Starter Homes

ARDMORE, WATERFORD €195,000

Sq m:100 (1,100 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 4

Bathrooms: 1

Broadband: Yes

Minutes’ walk from a beach, and a five-minute spin from Ardmore village, is this Shanbally, Whiting Bay home on an acre.

The attractive, old-style single-storey house has about 1,100sq ft, with sitting room, open plan kitchen/dining room and bathroom, and has a €195,000 asking price with local agent Brian Gleeson who says it is as equally suited for full-time use as for holidays.

VERDICT: Live here, and every day could be a holiday.

ALBERT ROAD, CORK €90,000

Sq m: 53 (560 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 1

Broadband: Yes

It’s a hop, skip and a jump to Cork city centre from No 15 Geraldine Place, by Albert Road — and that’s why the selling agents Sherry FitzGerald say its best points are location, location, location.

The mid-terraced home is a bit old fashioned but it has two compact reception rooms, plus kitchen and WC all at ground level.

VERDICT: Small, but well-placed, near the south ring road, bus station, rail station and the Marina.

CARRIGALINE, CORK €175,000

Sq m:112 (1,200sq ft)

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

Broadband: Yes

There’s a nice sunroom extension to the back of 121 Dun Eoin, a three-bed semi-d in a popular Carrigaline development, facing a green area.

Agent Conor Smith of O’Sullivan Estates guides at €175,000, and that’s for a clean family home with 16’ by 13’ front room, with double doors to a rear 19’ by 12’ kitchen/ breakfast room — and then, the sunroom off there is a similar size again, so good space in all.

VERDICT: Well kept, with an en suite bathroom, and the extension is a bonus.