Trading Up
Sq m: 97 (1,040 sq ft)
Bedrooms: 3
BER rating: G
Bathrooms: 1
It’s no great shakes right now, but the three-bed semi-d ‘Aisling’, at 24 Farranlea Grove in Cork city’s mature western suburbs, is still going to catch the eye, and get good viewings.
That’s because the location between the Model Farm Road and Farranlea Road is ever-popular, and No 24’s site is within the cul de sac, a corner one, so there’s oodles of space to extend, which is almost a racing certainty as it comes up for new ownership.
Selling agent Malcolm Tyrrell of Cohalan Downing guides Aisling at an even €200,000, with a detached garage in the back garden, and the house has a good westerly aspect around the back — so, that’s probably the direction any would-be extenders would think of heading.
It has a little over 1,000 sq ft right now, with a basic layout and modest-sized rooms and currently both house and garden are fairly raw, needing a make-over and TLC — but, the upside is you’re not paying for half decent stuff you’d be taking back out straight away in any refurbishment.
VERDICT: The site’s a particularly good and workable one.
A couple of scraggy rock fingers separate the two beach options at this West Cork Toe Head home; one is stone and shingle, with a bit of slipway for boats, the other’s a sandy beach; both are where entire families could while away a day, or a holiday, exploring.
Out on a geographical limb, Toe Head is one of the less-visited parts around Skibbereen and Castletownshend, mainly as it’s a cul-de-sac detour off an already scenic route, with a narrow road around its headland indentations.
Ah, but it’s heavenly down along its narrow lanes, with views to the sea, the Stags rocks and the Kedges, dangerous waters for the unwary and the careless. That’s why the flashing Fastnet is on vigil a few miles further to sea.
New to market in a great coastal position with ocean and beach views is detached Livingstone House, a modern build in a traditional cluster style, with outbuilding and detached garage, on three acres sloping to the sea but with the road scything through at the end.
Estate agent Maeve McCarthy of Charles P McCarthy guides the one-off at what seems like a hefty €800,000, for vendors clearly hoping for the Castletownshend price halo effect to run this three mile stretch, and settle rainbow-like on Livingstone House.
According to Ms McCarthy, “it’s a most majestic location, unrivalled on the West Cork coastline, built to the highest standards.”
It’s got a set-back floor plan, with lower section to the west which could be made into a self-contained or guest suite, as it has its own second staircase.
VERDICT: The setting is priceless, but the price is lofty.
Sq m: 158 (1,700 sq ft)
Bedrooms: 4
BER rating: C2
Bathrooms: 3
Built around the year 2000, and in a development where re-sales are in the ‘hen’s teeth’ rarity category, is the fine 1,700 sq ft family home Woodview in Waterford’s Mullinabro Woods’ The Haven section.
The development, with five open green areas for children to play in and around, is in a safe rural setting, but with mains services and easy access to the Redbridge roundabout, for links to the M9 (for Dublin/Carlow), the N25 (Cork to Wexford) and N24 to Limerick, notes selling agent David Ennis of Ennis Gough.
It’s two-storey, with side wing and rear sun-room, and is in smart order inside and out, with three reception rooms as well as a large open plan kitchen/dining space with fiery-red range cooker. The main living room has a Stanley wood burning stove set into a quite formal white marble chimneypiece, with oil central heating in the background. Agents Ennis Gough seek €335,000 and say its owners have lavished care on it, as the development is predominantly owner-occupied, with a vigorous residents’ association.
VERDICT: A good mix of quality home, on a decent site with good screening and privacy, close to Waterford city, yet with a sense of rural remove to it.
Sq m: 240 (2,600 sq ft)
Bedrooms: 4
BER rating: B3
Bathrooms: 3
There’s some very good rooms, plus four bedrooms, on offer in the 2,600 sq ft dormer home at 35 Ard Abhainn, a 20 minute/eight mile commute from Cork city and four miles from Glanmire.
On a corner site, with a detached 225 sq ft garage in a cul de sac development at Knockraha, the house has a €300,000-plus AMV quoted by newly aligned agency DNG Murphy Condon, now with a good geographical spread from Blackpool and Blarney in the north west quadrant, to and beyond Glanmire in north east.
Knockraha has a good range of village services, bus to third level colleges and is near a number of good employment centres, notes agent Don Murphy and No 35 will appeal to families looking to trade up in the Little Island/Glanmire catchments thanks to its external and internal space and level of finish.
It’s largest reception room is 27’ by 14, the kitchen/dining room is also well-sized, with maple units, plus there’s a family room and a useful utility to boot. The master bedroom has a walk-in ‘robe and nice-sized fully-tiled en suite shower roms.
VERDICT: Good comfort levels, hefty black marble fireplace in the main living room (with Calor gas insert) and a highly respectable B3 BER rating too.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
