Starter Homes: Four Cork homes with prices starting from €190k

A pretty, modernised stone cottage in Beara; a  two-bed semi-d in Ovens; a mid-terrace Wilton home; and a two-bed apartment in Castlemartyr

Top left: Ardgroom cottage; lower left: 45A Elm Grove, Gort an Oir, in Castlemartyr; top right: 37 Eagle Valley in Wilton; lower right: two-bed semi-d in Ovens.

Let time stand still at Ardgroom coastal escape

Ardgroom, West Cork
€315,000
Size	101sq m (1,087sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
BER	D2

Although this cottage at Barrakilla, near Ardgroom, is traditional and cute, it’s the beauty of the surrounding Beara scenery that viewers will be most captivated by.

“Tranquil and ruggedly scenic, it has views of Ardgroom Harbour, Kenmare Bay, and the MacGillycuddy Reeks,” says John Daly, of Sherry FitzGerald, noting that the pretty 1800s-built stone cottage has been used as a holiday home since being renovated in 2004.

Simple and traditional, it has white walls and stone-faced additions at the sides and has been modernised with double glazing and oil-fired heating.

The interior is all you would expect of an old-style cottage. There’s a kitchen/living room with timber units and a cast iron fireplace, as well as a rear extension with a bathroom and a bedroom. The cottage also has two stone-clad extensions at the sides, one housing a small study and the other a sunroom with sea views. The upstairs has two bedrooms with Velux windows and a WC.

Outside, it has a rugged site with a stone outbuilding and a paved area for sitting out and taking in the magnificent views. Guiding at €315,000, the cottage is located 3.5km from Ardgroom village and within a 20-minute drive from Castletownbere.

VERDICT: Simple, secluded, and very scenic, it’s perfect for a get-away-from-the-world retreat.

Connectivity is key at this well-maintained €290k Ovens home

Ovens, Co Cork
€290,000
Size	76sq m (818sq ft)
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1
BER	C2

The market arrival of a modern two-bedroom semi-detached with a guide of €290,000 at Grange, Ovens, has been getting a very enthusiastic response from first-time buyers in the Ballincollig area.

“We have had a huge number of viewing requests, mostly from young couples,” says Laura Pratt of Lisney Sotheby’s who thinks that, given the high level of interest, it could go as high as €340,000 or €350,000.

A modern, well-maintained property, it was built in 2011 and extended in 2012.

“It’s been a family home for the owners who bought it as a new build and are now making plans to trade up,” reveals Ms Pratt, who believes that the location, as well as the price and condition, are strong selling points.

Located around 1km from Killumney village, the property is 4.5km from Ballincollig and a little less than 2km from Dell EMC in Ovens.

“It offers easy access to the N22 and N40 South Ring Road and is within a 10-minute drive from Wilton,” says Ms Pratt, noting that Cork Airport Business Park is within a 17-minute drive.

Accommodation includes a spacious open-plan area which has a kitchen with pale green shaker-style units at one side and a laminate-floored sitting room with a vaulted ceiling at the other. There’s also a ground floor bedroom, an upgraded bathroom, and a small utility; while the upstairs has one bedroom with a large Velux.

To the side of the property, there’s a gravel garden with parking and a small patio.

VERDICT: Properties in this price range are much in demand in the Ballincollig area.

€320k mid-terrace home in Wilton

Wilton, Co Cork
€320,000
Size	90 sq m (970 sq ft)
Bedrooms	3
Bathrooms	2
BER	C2

It didn’t take long for bidding on this three-bedroom mid-terrace house at 37 Eagle Valley in Wilton to reach its €320,000 guide price.

“Viewers have included first-time buyers and parents of UCC [University College Cork] students,” says Michelle Kenneally of DNG O’Connor Finn.

Built in 1996, it’s an ex-rental which has been refreshed and repainted for sale. Downstairs, it has two living rooms, a kitchen/diner, and a bathroom. Upstairs has three bedrooms and a bathroom.

VERDICT: Three-bedroom listings in this price range can be hard to come by in Wilton.

Two-bed apartment in Castlemartyr for €190k

Castlemartyr, Co Cork
€190,000
Size	56 sq m 602 sq ft)
Bedrooms	2
Bathrooms	1
BER	C1

Two-bed apartments are rarely as affordable as this one at 45A Grove, Gort an Oir, in Castlemartyr, guiding at €190,000. A ground-floor property, it’s owner occupied and colourfully decorated. The apartment has a living/dining/kitchen area, a bathroom, two bedrooms, and a parking space.

“It’s a ready-to-go, low-maintenance property which is located within walking distance of Castlemartyr village and within a 10-minute drive of Midleton,” says auctioneer Kyle Kennedy of Kennedy Estate Agents. who believes it could attract both downsizers and first-time buyers.

VERDICT: Small but highly affordable.