Good things come in threes: A choice of 3 detached trade-up family homes

Model Farm Road, Cork city
€785,000
Size	165 sq m (1776 sq ft)
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	3
BER	D1

FAMILIES looking to trade up to good detached homes with decent gardens in solid city locations, where kids can easily access schools and sporting facilities, are here presented with a choice of three.

All are probate sales and all would benefit from varying degrees of modernisation, but the basics are excellent. Each has a generous back garden and a good range of living accommodation.

The biggest is also the ‘youngest’ and the dearest: 165 sq m, 5-bed, No 4 Avondale, off Model Farm Road, at €785,000. Similar to No 12, Bishopscourt Road, Bishopstown (153 sq m, 4-bed, €595,000), it’s close to Cork University Hospital, UCC and MTU.

The cheapest, 17 Bellair, a 4-bed off the Douglas Road (€585,000), is also the smallest (138 sq m) and just a couple of minutes from Douglas village.

Douglas Road, Cork city
€585,000
Size	138 sq m (1485 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2
BER	D2

Avondale is in the best decorative order. Selling agent for all three is Dennis Guerin of Frank V Murphy auctioneers and he says they are all “fine sized family homes” needing investment. 

Bishopscourt Road, underpinned in 2010, is on a large corner site with south east facing garden; Avondale’s garden is equally private, overlooked by a sunroom; No 17 Bellair, in a cul-de-sac, has a patio and lovely old stone walls. Each has off-street parking. 

Bishopstown, Cork city
€595,000
Size	153 sq m (1647 sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2
BER	D2

A garage at Avondale is attached to the main accommodation “and ideally suited for conversion”, Mr Guerin says. Bellair has a detached garage, pedestrian side access to the rear and outbuildings which could be a home office/gym.

VERDICT: Robust family homes in great locations.