East Cork property: Multiple reasons to invest in this thriving region

East Cork has the seaside, it has beaches, it has walks, it has healthy living, and the region's prices are perhaps its greatest attraction to new home buyers

An aerial overview of ‘Lakeview’ housing development in Midleton, just one of a number of construction sites across East Cork, with much further development anticipated.  Picture: Chani Anderson

When assessing the charms and advantages of East Cork, it’s worth looking at the area from a wider perspective of the county as a whole and comparing the pluses and minuses of the eastern end of Cork with those of the western end of the county.

“There are a number of factors in the mix,” says James Colbert of Colbert & Co Auctioneers, who have offices in Carrigtwohill and Midleton. “One of the main ones comes down to the price: East Cork has everything that West Cork has. It has the seaside, it has beaches, it has walks, it has healthy living… it has all the amenities that you need in that regard but it’s not as expensive as West Cork.”

Once you add all the natural amenities that the area has, he says, you then add the fact that you have a much higher concentration of industry and of employment. With the increasing transport connections between East Cork and one of Ireland’s main centres of industry, the winning formula that the area has is only getting better. From a clear analysis taken from an auctioneering perspective, James believes that East Cork adds up better than any other area of the country.

“West Cork is absolutely beautiful to visit,” adds James. “But we live in places — we don’t visit them. When it comes to living, East Cork ticks a huge amount of boxes.

“Just from an auctioneering point of view, you look at it and you think about what you look for in a property when you go to value it… you ask questions such as, ‘Does it have a utility room? Does it have two dining areas? Four bedrooms with one ensuite? South-facing garden?

“So you go through all of these items on your checklist and you see how they add up and get a clear idea of where the property ranks. In relation to living in particular areas, I think that a lot of people get caught up in the whole beautiful holiday image of the sun being out and people on the beach. But that only counts for a week or maybe two of the whole year. If you want to live somewhere, you have got to go through your checklist just as you do with a house.” 

A section of the Midleton to Youghal greenway at Mogeely. The new housing across East Cork is being accompanied by new amenities to create a very attractive lifestyle.  Picture: Dan Linehan

The checklist for East Cork when it comes to facilities such as schools, shopping, employment possibilities, cinema, transport and so many others, tallies an impressive score, James says, and it’s one that is very difficult to trump, no matter where else you might find yourself in the country.

“Then you look at all the resources we have here with regard to food, with the markets and the schooling and the Greenway that now runs all the way from Youghal to Glounthane… and that’s just on top of the beaches and the walkways and all these other things. It’s simply a nice place to live and it’s cheaper than West Cork.”

Success breeds success and, with the influx of people into the area, the transport facilities are improving accordingly, with more trains being added to the railway line so that the frequency of the service increases.

“Where else would you get it?” asks James, “such a link into the city from an area that’s got everything you need for quality living?”

Of all the towns in the area, James singles out Carrigtwohill as possibly the one with the most promising future in terms of growth and development. It’s a view, he says, shared by a number of companies in the hospitality sector who are eyeing up the town as a place of exciting potential.

“Midleton, Cobh and Carrigtwohill are now three towns where you have a massive collection of amenities,” says James, “and you’re just 15 minutes away from the city in the train. There’s nowhere else really providing that.”

Colbert & Co have properties that cover a large catchment area all over the East Cork region, with some star properties in some of the best-known beauty spots, such as Roche’s Point.

Sherry Fitzgerald New Homes’ Lakeview development is also one to watch in the area. The new homes scheme is located on the grounds of the historic Lake View Georgian estate, just off the N25 dual carriageway near Midleton, taking full advantage of the superb road links between East Cork and Cork City.

“Lakeview has been popular with First Time Buyers and traders alike,” says Rachael O’Leary, Associate Director of Sherry Fitzgerald New Homes. “The scheme offers a family-friendly and community feel, while being within walking distance of the famous Midleton town and just 20 minutes to Cork City.”

First released in September 2023, Sherry FitzGerald New Homes have now sold in excess of 110 units, with approximately 80 being completed and occupied by residents. Recently released was Phase 5, a limited number of which are still available, priced from €442,500.