Chronic shortage in Ennis means there are no homes for first-time buyers

There are only 86 properties advertised for sale in the greater area of the town

 Picture Dan Linehan

The shortage of housing stock in the town of Ennis has reached a point where drastic action is required to rectify it.

That’s according to Cormac O’Sullivan of DNG O’Sullivan Hurley who points to the fact there are now just 86 properties advertised for sale in the greater Ennis area which has a population of between 30,000 and 35,000.

“There are now no new private housing schemes available in Ennis and just a small number in the pipeline. The majority of new housing schemes being built are for social housing and there are no new properties available for first-time buyers.”

Mr O’Sullivan believes that there is a fundamental flaw in the way planning permission is being granted. “A few years ago a developer who spent five years working on a plan to develop a 200 unit development was told by An Bord Pleanála to increase the density. Planning permission was subsequently granted for a development with 50% apartments which would not have been financially viable to build for the Ennis market.” He said the site was subsequently sold by the developer which meant the town lost out on the opportunity to have 200 much-needed houses.

Such a shortage in supply has not been witnessed in more than 20 years. Picture Dan Linehan

The town has seen an influx of buyers since the pandemic who are mostly locals returning from cities which, he says, has put additional strain on the town’s housing supply and has caused prices to rise by an average of 10% in the last year. “We had a four-bed semi at 52 An Sean Dún with a guide of €235,000 which recently went sale agreed for over €280,000,” he says adding that price increases are being seen on all property types.

Diarmuid McMahon of Sherry FitzGerald McMahon says that in 20 years in auctioneering he has never seen this chronic level of supply shortage. When demand was high during the boom, new developments were being built to cater for it, he says pointing out that there is very limited new development now despite the increased demand.

Mr McMahon believes that a disproportionate number of new developments in the town will be used for social housing. He believes this has come about because it is easier for developers to get funding for this and for them to sell to one customer —a local authority or housing agency – instead of selling to individual house buyers.

“While social housing is necessary — you also need private housing and rental houses and the town needs a balance of different tenures. The lack of private housing stock is constraining the town from realising its potential.” In a competitive marketplace where there is high demand for all properties coming up for sale, Mr McMahon says he is seeing a lot of cash buyers — local ones as well as relocating ones.

“In some cases, prices are going up by 20% but on average the increase is around 8%-9%.”

“We sold a three-bed semi in LiosArd at the end of last year for €190,000 — a similar one is now selling for €230,000” he says adding that the glass ceiling for house prices in Ennis before Covid was €500,000 but this has now gone above €600,000.

Mr McMahon says that without an increase in development of new private housing he can’t see the chronic shortage being alleviated any time soon.

Drumcliffe Road, Ennis €255,000 

There seems to be little doubt that No 20 Tobarkeel, Drumcliffe Road, Ennis will sell quickly. Within 24 hours of being launched a week ago, the four-bed semi had already secured a bid of its €255,000 guide price.

Michelle Carrig of Location Location property says the high level of interest is due to the fact that the 2003-built house is well kept and spacious, with over 1,350 sq ft of living space, and is located within a 15-minute walk from the town centre. “It’s on an exceptionally large corner site and has a driveway with space for four cars , a large side garden and a south facing back garden which isn’t overlooked,” says Ms Carrig adding that the location off the Gort/Galway Road is very sought after.

VERDICT: Properties like this close to the town centre are scarce.

Clarecastle, Co Clare €198,000 

The interior of this modern mid-terrace house at 31 Garden View in Clarecastle is beautifully kept and the garden is pretty enough to have won an award.

“It won the best lockdown project prize in a Bord Bia garden competition,’’ reveals auctioneer Helen Gallery quoting a guide of €198,000 for the 2005-built property which has 1,055 sq ft of living space. It’s a bright, spacious well-proportioned home which has been finished to a high standard, she says noting that its location in Creggaun na Hilla is a few minutes walk from Clarecastle and just a 7km drive from Ennis.

The garden is stylish with stone paving, white raised beds, neat bushes and some tall white flowers as well as a corner patio area sheltered by a corner wall.

VERDICT: Affordable – ideal for young couples and downsizers, with an award-winning back garden.

Drumeen, Co Clare €500,000 

There are few opportunities now to buy properties in the Ennis area as spacious as this at Drumhall, Drumeen which has half an acre of gardens. 

So says Cormac O’Sullivan of DNG O’Sullivan Hurley who recently listed the house with a guide of €500,000. “Built and owned by a builder it is in excellent condition,’’ he says, adding that the builder upgraded the BER to a B3 which is high for a property of its age. In addition to the house, there’s a large detached garage which has a kitchenette, a WC and a fully equipped home office.

Located within 6 km of the town centre, it has space enough to attract some of the returning locals who have been buying family homes in the area in recent times. Mr O’Sullivan says it's within commuting distance of both Limerick and Galway 

VERDICT: Excellent space and a good BER too.

Rathkeane, Ruan, Co Clare €340,000 

All the space a trade-up buyer could want, as well as a home office and all essential high-speed broadband, are on offer at this five-bed dormer bungalow at Rathkeane, Ruan, 11km from Ennis.

Diarmuid McMahon of Sherry FitzGerald McMahon says it’s an excellent family home with over 2,200 sq ft of modern living space and close to an acre of gardens. Built in 2002, it’s finished to a high standardand is the type of property that’s becoming increasingly scarce, he adds.

Attractions for incoming buyers as well as local families trading up include the fact that it’s just a 25-minute drive from Lahinch beach.

Mr McMahon says it may attract buyers from Limerick and Galway as both are within an hour’s commute.

VERDICT: A substantial offering for a guide price which, in some areas, might buy a three-bed semi.