Third phase of homes goes on sale in Kinsale

Tommy Barker says the release by Gannon Homes of three-bedroom houses in the relatively affordable €340,000 to €350,000 bracket is a welcome addition to the mix of housing on offer in Kinsale

Coming up already on the half-way sales point in the Gannon Homes’ Kinsale Manor development, a third phase of 22 home goes on offer from next weekend, all three-bed semi-ds, and now priced at €340,000/€350,000.

The initial launch was back in August 2017, with two showhouses done up to the nines. A second phase came in March of this year, and prices appear to be going up marginally in each phase — the cheapest 1,184 sq ft three-beds were priced from €310,000 at the launch a year back, and by March of this year the entry level was at €330,000. The first offers in phase one were of marginally smaller three-bed semis than the 1,206 sq ft houses now being released, at €340,000-€350,000.

There’s still no offer of four-bed houses in the Wilson Architecture-designed development, due to have 11 house variations, and strongest demand has in any case been for the entry-level three-beds.

Some 60 houses have been sold to date, in what will be the total development of 136 units, on the edge of the scenic south Cork harbour town and tourist resort. Already, about 30 new occupants are in possession, with further handovers in the wings at what has been Kinsale’s largest new homes project for many years.

Agent Paul Hannon, director of Sherry FitzGerald New Homes, says there’s now a buzz of activity thanks to the new arrivals, and there’s a launch of 22 further homes in phase three, all with west-facing back gardens, with show houses open and sales on offer next Saturday and Sunday, from noon ’til 2pm.

Mr Hannon says the development “has been an incredible success, with buyers identifying the excellent design and quality of specification/build. A number of buyers have moved in over the last few months, and are loving the location adjacent to the wonderful town of Kinsale.”

In terms of buyer profile to date, Mr Hannon describes “an interesting mix of buyers made up of first-time buyers, young families, owners of existing larger homes seeking to trade down, and some purchasers looking for a second home in Kinsale.”

It’s likely that four-bed homes, semis and detacheds, will come to market later this year. Expected are 16 four-bed 1,450 sq ft houses, and five four-bed detacheds, of c 1,600 sq ft. No prices are indicated and won’t be confirmed until eventual launch, but given their relatively small numbers, intending purchasers may want to budget for price for the four-beds to be over the €400k mark. (Those with twice that sort of sum to invest in new homes in Kinsale might want to wait for a handful of contemporary detacheds under construction at Cumnor’s Convent Garden site, likely to be priced in the €900-€1m bracket in coming months.)

Meanwhile, the already delivered product and show house styles at the well-located Kinsale Manor (just up from the town’s new SuperValu) will be a good indicator of what’s left to build and sell at Gannon’s first foray into Munster.

Dublin-based Gannons have built around 10,000 Irish houses since 1984, and their Kinsale offer is of A3 rated concrete built homes, Homebond guaranteed, with white render finishes and contrasting stone sills and door hoods, with triple glazing and high insulation standards, with pumped showers, solar PV panels, gas central heating, demand controlled ventilation systems, and with kitchens from the Express Kitchens range.

VERDICT: Kinsale has led the resurgence in price growth at the market’s upper end up to recently, so the presence of ‘affordable’ new homes is a boon for a cross section of purchasers

Kinsale, Cork €340,000/€350,000

Size: 112 sq m (1,206 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 3

BER: A3