Prospective homeowners slept in cars to snap up first homes in new Cork housing development

They were all hoping to snap up one of just 30 homes for sale over the weekend in the development, which is located off Carr’s Hill. 

A total of 61 of the homes, which come with air-to-water heating, fitted kitchens, tiling, and bathrooms, are due to be completed by the end of the year.

This first phase of viewings and sales on Saturday saw people queuing to choose from mainly three-bed semi-detached houses, on sale from €445,000, and four-bed townhouses from €560,000.

Those who registered their interest were able to see what they could be buying by viewing two completed show homes, but most of those who turned up left disappointed, as sales were organised on a first-come, first-served basis.

Prospective buyers who were above 30th on a waiting list of interested parties had the option of either joining a cancellation list or being notified for future sale phases at the site.

When it is fully complete, the Bayly site will total 472 units, in an area with up to 1,500 new-builds expected over the next few years.

Psychiatrist Ranjoth Singh, 38, said he had pre-registered his interest early.

But after arriving at around 11.10am, with his wife Parvin and 21-month-old son Taran, was told all the properties for sale had either sold or were likely to be.

“The only option left to me was to join the list of people who could move up the queue in the coming weeks if anybody who said they were going to buy cancelled,” he said.

The couple, who have lived in Ballincollig for five years, want to move to a newer and bigger home.

Another couple, who own a house in nearby Donnybrook Hill, wanted to downsize but discovered that if they sold their house — valued at €460,000 — they would have nothing left after fees to buy the €440,000 3-bed semi-detached house.

Another couple, who did not want to be named, were successful and signed a contract with agents Savills.

One of them had slept in a car overnight while her partner arrived early in the morning.

She said around 40 or so people slept overnight, with some having arrived from 2pm Thursday for the Saturday sales.

A queuing system was operated to ensure those who arrived first, had first choice on the properties.

One man who was also successful said he faces €1,500 monthly mortgage repayments but said this is less than the €2,000-a-month rent of the house where he currently lives.

He and others all have to pay deposits in the coming days to secure the property.

The homes, developed by Cairn, are the first Cork sales on a site where planning for the development was granted under a ‘fast-track’ SHD process in 2015.

A 24-acre holding nearby, capable of taking 350 units, is currently under offer with agent Michael McKenna at a reported €7.5m attracting a spread of builder interest.