Starter home: Crosshaven, Cork, €130,000

Cute, charming and affordable with sea views, Spider Cottage in Crosshaven has much to entice first time buyers to come for a viewing.

Guiding at €130,000, it’s a mid-terraced fisherman’s cottage which may well be a hundred years old.  TJ Cronin of Irish and European auctioneers says the two bed property has been nicely renovated by its current owner. “ It oozes character and has stunning views of Crosshaven Inner Harbour,” he observes

Offering 650 sq ft of living space,  it has a timber-floored sitting room with a solid-fuel stove in a brick surround as well as a timber- floored kitchen with fitted units. There’s also a shower room and two bedrooms with stained timber floorboards.

The cottage has oil fired central heating and a D2 energy rating. During recent renovations the owner replastered the property and put in new double-glazed windows. Mr Cronin says that some further work may be required and that the roof will probably need some attention.

To the front there’s an enclosed garden with lawn, shrubs, plants, hedging and a seating area.

Located close to the centre of the village not far from the Royal Cork Yacht Club, it’s within easy reach of shops and pubs.

“It’s just a 30 minute drive from Cork city and would make an excellent starter or holiday home,’’ says Mr Cronin.

Some of the other houses in the terrace of six have added a second storey and he believes that this is something a new owner could investigate.  “The current owner had planning permission but it has lapsed,’’  he adds.

Early New Year viewers have included locals, first-time buyers and yachting enthusiasts in search of holiday home

VERDICT: Certain to catch a buyer quickly.

Crosshaven, Cork

€130,000

Size: 60 sq m (650 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 2

Bathroom: 1

BER: D2