Starter home: Whitebarn, Youghal €155,000

Youghal semi-d with big garden is horses for courses, says Trish Dromey.

Sq m 112 (1,200 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

BER: D1

IF HORSES could buy houses they might choose this one at 33 The Rise, Whitebarn, in Youghal — just for its garden.

When the owner of the three-bed semi first began planting her garden, the shrubs in one corner began to mysteriously disappear.

She blamed dogs and rabbits until she caught the culprit red hoofed — a horse from the field behind which was happily chomping on her plants.

It may have been the quality of shrubs that attracted the racehorse to it or possibly the quantity, since the house is on a corner site and has a larger garden than its neighbours.

The property is now expected to appeal even more strongly to first time buyers.

“It’s larger than the average three bed semi with 1,200 sq ft of living space and is exceptionally well kept,” says Donna Ryan of Sherry FitzGerald Hennessy quoting a guide of €155,000.

Accommodation includes a timber-floored sitting room with a fireplace and a kitchen dining room at the rear with modern white units.

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

The house has parking at the front and an extra wide lawned garden with plants shrubs and hedges.

Overlooking a central green area at the front, it has views of open fields at the rear which at present don’t seem to contain horses.

Ms Ryan says the estate, located within a 15-minute walk from the town centre and a 10-minute drive from the beach, is a popular one especially with first time buyers

VERDICT: The good sized garden would be perfect for a green fingered buyer or one who wants to extend.