€975k House of the Week is cream of the crop in Mount Oval 

 THERE are arguably as many different strands to Mount Oval Village as there are house styles and the Clarke’s Wood section contains some of the largest homes. At 2,700 sq ft, No 17, a detached, three-storey, six-bed, falls firmly into the realm of family trade-up.

 Its cul-de-sac status strikes a nice balance between privacy and community: On a ridge above Clarke’s Hill, there are no homes to the rear (unlike some near neighbours), while the downward slope of the land keeps c20 homes to the front out of the picture/vista. Despite the privacy, opportunities to connect are plentiful, via the medium of many communal green areas for kids to play on, or through making social contacts at the village shop or pub/restaurant.

The demand for homes in Mount Oval never seems to slacken, ever since O’Flynn Construction broke ground in the late 1990s on the 110-acre site by Garryduff in Rochestown. Strong marketing tactics and house types that cater for every demographic are key factors, as well as near-city convenience (Douglas Village is a short spin away). At one point, homes like No 17 were being launched with €1m-plus price tags, but the timing was unfortunate, as it directly preceded the banking collapse. Whether any sold for that amount is hard to prove, as it was pre-Price Register. The Register can tell us is that No 1 Clarke’s Wood sold in 2016 for €850,000.

No 17 comes to market with a guide price of €975,000 and no danger of a sea of rooftops crowding out the view, even if it is part of a c850-home housing estate.

That’s because of its ideal positioning within Mount Oval Village. Tucked away from the main entrance and the main road that runs through the expansive development, there’s nothing to block out the terrific vista. Douglas Estuary and Lough Mahon are in the glittery distance. You can see Mahon Golf Course too, and further east, Little Island, and onwards towards Fota. It’s an impressive sweep to take in.

The sweep of the house is impressive too, spread over three floors, with light and generous room size key features. Two large reception rooms open off the wide hallway, each with solid wood floors. Ceilings are extra high and views are extra good, particularly through the large bay window of the sitting room.

The most arresting space is to the rear, where a dramatic colour scheme dominates the kitchen.

 While wall-mounted and floor units are a dark teal with black flecked granite countertops, the very large kitchen island is a vibrant purple, with white flecked granite worktop. 

The dining area/family area is at the far end, where you will find a feature wall-mounted gas fire.

 A box bay window overlooks the south-facing rear garden and French doors open onto a large patio.

 A store room off the dining room could make an excellent pantry. There’s a utility off the kitchen too.

Bedrooms are spread over the top two floors and on the middle floor, one of those bedrooms was converted into a huge walk-in wardrobe after a wall between the rooms was knocked.

 That bedroom could be reinstated, but there are still five at any rate, three on the middle floor, of which two are en suite, and two big doubles overhead. Each floor has a main bathroom.

Although spoilt for space at No 17, new owners could still do more. A terrific sunroom was added to the rear of a neighbouring home where impeccable landscaping could cause a severe case of garden envy.

Selling No 17 is Kevin Barry of Barry Auctioneers and he says the appetite for Mount Oval homes shows no sign of abating. He cites recent examples of No 111 Kilbrody, a three-bed semi, which went sale agreed within a week at €525,000. A two-bed mid-terrace home in Clonlea went sale agreed in 48 hours for €315,000.

He says No 17 is “ready for immediate occupation” as the vendors have re-located.

In terms of location, he points out it's easy access to the South Link road network, to Douglas village, and to Cork City centre.

“The added bonus of a safe cul-de-sac location makes this property a dream buy for a family,” Mr Barry says.

VERDICT: High end family trade-up in family-friendly location.