Trading up: Ballincollig, Cork €265,000

Sq m: 69 (750 sq ft)

Once upon a time this cottage was a self-sufficient entity and it even had its own piggery.

The pigs are gone now, but the old building remains and the cottage, called ‘Kilcrea’, is on half of its original site.

However, the town of Ballincollig has grown up around it and this cottage and half acre could be very valuable in the right hands.

The property is just on the market with Timothy Sullivan and Associates at a guide of €265,000 which is bullish money in this market until you consider the location, road frontage and rising property market.

Directly across the road from Col•iste Choilm and in the more sought-after, Poulavone area, Jarlath Boyd points out that the house is going to appeal to builders — for a single residence or more. This is a prime, level site in a prime area and there should be good demand as most development land is held in Nama and very little zoned property comes to market, according to a raft of recent commentary.

So, if there is a log-jam, expect competition for this little two-bed dwelling, which could be the foundation for an impressive one-off home — or an estate.

VERDICT: It’s not often an inner town site like this arises. Self-builders should definitely give it the once-over.