Starter Home: Ballincollig, Co Cork, €195,000

This two-bedroomed apartment in Ballincollig is attracting a lot of interest from a wide range of buyers — first-timers, downsizers and investors.

WHEN the owners of 24 Old Quarry in Ballincollig got a bid of the €195,000 asking price for their home after the first viewing, they must have thought it was Christmas and not Easter.

Selling agent Norma Healy of Sherry FitzGerald says that 15 viewers, a mix of first time buyers, downsizers, and investors turned up for that first open viewing of the two bed apartment last week and that continued interest is expected.

“The key selling point is that it’s in a small gated complex of just 36 apartments which is within a 10-minute walk from Ballincollig town centre,’’ she says adding that the property has been very well cared for by the owners who have had it since Old Quarry was built 14 years ago.

The second floor property has 890 sq ft of living space, which makes it quite spacious for an apartment.

Accommodation includes a carpeted sitting room with an electric fire, a kitchen with fitted units and patio doors which open out on to a south facing balcony.

There’s a bathroom and two carpeted bedrooms, one en suite, with fitted wardrobes.

Fitted with electric storage heating, the apartment has a C2 energy rating.

Inside the gated complex there are landscaped gardens and a parking area with designated spaces.

Ms Healy says apartments in this complex don’t come on the market very often. The most recent sale recorded on the Property Price Register was for No 12 which sold for €161,000 last March.

VERDICT: It looks like being a good Easter for the owners , who are planning to trade up for extra space.

Ballincollig, Co Cork

€195,000

Sq m 82 ( 890 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 2

BER: C2