Starter Homes: Four Cork properties on the market from €240k

The owners of No 2 College Lawn, College Manor in Cobh have transformed both the exterior and the interior of their once standard three-bed semi-detached home.

When it was built in the early 2000s, it was part of a row of identical part redbrick houses — now it’s part greybrick and has a recently-added porch with a grey door which gives it a quite a distinctive appearance.

Seeking offers of €320,000, auctioneer Johanna Murphy says the owners have done extensive upgrading and redecorating since buying it in 2016. “They fitted triple-glazed windows, insulated some internal walls and brought the BER up to a B3,’’ she says, adding that other changes have included putting in a gloss kitchen and renovating the bathrooms.

Ground-floor accommodation is now open-plan and includes a sitting room with stone-effect wall tiling as well as a kitchen/diner with a centre island. The house has an understairs WC and, on the upper level, a bathroom and three bedrooms.

The back garden into an easy-to-maintain space. There’s a covered section with artificial grass and beyond it a decked patio and a shed.

Located around 1.5km from Cobh town centre, the house overlooks a green area at the front.

VERDICT: A modern property with an improved BER, a redecorated interior and an attractive patio garden, it’s certain to attract first-time buyer interest.

Offers of €265,000 are being sought for this two-bed mid terrace house at 129 Caislean Way in Ballincollig.

Karl O’Reilly of Savills says the 2004 built property is well maintained, has a B3 BER and a long south facing garden.

“It’s also well located within a 15 minute walk from Ballincollig town centre and a 15 minute drive from Cork city,’’ he adds.

VERDICT: Good interest is expected

THIS extensively revamped three-bed semi at 20 Ivy Crescent, Riverway in Douglas is expected to be gone by Christmas.

Glenn O’Connor of DNG Creedon Finn O’Connor says he had over 40 enquiries before he started viewings this week. “It’s a very well presented property with a sought-after address which, with this level of interest, is likely to go sale agreed within two to three weeks,” he predicts.

New to the market with a guide of €345,000, it’s a 1996-built house with 88 sq m of living space and a C3 BER.

Accommodation includes a laminate-floored living room with a stove as well as a kitchen diner with modern shaker-style units. Upstairs the property has an upgraded bathroom and three bedrooms — two doubles and a single, all with laminate flooring. It has driveway with parking for one car at the front and a garden with a patio at the rear Situated in a cul de sac, it overlooks a green area which is separated by railing from the car park of Nemo Rangers GAA club.

The property is within 1km of the Douglas village shopping centre and is close to amenities and schools.

The most recent sales in Ivy Crescent included that of No 26 which sold for €285,000 in 2020 and No 7 which went for €315,000 the year before that.

The Property Price Register shows No 20 selling for €260,000 in 2018.

VERDICT: A ready-to-go home in a popular location.

Affordably priced at €240,000, No 17 An Corrán, Cúl Ard in Carrigtwohill is a two-bed mid-terrace house which could appeal to a buyer in search of a first home.

John Hornibrook of Colbert & Co Estate agents says it’s a well-maintained former rental property which is well located, within walking distance of shops.

Offering 74 sq m of living space, it has an open-plan kitchen living room, a guest WC at ground level as well as two bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs.

VERDICT: Houses with a guide of €240,000 that don’t need major