Starter homes: Blarney, Cork €52,950

Sq m: 818 (880 sq ft)

A house and an acre for just over €50,000 is on offer on the outskirts of Blarney, Co Cork at the moment through Fleming Auctioneers, Blarney.

The property, at the delightfully named, Knocknasuff, (there are plenty of brambles for jammaking here), is just a brisk walk to the tourist village off the Waterloo way, but is on a country byroad in a very sheltered, rural location.

In a bit of a parlous state now, the property was renovated and then uninhabited for a while, so it needs work, but it’s not derelict.

Across the road, there’s an acre field, with old stables and this might suit someone with a yen for horses or even, chickens. Whether or not a way to swap the existing house for permission to build across the road could be found would be a matter for the planners. However, there is plenty of land attached which has a good, south-facing aspect and a stream running through the site to one side, heading to heavier, boggy ground at the bottom.

The house was built over 50 years ago and is tight to the hill at the back, but it does comes with three bedrooms, main bathroom and a kitchen, living and dining room. Subject to planning, there could be scope to improve on the property which is also convenient to the main Cork/Limerick road and has fast access to the city.

VERDICT: Very attractive location — worth a punt.