Trading up: Glounthaune, Co Cork €420,000

The development of Cork’s industrial and employment base from the 1960s saw lots of ‘blow-ins’ decide to settle or build houses along the shoulders of hills east of Cork City, from Tivoli down towards Glounthaune and beyond.

Those ‘60s and ‘70s settlers came from Dublin and Dusseldorf, Sweden and Switzerland, many needing to be close to the burgeoning centre of Little Island.

Perhaps that’s the origin of this new-to-market, bungalow, called Solbacka, after a small town in Sweden.

Dating to 1967, Cork’s Solbacka is a 1,650 sq ft four-bed family bungalow home, on a 0.75 acre site, and its selling agent Jean Shanahan of DNG Murphy Condon guides it at €420,000.

It’s up on popular Windsor Hill, and that south-facing elevation give it glimpses and views out over sections of Cork harbour.

Solbacka’s two main reception spaces, plus its kitchen with maple units, “are positioned to avail of the stunning views, surrounded by extensive south-facing sun-trap patios, a decking area”, says Ms Shanahan.

With attached double garage and part-basement thanks to a sloping site, its got one of its four bedrooms en suite, has been well kept, and recent upgrades include a new A-rated condensing oil boiler, plus enhanced attic insulation, resulting in a C3 BER.

VERDICT: Swede dreams.