Starter Homes: Four Cork properties on the market from €210,000

Options for a young couple or singleton looking for an affordable, easy to keep modern property in East Cork include this two-bed apartment at 23 Charleston Maltings, Bailick Road in Midleton.

Seeking offers of €210,000 Ed O’Donovan of Sherry FitzGerald O’Donovan says it’s a well maintained, attractively decorated property with 61 sq metres of living space. “ It’s been upgraded in recent years and has new kitchen units,” he reveals, noting that it has a B3 BER.

Situated in a waterside complex, converted from an 18th century building once used to malt barley for Guinness, the first floor apartment faces on to an internal courtyard and would very likely have a higher price if it had a river view.

Accommodation includes an open plan kitchen/dining/living space with laminate flooring, an electric fire and contemporary white high gloss units. There’s also a bathroom and two carpeted bedrooms.

The apartment has a designated g space in the ground level parking area of the complex which was converted in the mid 2000s and has 36 units in all, including both apartments and duplexes.

Built by the Ballyannon River, Charleston Woods is located a little less than two km from Midleton town Centre.

Sales there seem to be fairly infrequent and No 33, a two-bed duplex which went for €222,500 was the only sale in 2024. This property No 23 shows Register as having sold for €61,674 in 2013.

VERDICT: Small but appealing because of its affordability and its condition.

The attractions of 13 McSweeney Terrace in Midleton include proximity to the town centre, an attractive stone façade and an affordable guide of €225,000.

Dating from the 1890s, it’s a small two-bed mid-terrace former rental property which has been modernised over the years but will require more work. Offering 55 sq metres of accommodation, it has a sitting room, a kitchen, a guest WC, a bathroom and two bedrooms.

Located across the road from Midleton train station, it’s a ten-minute walk from the town centre.

Auctioneer James Colbert of Colbert & Co says it would make an ideal starter home but could also appeal to investors.

VERDICT: The stone façade gives it the kind of charm you don’t find in modern properties.

Thanks to the conversion of its attic, No 39 Avondale Mews in Passage West now has quite a bit more space than the average three-bed mid-terrace house.

“With the added space it has 128 sq metres of accommodation” reveals Glenn O’Connor of DNG Creedon Finn O’Connor explaining that the current owners bought the property as a new build in 2005 and carried out the conversion work in 2017.

Listing the house with a guide of €345,000, Mr O’Connor says it’s a spacious, well-maintained home which is certain to attract first-time buyer interest. “It has a good B2 BER rating which means that it qualifies for a green mortgage, he adds.

Downstairs accommodation Includes a laminate floored living room with a fireplace as well as a guest WC off the hallway, a small utility area and a kitchen/diner with cream shaker style units.

The upstairs has a bathroom and three bedrooms including one en suite. A second staircase at this level leads to the attic which has a laminate floored room with two skylight windows.

Overlooking a large green area in the centre of the development, the property has parking at the front and a lawned garden at the rear.

Situated in a mixed development of 49 units which are mostly terraced houses but also includes some apartments, the property is around one and a half km from Passage West village and seven km from Douglas.

The last sale taking place in Avondale Mews was back in 2023 when No 24 a mid-terrace property sold for €275,000 and another, No 30 sold for €300,000.

VERDICT: Modern and ready to go.

Offers of €275,000 are being sought for this three-bed, end-of-terrace house at 30 O’Neill’s Place, Carrignafoy in Cobh.

Dating from the 1960s, it has 77 sq metres of accommodation which includes a sitting room, a kitchen/diner, three bedrooms and a bathroom. The property has been well kept but has an E2 BER so will require modernisation.

Auctioneer Johanna Murphy says new owners might apply for a Vacant property refurbishment grant.

VERDICT: A mature property with gardens, it’s within a 15-minute walk from Cobh shops.