Starter Homes: Four Cork homes for less than €325,000

Properties in Midleton, Carrigtwohill, Turners Cross and Old Blackrock Road

Turners Cross, Cork
€325,00
Size	87sq m (936sq ft)
Bedrooms	4
Bathrooms	2
BER	2

THE sellers of 14A Curragh Road in Turners Cross may be chuffed with the fact that more than 9,000 house-hunters checked out the online brochure of their four-bed semi in the last week.

“Turners Cross houses are always popular,” says Michelle Kenneally of DNG O’Connor Finn who had lined up 17 sets of viewers for the second day of viewing. She expected most of these to be with young couples but was also expecting to see a few investors.

Located around 140m from the Church of Christ the King, the 1997-built property was bought around 10 years ago by current owners who modernised and
redecorated. “It has gas heating, double glazing, and a C2 BER and is very well maintained,” says Ms Kenneally. quoting a guide of €325,000.

At the front, it has a timber floored living room with a cast iron fireplace and, at the rear, a spacious tiled kitchen with modern cream units and patio doors.

Off the hallway, there is a guest WC, while the upstairs has a bathroom and four bedrooms including a small one used as a home office.

It has a small enclosed space at the front and a garden at the rear with decking and artificial grass.

Much of the interest is due to the location — within a 20-minute walk from the city centre.

VERDICT: If the level of online interest is anything to go by, this property could sell fairly quickly.

Midleton, Co Cork
€225,000
Size	70sq m (753sq ft)
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	2
BER	C2

OPTIONS for a young buyer looking for an affordable home in Midleton include this two-bed end of terrace house at 6 Riordan’s Lane which has a guide of €225,000.

“It’s affordable, it’s owner-occupied and it’s located within a three-minute walk from Midleton’s main street,” says Kyle Kennedy of Kennedy Estate Agents.

He adds that the owners have renovated since buying it four years ago.

The last house in a 2006-built terrace of six, it has upgraded windows, a modern kitchen, and its exterior has been smartened up with a red door.

Fitted with gas heating it has a C2 BER rating. The property’s 70sq m of accommodation includes an open plan kitchen/dining/living space with cream units, tiled flooring and a fireplace. To the side of the kitchen there’s a guest WC/utility room.

A timber staircase leads to the first floor which has a shower room and two bedrooms including an en suite.

The terrace has a communal parking area at the front and the house has a narrow passage at the side with space for wheelie bins.

An online search shows that there aren’t a lot of
options in Midleton in this price range. Apartments tend to cost more than €250,000 and houses costing less than this often need renovation.

“This would make a good alternative to an apartment — it’s well-maintained and well-located in a quiet laneway,” says Mr Kennedy. The Property Price Register shows No 6 Riordan’s Lane selling in 2022 for €215,000.

VERDICT: The fact that it’s both affordable and ready to live in could make it very attractive to a young couple.

Carrigtwohill, Co Cork
€220,000
Size	58 sq m (624 sq ft)
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1
BER	C2

Two-bed apartments with a guide of €220,000 are quite a rarity in Carrigtwohill or indeed anywhere within easy commuting distance of Cork City.

For this reason, Paul Fenton of Sherry FitzGerald Cork expects lots of interest in 19 An Cuasán, Cúl Ard in Carrigtwohill.

“It’s attractive to first-time buyers and, because it has no rent cap, also to investors,” he says of the 58sq m ground floor apartment.

“It’s in good condition and is conveniently located within a 10-minute walk from the train station.”

VERDICT: Small but highly affordable.

Old Blackrock Road, Cork city
€295,000
Size	110 sq m (1,184 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
BER	F

The key selling points for No 12 Old Blackrock Road are its location — just a 10-minute walk from the city centre — and a surprisingly long back garden.

It stretches to 76 metres says Mark Gosling of Behan Irwin Gosling quoting a guide of €295,000 for the three-bed, mid terrace house which has an F energy rating and needs modernisation and updating.

“But you can build an extension and still have a very long garden,” he observes.

VERDICT: Set to attract investors and buyers looking to live near town.