Coastal Living: Celebrating the eternal appeal of life by the sea

The numbers of city buyers moving to the coast continues to soar, boosted by the trends of remote and hybrid working in the years since Covid

Ballylickey's Carrigdhoun Quay — a do-er up —   with water frontage and on the N71 has had a price drop to €400,000 from €475,000 with planning for a replacement build,  via Hodnett Forde.

We had the property crash and recovery; we had Brexit; we had covid, we have the climate crisis; we have global and transatlantic trade and political uncertainty, and now we have tariffs threatening the Irish economy and employment.

And still we do love to be beside the seaside … When the sun shines here, we Irish run to water, like over-heated lemmings, so much so that in recent weeks Gardai have had to close off beaches such was the demand in familiar hot-spots and accessible settings.

Overseas visitors ‘get it’ too, reckons Johanna Murphy, an estate agent with listings from Cobh (which also increasingly attracts corporate buyers) to West Cork and with a second generation selling niche in Kinsale.

"Why is Ireland attractive to the overseas buyer?" she asks. "Weather, believe it or not! Our weather is never extreme, which is attractive; we are a neutral country; our lifestyle is easy; our cuisine is superb and we have a wealth of heritage and culture which again is what people want — Ireland has a story to tell.” 

We also have story to sell, which includes political stability, and being an English language speaking country within the EU, and “year on year, the coastal property market has continued to perform strongly and buck the trend against any fears of any international softening of prices,” says Andy Donoghue, MD of West Cork’s Hodnett Forde estate agency.

Getting lyrical, he says “West Cork’s allure, has blossomed and now is in full bloom with the amount of overseas buyers contacting us seeking the dream spot increasing three-fold year-on-year and in particular from the US market.

US President Donald Trump's MAGA policies “are some of the leading reasons behind the decision to leave. However, on further investigation, we see that many of these buyers would have previously looked at Southern Europe as a potential choice spot to relocate: this dynamic has changed considerably as a result of climate change making Ireland's more cooler conditions suddenly an attraction,” Mr Donoghue reveals, noting swift uptakes and sales at the cheaper end, and the top end, of the coastal market in recent listings “many of which have brilliant unimpeded coastal settings, some with water frontage, and the majority of these sales have experienced overseas bidding or eventual buyers.”

 Advice he proffers to sellers is: be ready.

“With an international buyer comes international expectations and so you have to act fast, with after-hours and weekend viewings, timely transactional periods and having all planning regulations/building control and mapping key to ready to go once the For Sale board goes up.

“The old phrase ‘time kills deals’ prevails heavily, and so my advice to all vendors is to get their house in order well in advance of going to the market.” 

Views are paramount say Lisney Sotheby’s IR Trevor O’Sullivan, and despite some companies encouraging a return to office-based work “working remotely/ hybrid working is still hugely popular since Covid: so many city buyers have sold up and flocked to the coast.” 

“Properties that require work are still popular with good sea views or water access, but the price needs to reflective as renovation costs and building works are costly in the current market,” he stresses.

Trevor O’Sullivan advises: “Vendors that are considering putting their property to market, our advice is presentation for photos and staging is key. Creating that turnkey and modern look catches buyers eyes which should lead to viewings and, hopefully, sales. Capturing the view and lifestyle gives the buyer a feel for what could be in store if they purchase, whether it is boating, water skiing, jet ski or fishing. Showing that unique selling point is the best way to showcase the property.” 

Clonakilty-based Martin Kelleher says in the 2025 market “investor activity is very scarce, but returning expats and first-time buyers are maintaining upward price pressure, and we see increased activity from US bidders looking to relocate.

“Well‑finished, turnkey homes in good areas near West Cork towns and villages sell quickly and most of the time above the guide prices,” Mr Kelleher observes and adds “doer‑uppers typically attract fewer buyers and are a harder sell, even with access to the Vacant Homes grant, due to the increasing fear of rising building materials and access to tradespeople.” 

It’s not just West Cork, though and it’s not just overseas buyers snapping up the best of what’s offered. At East Cork’s Ballycotton, a fishing village that’s now click-bait in itself and on buyers’ radars, “it now boasts a new wave of energy thanks to thoughtful development and a growing hospitality scene, with a balance of heritage and lifestyle appeal,” says auctioneer Adrianna Hegarty.

“Buyers are noticing across a broad spectrum: holiday home buyers, permanent residents, buyers’ agents, Irish expatriates based in the US and UK, and locals trading up or down, and interestingly, in three recent strong sale cases, the successful buyers were Irish-based purchasers looking to live in Ballycotton, it’s a close-knit community with year-round appeal.” 

At a time of global uncertainties, Lisney Sotheby’s Internation Realty Eileen Neville notes “strong signs of resilience and growing demand, particularly in the premium segment,” whilst also noting “a shift in buyer preference. While period properties with substantial acreage have traditionally dominated buyer wish-lists, we are now seeing a definite trend toward homes with strong coastal positioning and water views — even if they come with less land.” 

Lifestyle factors are clearly playing a more significant role in purchasing decisions, with buyers prioritising location and outlook over land size and maintenance responsibilities.

For vendors, agents stress the increasing importance of presentation and working on upgrades to get the best possible BER ratings prior to sale offers with a key market dynamic the value now placed on refurbished homes, those weather-proofed for hail, rain, shine and temperature shifts.

"The cost of renovation and refurbishment has become a significant factor in buyer decision-making. Previously, homes in need of renovation were seen as an affordable entry point, but today, the reality is different," says Skibbereen-based Maeve McCarthy.

"Even with support from the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, the final cost of renovations is often far higher than expected. Quantity surveyors' estimates have surprised many potential buyers, causing a clear shift in demand toward properties that are move-in ready."

Lisney Sotheby's Ms Neville agrees: “Properties that have already undergone modernisation or restoration are achieving a premium, as buyer appetite for undertaking major works remains low. With construction costs still high and availability of trades limited, most buyers are seeking homes they can move into without delay or complication.”