Starter home: Cork City, €134,950

There’s huge character, as well as internal and external appeal, to the apartments at Bridge House in the very heart of Cork city. 

A handful of apartments were developed in this Victorian red-brick, a former post office sorting depot, in the ’90s, and resales are infrequent.

Agent Stephen Clarke of REA O’Donoghue Clarke guides a second floor two-bed of 600 sq ft here at just shy of €135,000, noting its character, with exposed sandstone walls internally as well as River Lee views, opposite the bus station and two minutes to Patrick Street.

He adds that the development (which has annual service charges of €1,500) is very well kept.

VERDICT: Riverside pad.