Trading up: Ballinhassig, Cork €259,000

Sq m: 125 (1,350 sq ft)

Just a mile off the Cork to Kinsale road, at Ballinphellic, Ballinhassig, is this dormer family home, with 1,350 sq ft of living space in all.

The four-bed home is on a site of half an acre, roughly half way between the city and Kinsale, according to selling agent Denis Ryan, who’s based in nearby Riverstick village on the main R600. “The location of the house is probably it’s best feature, along with the large mature garden with panoramic views,” he says.

Cheerily yellow-hued on the outside, this dormer home’s gable faces the site’s entrance off the local back road, and from here there’s easy access to Carrigaline and a host of sizeable harbour employers, as well as to Kinsale for amenities and activities, while Cork city is about a 15 minute drive past Five Mile Bridge, which is close to Ballinphellic.

The rural site has broad countryside views, and the half acre allows plenty of space for kids, cars and pets, plus there’s a garage and a shed.

Asking price is €259,000 for the property which has sitting room, kitchen/dining room, utility and guest WC, with three beds upstairs and one below. It has a solid C3 BR rating.

VERDICT: A detached in the country, with a decent site, for the price of a three-bed semi in the suburbs.