City home with garden

BACK in 2002, this house at No 4 St Stephen’s Place, Friar Street in Cork city, went on the market at €220,000 and sold for somewhere around €260,000 – today it’s up for sale again at €270,000.

That’s a very minor capital appreciation over eight years and if you factor in stamp duty and fees, the vendor is probably coming out quits.

Which is the story of the boom, really, all that equity built up and then gone in a puff of smoke.

The three-bed property is new to the market with Conor Flynn of Conor P Flynn and Associates, who sold it the last time round, just before 9/11 and the rapid acceleration of the boom.

It’s an unusual property in a number of ways: firstly, it has a large, south-facing garden with pond, in a location that’s almost city centre.

Secondly, its tucked away off Friar’s Street in an area that was once part of a fever hospital and thirdly, it’s in very good condition.

And there’s room in the attic too, says Conor Flynn, which could add a study or bedroom space. As it stands now, the house has a living room, dining room, galley kitchen and utility, with three bedrooms overhead.

The house has gardens to the front, gas heating, high ceilings and original sash windows.