable site with a great aspect, the showhouse is one of three, detached properties remaining in the scheme, says Michael Downey of ERA Downey McCarthy.

He’s also offering two-bed apartments with showhouse finish at €190,000 and a smart, sunny townhouse at €245,000, which includes an integrated sunroom in the kitchen area and good, south-facing back garden.

Also on offer is a three-bed duplex apartment at €225,000 and the showhouse finish is open to offers.

Michael Downey is also selling a smaller version of the large, detached houses at €395,000.

The houses overlook farmland to the rear and to the front, are facing over the mature, established neighbourhoods of Maryborough Hill and Moneygourney.