TERAPROOF:User:sueoconnorDate:09/02/2012Time:12:52:32Edition:11/02/2012PropertyXP1102Page:6
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PROPERTY FEATURE
Double choice for three-bed semis
There’s only a €5,000 difference between these Douglas area, Cork, properties, Tommy Barker reports
Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband:
Douglas, Cork €220/€225,00 98 sq m (1,050 sq ft) 3 Pending Yes
Sheep’s Head beauty The spectacular views are just one of great things about this Sheep’s Head home, writes Rose Martin
T
OVENS, CORK €199,000 Sq m: 88 (950 sq ft) BER rating: Pending
Bedrooms: 3 Broadband: Yes
The major employment hub of EMC has ensured strong transactional activity in property in the surrounding area — despite the downturn. A noughties scheme on the outskirts of Ballincollig, Cork, entry level homes here are at attractive prices and with mortgage payments level with rental costs at present, No 4 Grange Manor could be worth the plunge for those seeking permanency in their home life. On the market with Norma Healy of Sherry FitzGerald, the property is a three-storey, three bed in superb condition and comes with some lovely, decorative touches. A warm, family home, it comes with a good garden with two patios and shed, a decent living room and separate vanilla kitchen, master with en suite and sliding, mirrored robes and two other bedrooms. VERDICT: Definitely one to view for those looking for a cosy house that’s a turnkey buy.
Very similar style and era three-bed semis are on offer in Cork’s greater Douglas area via agent Jeremy Murphy, with just €5,000 difference in their asking prices. Smartly presented for its sale is 35 Ardfield Meadows in Grange, built by Flemings and so likely to have a good BER level, and it’s a walk-in job inside, with a good back garden with lots of paving, and the bonus of a southerly rear aspect. Inside, there’s a front reception room, and then the entire full width of the back of the house is an open plan kitchen/living/dining room. There’s also a utility room, guest WC, and overhead one of its three bedrooms is en suite, and there’s a main bathroom too, with bath and shower combined. In addition, there’s a pull-down stairs for attic access. Meanwhile, in the same vicinity, Mr Murphy is selling 38 West Avenue, ParkGate, in this O’Flynn Construction-built scheme. Similarly sized, at about 1,025 sq ft, this is a three-bed semi, with a southfacing back garden, but has its rear section dividing into recently upgraded kitchen/dining room, and rear reception. Front and rear gardens are walled in, and is in good order inside and out.
Above: Three photos from 35 Ardfield Meadows in Grange. Below: 38 West Avenue, Park Gate in Frankfield.
VERDICT: Similar spec, and different developments, both near a range of good services and facilities.
Maryborough home ticks all the right boxes
Location, asking price are winners, Tommy Barker reports
Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Broadband:
Douglas, Cork €185,000 Sq m 88 (950 sq ft) 3 Pending Yes
HERE are two sides to the Sheep’s Head peninsula — and it’s not just geography. The southern side with its connection to Durrus and Goleen has heavy throughput from the summer set, walkers and tourists, while the northern side of the peninsula has a quieter, more remote feel. Not quite night and day, but very different in terms of density and outlook, and if you’re looking for a place in which to disappear — then this is it. Wild expanses, embracing sea views and narrow circuitous routes over the mountains make for a place out of time. Tom McCarthy of Mac Estate Agents in Bantry is currently selling a high-end hideaway for less than 50% of its original asking price. The Fahane, Gearies property is set on a private, elevated site with superb views. “I was taken myself when it comes to the views — that’s what the height of this property gives — a really panoramic show,” says Mr McCarthy. And that’s high praise from someone who lives in an area where such vistas are commonplace. Originally an old stone farmhouse, the Fahane house is a luxury, three-bed house with separate two bed guest cottage on a private acre site, which is accessed off the main road and set behind electric gates. As the crow flies it’s only a kilometre from the sea, but the views are astonishing — all the way up and down Bantry Bay and across to the Beara Peninsula. And to make the most of this vista, the house has been cleverly redesigned, or more correctly, rebuilt with a large, top floor living space that incorporates two glass gables. The first faces north over the sea and the second faces due west over
Location: Price: Size: Bedrooms: BER rating: Best asset:
the peninsula and is perfectly placed to catch the evening sun setting behind the hills of Beara. The main house and guest cottage form a sheltered courtyard in the lee of a hill, and between the two is a large, decked area with salt-water hot-tub. This has a wooden, pagoda covering — all quite tasteful and designed to reduce the impact that these large, fibreglass tubs usually make.
Inside, the main house the living area runs the length and breadth of the upper floor, with discrete dining, kitchen and living space and the bedrooms are placed on the ground
Sheep’s Head, Co Cork €350,000 164 sq m (1754 sq ft) 5 Pending Privacy
floor, each one en suite. The living room is not over styled — it relies on exposed blond wood beams, polished floors with scatter rugs and sensible (for a holiday home) wood and leather furniture. The master bedroom downstairs opens directly onto the large, south-west facing deck and across the courtyard is the guest cottage with kitchen/dining and living room with two bedrooms and bathroom. The Fahane property is well maintained and secure and according to Mr McCarthy, has “a top notch modern finish”. It’s on offer at €350,000 and the agent is inviting more offers in that region. Verdict: The house is ideal holiday home material and the right buyer could strike a deal. It may even suit as an extended family buy — as a time share arrangement.
BALLYPHEHANE, CORK €120,000 Sq m: 74 (800 sq ft) BER rating: Pending
Bedrooms: 3 Broadband: Yes
NO 22 Sarahville Place is just off the Pouladuff Road and the mid-terrace three-bed is a great starter, or even, investment home. Close to the major institutions on the western side of town, and the south ring, the property is on the market with TJ Cronin of Irish and European. It will need complete renovation, he says. VERDICT: A doer upper, but it could have a dream home finish.
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IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 11.02.2012
There’s some early inquiries in already on 82 Maryborough Court, a brick-fronted, and easy to keep, semi-d up Maryborough Hill in Cork’s greater Douglas area. The newly up for sale house is sub-1,000 sq ft in size, and is a neat enough box-ticker for buyers, given its location and reachable asking price of €185,000 via Andrew Guerin of Frank V Murphy & Co auctioneers. No 82 has an east-west aspect, gardens front and back with off-street parking, and the front sitting
room is a decent 14’ by 12’ in size. Behind is a kitchen/breakfast room, with appliances and garden access, and overhead are three bedrooms, two of them doubles, plus main bathroom — the only WC in the house.. Heating is via gas, and windows are double glazed in teak frames, so overall the package is neat and wellformed, easy to manage for a single buyer or a couple, with mature garden boundaries adding to the privacy of the package. VERDICT: Good location.
IRISH EXAMINER Property&Interiors | 11.02.2012
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