Starter Homes: Four Cork properties on the market from €179k

Niamh Moloney of Sherry FitzGerald O’Neill said that the owners, who bought it five years ago, have restored and redecorated, fitting it with modern electric heaters.

“It’s the only one of the houses on Home Rule Terrace (built in 1920), to still have its original front door and to have working timber sash windows at the front,’’ noting it has double-glazed PVC windows at the rear.

A short walk from the town centre, it has countryside views at the rear. The redecorated living room has a cast iron fireplace and one green wall, while the kitchen at the rear has grey units, exposed ceiling rafters, some exposed stonework and pale green walls. Different shades of green can be seen throughout. 

The front door is Kelly green, the understairs pull-out storage units are a darker shade while the main upstairs bedroom has olive green walls. The second bedroom has ochre yellow walls and a red cast iron fireplace but its door is green.

The property also has an upstairs bathroom and a small utility room beyond the kitchen.

Outside it has a south-facing patio area with steps leading down to a garden with apple trees.

VERDICT: Quirky, convenient, and affordable.

Modern two-bed apartments in Old Quarter in Ballincollig — like this at 61 Leslies Arch — always sell well.

That’s according to Linda O’Donovan of Sherry FitzGerald, who listed the well-presented mid-2000s built first-floor property with a guide of €320,000.

The apartment offers an open-plan kitchen/dining/living room with timber floors and cream kitchen units as well as a bathroom and two bedrooms, one en suite.

A short walk from Ballincollig town centre, it’s recently been repainted and has an upgraded B2 BER.

VERDICT: Always a popular choice.

WHILE some first-time buyers confine their viewing to properties costing in the region of €350,000, those with higher mortgage approval could be very tempted by 6 The Cedars, Classes Lake, a recent market arrival with a guide of €399,000.

The modern three-bed semi, which has an upgraded B3 BER, is the third property in the Cedar to sell with O’Mahony Walsh in recent months. 

According to auctioneer Olivia Roycroft, all of them have attracted strong first-time buyer interest. In January No 10, a three-bed semi with a guide of €345,000 sold for €400,000 while in recent weeks No 20 went sale agreed for in excess of its €350,000 guide.

Accommodation includes a timber floor front living room, with a recently fitted insert stove fireplace. To the rear, there’s a kitchen with modern cream units, a built-in dresser and an island unit incorporating a seat.

Off the hallway, the property has recently upgraded guest WC while the upper floor has a bathroom and three bedrooms. The largest has an en suite and sliderobes and the smallest has been painted pink for a girl.

The garden at the rear is colourful and pretty with neat shrubs, tall lupins and a purple and white shed, used both for bike storage and as a home office.

Ms Roycroft says that The Cedars, a little around two and a half km from Ballincollig, a key selling point.

VERDICT: A ready-to-go starter.

Because of its location off the Boreenmanna Road, within a 20-minute walk from Cork city centre Sliabh Luachra, 9 Glenanaar is sure to attract good interest.

Barry Smith of James G Coughlan says properties in this small 1970s-built development are rare. 

Accommodation has a kitchen/diner, a living room, bathroom and three bedrooms. A former rental home, it’s well maintained, but in need of modernisation.

VERDICT: Ideal for downsizing or for starting out.