Starter home: Ballincollig, Cork €219,500/235,000

Muskerry Estate “is still the original and still the best-located estate in the now thriving town of Ballincollig,” says Con Nagle of Global Properties, who is busy doing viewings on two three-bed semis here.

He guides the good order No 30 Holly Road at €235,000, and for €15k less he has 23 Park Road, also within Muskerry Estate and which has been 40 years in the same owner’s care, but now needs modernising and upgrades.

Both have central heating, double glazing, and decent 1,350 sq ft floor areas.