Starter home: Glounthaune, Cork, €220,000

This former showhouse in Glounthaune with it toasty B1 energy rating is likely to rouse many first time buyers in Cork city from their post Christmas lethargy and get them out viewing.

Since going up on websites on Christmas Eve, with a guide of €220,000 No 9 Gort Fada has been attracting a high level of interest. Lawrence Sweeney of Savills was thus expecting a very good turnout for the open viewing on Thursday.

Offering 968 sq ft of accommodation, the three bed mid terraced house is part of a small development of energy efficient houses built seven years ago.

“It has a heat recovery system, solar panels to heat the water, a wood burning stove and high levels of insulation,"  says Mr Sweeney Said to be in excellent decorative order, the house has a front living room with a stove and a spacious kitchen dining room with maple shaker style units with fitted appliances as well as an understairs guest WC.

Upstairs there’s a bathroom and three bedrooms including one with an en suite.

Since buying the house for €180,000 at the end of 2014, the owners have redecorated and retiled and have also put in an attractive landscaped patio garden at the rear Mr Sweeney says the key attractions are the condition and the location within a few minutes walk from the Glounthaune train station.”

Most houses that sell in this area are detached, very few are in the price range of first time buyers,’’ An end of terrace house at No 4 Gort Fada sold for €233,000 in November , going for €23,000 above its asking price.

VERDICT: A nice house for a quick New Year sale.

Glounthaune, Cork

€220,000

Size: 90 sq m (968 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 3

BER: B1