Applewood could be sweet buy

Amid rising prices, Applewood may be worth a bite, says Tommy Barker.

Right through the past five or more years, since the market dipped, resale offers at the Applewood section of the Maryborough Ridge scheme in Cork’s Douglas have been steady sellers.

Built about ten years ago, prices of these two-bed townhouses had risen to the €300k-plus mark and even higher, before scaling back down to €200k-plus in the last few years: they’re now are inching up again, at and around the €220,000 mark this year.

Now, a former showhouse, No 2 Applewood, is for sale this month, guided at €225,000 by estate agent Conor Smith of Casey and Kingston— who says it’s in very good condition, and has been owner-occupied.

A two-storey mid terrace townhouse it’s got two upstairs bedrooms, each with bathrooms, with shower/baths, and downstairs is a guest WC. Downstairs too are a main living room, with fireplace, and with French doors to the back garden, which has a spot-on south-west aspect. Next to it, the kitchen also has garden access, and units are in an off-white gloss, topped with marble.

Outside behind is a well-kept garden, with green-painted garden shed, curve-edge lawn with circular stepping stones, patio and perimeter planting.

Applewood is part of the large O’Brien and O’Flynn Maryborough Ridge development done in the early to mid-2000s, with access points both at Maryborough Hill and onto Carrs Hill, while Douglas village is a downhill stroll away.

VERDICT: Starting out, or trading down, there’s a good cross-section of appeal thanks to the location.

Maryborough, Cork €225,000

Size: Sq m 84 (900 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 3

BER Rating: B3