Starter Homes: Four Cork properties on the market starting at €215,000

First-time buyers can choose from homes across Cork city, Myrteville and Ballymacoda, writes Trish Dromey

Wave Crest Myrtleville Co Cork

Myrteville, Co Cork
€320,000
Size	70 sq m (753 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	1
BER	G

People will want Wave Crest in Myrtleville for its sea views and beach proximity but will most likely want to turn the 1960s bungalow into a stylish modern chalet. Listing the property and its 0.12 acre site with a guide of €320,000, Trevor O’Sullivan of Lisney Sotheby’s says properties in this location with these kind of views are much in demand.

“The views are amazing — you are looking down on the beach and out onto a panoramic expanse of sea stretching out before you.” Originally built as a tiny holiday home, the 70 sq metre property has been extended and upgraded over the years and has more recently been used as a permanent home. 

Although it’s very well kept, it has a G energy rating and it seems likely that a new owner will emulate others in the area and transform it into something modern.

Accommodation includes a living/dining room which has a large corner window with sea views. There’s also a small kitchen, a bathroom, and three bedrooms including one at the front which also has sea views.

Situated in O’Regan’s Field on a hilly slope above Myrtleville, it’s around 240 metres from the beach. At the front, there’s a long sloping lawned garden and at the rear, it has a small yard.

Located 20 km from Cork city, Myrtleville is popular with commuters and all year round swimmers.

VERDICT: With sea views to gaze out on and a nearby beach to swim in — it does look tempting

Jacob's Island, Cork city
€265,000
Size	75 sq m (807 sq ft)
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1
BER	C3

Well-presented and modern with a guide of €265,000, this first-floor apartment at 109 The Haven in Jacob’s Island could do very nicely indeed for a young couple.

Garry O’Donnell of ERA Downey McCarthy says the 2004-built property has been refloored and tastefully redecorated in recent years by its owner occupier.

Accommodation includes a sitting room/dining room with double doors to a Juliet balcony and a kitchen with modern units as well as a bathroom and two bedrooms. Located in a gated development, it has two parking space and is within a ten-minute walk of Mahon Point.

VERDICT: A smartly presented apartment in a popular development, it’s set to attract good attention.

Wilton, Cork city
€295,000
Size	78 sq m (815 sq ft)
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2
BER	C1

Because of their proximity to Wilton Shopping Centre and Cork University Hospital, properties like No 61 Cardinal Court are usually in good demand as rentals.

Guiding at €295,000, it’s a mid-terrace property which used to have three bedrooms but now has two en suite ones instead. Selling agents Cohalan Downing say the 1980s built house has 78 sq metres of living space.

VERDICT: Could also suit a first time buyer.

Ballymacoda, East Cork
€215,000
Size	111 sq m (1,194 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	3
BER	B2

Located within eight to ten kilometres of several popular east Cork beaches, No 5 Willowbrook, in Ballymacoda is a spacious three-bed semi with a very affordable guide of €215,000.

One of a row of six three-bed semis located at the edge of the village, it was built in 2006 and was bought with a builders’ finish in 2012 by its current owners.

“They fitted it out to a good standard — tiling and flooring it and putting in a stove and a modern kitchen,” Kyle Kennedy of Hegarty Properties says, noting that it has 111 sq metres of living space and a good B2 BER rating which makes it eligible for a green mortgage.

A blue house with a bright yellow door, it’s well-kept and attractive. The front living room has solid walnut flooring, a fireplace with an insert stove and a set of double doors which open into a tiled kitchen with contemporary cream gloss and walnut effect units with a breakfast bar and integrated appliances.

Off the hallway, there’s a guest WC while the first floor has a tiled bathroom and three bedrooms including one en suite and a small one with a cute built-in bed for a child.

There’s parking at the front and a low maintenance two tier back garden with an enclosed play area. Located 18km from Midleton it’s 8km from both Garrvoe and Red Barn beach while the main strand in Youghal is just a mere 10km away.

Mr Kennedy believes it would be difficult to buy a two-bed apartment for this price in Midleton.

VERDICT: Spacious and affordable for a three bed semi, it could attract relocators from Cork city.