Trading Up: South Douglas Road, €225,000

APARTMENT building and living is going to be an increasing feature in the Irish residential market, a CIF builders’ conference was told this week, with cost of construction viability only just returning to the apartment market as prices and rents continue to rise, and future new blocks will generally be sold as multiples of units, than singly, to individual buyers, it was suggested.

But, in the meanwhile, very much aimed at a one-off buyer, either trading-down owner-occupier or investor, is the ground floor apartment no 1, in the superbly-located Kingsbridge scheme of 34 units, off the city end of Cork’s South Douglas Road.

Easily accessed off the south city link, and the city centre’s a short walk away too, No 1 is for sale with basement parking, in a gated enclave built in 2003 and has been popular with buyers and renters since, with some larger ones getting €1,300 a month.

Kingsbridge has three blocks in all, with duplexes in one rear block and the latest resales showing up on the Price Register for 2015 were No 28, for €245,000, and No 21, sold for €220,000.

Now estate agent Trish Stokes of Lisney guides the ground level No 1 by the entry point at €225,000, and says it’s sunny and south-facing, spacious at 830 sq ft and superbly accessible.

VERDICT: A quality development