Grand Ballsbridge redbrick for €5 million

It was one of the most expensive houses in Dublin when the current owners bought 18 Clyde Road, Ballsbridge in 1990 for €660,000 (£520,000), but now it seems like the bargain of a lifetime. The Victorian five-bedroom semi-detached house is back on the market today and, if it sells for over its €5 million guide price at auction on February 10th, it will have made its owners around €300,000 a year while they've lived there, tax-free, writes Orna Mulcahy, Property Editor

Kate Sisson of Gunne Residential is handling the sale of the impressive redbrick which has plenty of off-street car-parking, a reasonable sized garden and 445 sq m (4,750 sq ft) of living space.  A family home at present, it could also convert to offices or to an embassy residence. A similar house nearby (number 10) with full commercial use recently sold for close to €6 million through McNally Handy & Partners.

Located half way along Clyde Road, almost opposite the junction with Raglan Road, it's an imposing house built as one of a pair in the 1880s, with the unusual addition of an attic level, where tall windows front and back give bird's eye views over the neighbourhood.

The house was refurbished at a cost of almost £200,000 in 1990 and, while it's been carefully maintained since then, there have been no major changes to the design or layout. As one might expect, there are two fine reception rooms at hall level - the drawingroom to the front, the diningroom to the rear, both with polished parquet floors and original marble fireplaces. The drawingroom has a curved bay window that looks out to Raglan Road, while the diningroom has a deep box bay overlooking the mews houses on Clyde Lane with glimpses of Herbert Park between the houses.

There is also a study at this level, as well as a guest cloakroom leading off the hallway with its fine encaustic tiled floor.

The first floor has four bedrooms, three of which have original fireplaces. The main bedroom has an en suite dressing area leading through to a large bathroom. A final flight of stairs leads to the attic level where there is a big airy studio, a bedroom and a bathroom.

At garden level the Miele fitted kitchen occupies a bright room at the front of the house while next to it is a large family room with French doors to the back garden. Additional rooms include a gym or playroom, a utility room and a big cold store room under the front steps. A side door leads to a sheltered courtyard where potted plants flourish.