Trading Up: Myrtleville/Fountainstown, Cork - €350k

A compact, cliffside property has ocean, and views of the mouth of Cork harbour to sate any sea-salt’s whims. It has full planning permission for a replacement contemporary new-build, for a four-bed, over-basement home dug into its sloping site above Poulgorm bathing and diving spot.

Size: 3,200 sq ft/0.07 acre

Bathrooms: 4

Bedrooms: 4

BER: N/A

Listed at an equally elevated €350,000 with agent Cian O’Donoghue of Lisney is this perch on the Coast Road between Myrtleville and Fountainstown, just around the headland from the well-regarded Bunnyconnellan bar and restaurant near the local beach.

There’s the base, plus old chimney, left of an earlier bungalow which was damaged by fire, and was pulled down for safety’s sake: the replacement design is by architect Conor O’Sullivan of COSA.

There’s only about a half-dozen houses in this stretch between the Coast Road and the sea. One nearby, Ceann Mhara, sold in 2015 on a much larger site for €560,000, nearly €200k over its asking price and is due to be replaced by an architect-designed new build.

The early 1900s gem Atlantic House, which had been part of the 1903 Great Exhibition, made €680,000 last year. Location is a short drive from Crosshaven and Carrigaline, and just over 20kms from Cork city and airport.

While a small plot like this Lisney offer might suit a ‘lock up and leaver’ buyer, the recent profile of house and site purchasers locally is full-time use, or retirement home.

VERDICT: build costs for 3,200 sq ft on this site will out-weigh site purchase.