Trading Up: Maryborough Hill, Cork, €775,000

Savills had nine houses and apartments to sell for Nama this month at Cork’s Maryborough Woods, expecting quick sales, at prices from €185,000 for a two-bed, to €430,000 for a 2,000 sq ft four-bed semi.

Amid that fray from new home hunters, they might find some quieter time for viewings at Key West, a mid-1900s detached family home on 0.3 of an acre, just on the Douglas village side of the Maryborough House Hotel.

The location’s considered superb; Douglas village on the doorstep, hotel and spa 200 yards away, near Douglas Golf Club, and this stretch of bungalows faces towards The Paddocks, and Douglas House, where Ronan O’Gara built a large house on a profile, wooded site.

An unusally laid-out home, Key West has its four bedrooms left of the hall, plus bathroom and utility, and has a large living room on the other side, linked to a kitchen/dining room.

Then, overhead, is a further 20’ by 14’ living room, with doors out to a viewing balcony, which yields views over the immediate gardens, then Douglas village and, finally, further off, Cork city’s lights glow at night: handily, there’s an outside, wide balcony for taking in the mixed views.

Agent Michael O’Donovan of Savills guides at €775,000 and says the 2,200 sq ft Key West is deceptively spacious, and well kept, with private back garden with deck and mature trees.

VERDICT: The location means well-heeled home hunters will budget for upgrades and extension.