Starter Homes: Four Cork properties new to the market for less than €345,000

Homes in Bantry, Midleton and Cork city

Bantry, Co Cork
€345,000
Size	246 sq m (2,650 sq ft)
Bedrooms	5
Bathrooms	3
BER	E1

Fisherman’s Lodge by the shores of Lough Bofinna could suit a family in search of a West Cork home with charm, scenic surrounds and a bit of land.

“There’s good value for money of offer here,’’ says Olivia Hanafin of Sherry FitzGerald O’Neill quoting a €345,000 guide for the spacious five-bed traditional farmhouse which comes with a range of outbuildings and a site of just over half an acre.

“The owners have renovated it gradually over the last 30 years,’’ she reveals explaining that they put in double-glazed windows, oil fired heating and a modern kitchen and bathroom and also added on several extensions.

A traditional property with dormer windows and panelled timber ceilings it now has x sq metres of living space. Downstairs it has a kitchen with modern cream units, two sitting room, a dining room, a utility and two bedrooms one ensuite bedroom. Off the kitchen there’s Perspex roofed sunroom while the upstairs has three bedrooms, one en suite.

A new owner will probably consider improving the E1 BER rating.

The outbuilding could be used for hobbies, workshops or perhaps converted and a buyer hoping to achieve a little self-sufficiency could grow vegetables in the garden.

Across the road from Fisherman’s Lodge is Lough Bofinna – a 25-acre lake which is regularly restocked with trout and is popular for angling and boating. Located at Derryginnagh East the property is five km from Bantry.

VERDICT: A West Cork refuge where peace might come dropping slow.

Midleton, Co Cork
€355,000
Size	121 sq m (1,302 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
BER	D2

What’s most remarkable about 7 Townspark, Castleredmond in Midleton is the size of its back garden which is considerably larger than any you would find in a more recently built three-bed semi.

Located on the edge of the town, within a 15 minute walk from shops and amenities, it’s part of a 1970s built development of just eight houses which all have good sized gardens.

This one was extensively modernised and upgraded by previous owners – who in 2019 increased the floor area to 121 sq metres by adding on an extension at the rear to accommodate a modern kitchen /diner.

Listing it with a guide of €355,000 Adrianna Hegarty of Hegarty Property says it's an attractively presented, well maintained home which is going to have very strong appeal for young house hunting couples. “The stand out feature is its large south east facing rear garden which offers ample space to extend.’’

Accommodation includes two timber floored reception rooms one on each side of the entrance hallway. To the rear there’s a tiled shower room cum utility room as well as a sizable modern kitchen diner with tiled flooring, grey shaker style units and French doors leading to the garden.

The upstairs has a modern shower room and three bedrooms – two doubles and a single.

The house has a small garden at the front, a driveway at the side and a concrete patio area at the rear with a gate that opens into an incredibly long lawned area.

Prior to renovations No 7 sold in 2019 for €200,000 and was purchased by current owners for €350,000 last year.

VERDICT: An attractively modernised house with good space and an unexpected large garden

Blackrock, Cork
€325,000
Size	72 sq m ( 775 sq ft)
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms
BER	B3

It’s possible that young couples might have to vie with downsizing ones to get their hands on this two-bed ground floor apartment at 502 The Heron, The Sanctuary in Jacob’s Island.

New to the market with a guide of €325,000, it’s owner occupied and very well maintained. "It’s been fitted with modern kitchen units and high end flooring,’’ reveals Garry O’Donnell of ERA Downey McCarthy noting that it has a B3 BER and qualifies for a Green Mortgage.

Accommodation includes a kitchen /dining/ living room with high gloss kitchen units and engineered oak flooring as well as a bathroom and two bedrooms, one an en suite. It also has a wraparound balcony.

VERDICT: Attractive both because of its location and its condition.

St Finbarr’s Road, Cork city
€260,000
Size	77 sq m (828 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	1
BER	E2

Having just gone sale agreed on the house next to No 4 Fullers Place on Saint Finbarr’s Road for above its guide, Bowe auctioneers are expecting similar interest levels in this one.

The 1960s built house three-bed mid terrace has been well minded by its owners but has an E2 BER and needs modernisation and updating, says auctioneer Linda O’Donovan who believes it has a lot of potential.

Guiding at €260,000 its part of terrace accessed by a pedestrian laneway and is within a 10-minute walk from UCC.

VERDICT: An affordable property in a popular location.