Cloyne property offers rural charm within reach of the city

• Cloyne, East Cork
• Price: €360,000
• Size: 163.5sq m(1,760sq ft)
• Bedrooms: 4
• Bathrooms: 3
• BER: A3

A rural location within easy reach of city could tempt first-time buyers, writes Catherine Shanahan

It may seem a little pricey for Cloyne where the average house costs around €215,000 but a flexible fit-out allowance of €20,000 and its high quality finish makes 21 Cois na Crainn more than your average home.

This stylish A-rated detached property at Ballymaloe Road is aimed at first-time buyers who can benefit from the Help-to-Buy scheme. Estate agent Adrianna Hegarty, of Hegarty Properties, Midleton, says the scheme provides first-time buyers with a rebate of up to €20,000 — provided you are taking out a mortgage of at least 70% of the sale price.

Number 21 is one of five bungalows in the scheme, two of which are already sale agreed — even though the scheme was just completed about a month ago. Ten semi-detached homes are also sold, Ms Hegarty says.

The beauty of the €20,000 fit-out allowance is that the new owner can put their own stamp on the property. They are free to choose their own kitchen or flooring or wardrobes — whatever they desire up to the value of the allowance.

Cois na Crainn has a brick-paved driveway providing off-street parking for two cars and boasts a generous rear garden, Ms Hegarty says. The property has a number of special features including a Stira fitted to a partially floored attic and a soundproof board fitted at first-floor level to minimise noise.

Ms Hegarty describes the location as “superb, a stone’s throw from the historic village of Cloyne providing all essential amenities, only a short distance to the world renowned Ballymaloe House, and a seven-minute drive to the bustling market town of Midleton”.

Beautiful beaches abound in the area and it’s within walking distance of Cloyne National School. A train from Midleton will take you to Cork city in no time, with car-parking adjacent to the station.

VERDICT: Ideal for a young family of first-time buyers with a yen for the bucolic but still within easy reach of the city.