Starter homes: Clonakilty, West Cork Price: €180,000

Size: Sq m 93 (1,000 sq ft)

Clonakilty auctioneer Martin Kelleher says he sold six houses in the past year in the town’s award-winning Glebe Gardens niche development — and most, if not all, were to cash buyers for their own use and pleasure rather than as investments.

Reason? The setting, just off the recently enhanced Emmet Square and behind the original corner. Glebe Gardens is special, and the townhouses here in the former orchard grounds are extremely well-built and specified.

Their quality was one of the reasons that Clonakilty UDC nominated builders Hillback for awards in the local authority-sponsored LAMA awards, and they went on to win the Developer of the Year award in Jan 2010.

Mr Kelleher says of No 18 that “it’s one of the best properties, in one of the best estates in West Cork,” and he pins a €180,000 asking price to this 1,000 sq ft three-bed (back in 2007 when this section of the heavily-landscaped scheme was launched two 1,300 sq ft houses here made over €500,000 a pop, just before the market nose-dived.)

There’s zoned heating, pressurised showers, reserved parking and AV/remote control access.

VERDICT: Clon’s urban oasis.