Starter Homes: Another contender for Cork's tiniest home

First-time buyers can choose from a range of one-of-a-kind homes across Cork city, Passage West and West Cork, writes Trish Dromey

Mon, 20 May, 2024 - 18:00

Trish Dromey

Blarney St, Cork
€175,000
Size	35 sq m
Bedrooms	1
Bathrooms	1
BER	C1

Few properties in Cork city are tinier than 353A Blarney Street and few tiny properties in the city are as smartly turned out. Offering just 35 sq metre of living space it’s a refurbished and modernised one-bed house with a guide of €175,000,

“It used to be part of the shop next door but was made into a separate property in 2005,” reveals auctioneer Ray Sweetnam of Casey & Kingston, adding that it was extensively refurbished in 2022.

The upgraded ground floor is open plan and has high gloss white kitchen units, herringbone flooring and a small living space at the rear with a modern electric fire

The upper floor has a bedroom with just enough room for a double bed as well as a tiled shower room with a utility cupboard. The back yard has also been revamped and has tiled flooring, stone-clad walls, and a Perspex roof and is almost like an extra living room.

The property has electric heating, double-glazed windows, and a C1 energy rating.

“It’s small but tastefully decorated and is located within a 10-minute walk from the city centre,” says Mr Sweetman who expects interest from both first-time buyers and investors.

Recent contenders for the tiniest Cork city house include 24 Vicar Street, a modernised 34sq m one-bed house which came on the market earlier in the year with a guide of €170,000

VERDICT: Houses in this price range that don’t need renovations, are quite rare.

Passage West, Co Cork
€230,000
Size	64 sq m ( 690 sq ft)
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2
BER	C2

Highly affordable for a young buyer No 9 The Crescent, Harbour Heights, in Passage West is a two-bed apartment with a guide of €230,000.

Gretchen Kelleher of Barry Auctioneers says the 64 sq metre ground floor former rental property has been well maintained.

Accommodation includes a kitchen/ dining/ living room with bamboo wooden flooring and a kitchenette with cream units and granite worktops. It also has a bathroom and two bedrooms including one with an en suite.

VERDICT: Apartments in this price range are rare.

Killeens, Cork city
€339,000
Size	127 sq m (1,367 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	3
BER	B3

Both the living space and the gardens at 24 The Drive, Lios Cara, in Killeens are larger than you might typically expect to find in a semi-d with a guide of €339,000.

“It was built as a four-bed semi but the current owners reconfigured the upstairs and turned the smallest bedroom into a walk-in-wardrobe and an en suite for the largest one,” reveals Garry O’Donnell of ERA Downey McCarthy.

“All the viewing so far have been first-time buyers,” he adds explaining that the key attraction is the property’s 127 sq metres of well-maintained accommodation and its large corner site and generous-sized back garden.

The owners who bought it 10 years ago rearranged the upstairs in recent years and also redecorated, introducing some vibrant colours on feature walls.

Built in 2008, the property has gas heating and a B3 energy rating. It has two living rooms, an oak-floored one at the front with a marble fireplace and another one at the side with patio doors. To the rear, there’s anL-shaped kitchen/ diner with cream units, granite worktops and integrated appliances.

Under the stairs, there’s a guest WC and upstairs there’s a bathroom and three bedrooms — including one with an en suite and a well-fitted out, walk-in wardrobe.

Situated in a cul de sac, the house overlooks a central green area and is located six km from the city centre.

VERDICT: Expected to sell very soon.

Castletownbere, West Cork
€95,000
Size	80 sq m ( 861 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
BER	F

No 1 Blackrock Terrace in Castletownbere is in need of complete renovation. On the market with Olivia Hanafin of Sherry FitzGerald O’Neill, guiding at €95,000, it may the cheapest house in West Cork.