Starter home: Passage West, €100,000

Tommy Barker looks at a recently refurbished three-storey townhouse, close to amenities with all the virtues of coastal living.

Size: Sq m 79 (850 sq ft).

Bedrooms: 3.

Bathrooms: 3.

BER: E2.

Best Feature: By the water 

You might expect anything that’s billed as the cheapest house in any area to be one needing a bit (or even a lot) of work, but that’s not the case at 9, Church Hill, in Passage West, in Cork’s harbour catchment.

Coming to market just as Cork’s inaugural Sounds from a Safe Harbour Festival prepares to kick-off for September and as there’s a fresh, rising tide of appreciation for harbour living and amenity use, this three-storey townhouse has accommodation over three levels, yet is priced at an even €100,000.

It’s listed for sale with Glen O’Connor of DNG Creedon in Douglas, who says at that level “it’s an absolute steal,” and is all in very good condition, having been refurbished as recently as 2008.

“It is great value, it’s bright, deceptively spacious and is in excellent condition so that a new owner can either move in ASAP, or rent it out immediately,” he observes, accepting that it may have an equal appeal to first time buyers as a starter home as it might have to investors.

As an investment it could earn €800-€850 a month, or around €10,000 a year, he indicates.

Within a two minute walk of the centre of Passage West, and near St Mary’s Church it has a ground floor hall, kitchen/dining room, utility room and a guest WC.

The floor above has double bedrooms (or, one plus living room) and main bathroom, and above is an en suite master bedroom.

VERDICT: Well anchored.