Starter home: Clonakilty, Co Cork, €159,000

Trish Dromey reports on an ideal home for first-timers in Clonakilty.

Sq m 85 (920 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

BER: F

AFFORDABLE and located within minutes’ walk from the town centre, but in need of upgrading, No 4 Old Chapel Lane in Clonakilty has been attracting first-time buyer attention in recent weeks.

Bidding has already gone above the asking price of €159,000 and viewings of the 920 sq ft three-bed semi are continuing.

Selling agent Martin Kelleher says there’s a shortage of affordable properties for first-time buyers in the town and adds that this one is well located in a quiet residential area

The 1950s built house has been upgraded over the years and has two ground floor extensions at the rear — one for a bedroom and one for the kitchen.

Fitted with dual oil-fired heating and mostly double glazed windows, it has kept many original features including exposed ceiling rafters and fireplaces.

The sitting room at the front has painted rafters, a fitted mirror and bookcases, timber flooring and a fireplace.

The dining room has painted floorboards, a fireplace and an archway to a galley kitchen.

To the rear there’s a bathroom as well a bedroom with exposed rafters, timber-panelled walls and wardrobes.

Upstairs there’s a shower room and two timber-floored bedrooms.

Mr Kelleher say the property has character and quirky features, but will need updating and upgrading.

New owners are likely to put in a new kitchen and bathrooms and improve on the ‘F’ energy rating.

Set on a triangular shaped site, the house has a garden at the front and side and a yard at the rear.

VERDICT: As a property type that’s in scarce supply in Clon, expected to sell well.