SOMETHING seems to be stirring in the market, with agents reporting big turnouts at their house viewings. One property watcher reported crowds at DNG’s house at 1 Adelaide Street in Dún Laoghaire, with lines of SUVs parked outside and 30-ish couples with children queuing up to see it last Saturday.
DNG’s Deirdre O’Gara says that in all, more than 1,000 parties looked at houses they had on view last week. Abbey Court, a development of four new Rathfarnham houses (being sold for receivers, costing €425,000 and €450,000) drew 300.
About 100 viewers turned up at 4 Hollybrook Grove in Clontarf where the original asking price of €259,000 has been driven up to over €280,000 by eager bidding.
O’Gara says DNG agreed just under double the amount of deals this January compared to January 2011 and says that most of the “sale agreeds” are making it to the “sold” finish line.
Meanwhile, Sherry FitzGerald reports that 1,300 parties came to its viewings last week – and also that 1,000 new people have registered as buyers on its website since Christmas. One of its properties, a Ranelagh mid-terrace redbrick needing modernisation at 79 Moyne Road, with an asking price of €625,000, drew 100 viewers for the past two Saturdays.
Both agents say the main reason for the crowds is the shortage of traditional family homes in suburbs near to the city.
So, retirees rattling around a solid four-bed semi thinking idly of downsizing – this might be the time to make the leap.
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