Cashing in on the ould sod

Hankerings to buy a piece of the ould sod are possibly never stronger than on St Patrick’s Day, when the world celebrates its sometimes tenuous connections to this island.

The dream of a cute sea-facing cottage, the stereotype of the Irish rural property, is a not altogether faraway dream, and the demand, according to Michael O’Connor of Real Estate Alliance (REA) is growing.

A property exhibition held by REA in recent weeks in New York city surveyed its 425 attendees and found 32 per cent of the inquiries came from Irish families looking to return home: 19 per cent were retirees looking to downsize, 17 per cent were young Irish people returning to work, and 16 per cent were investors.

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Coolgarriv, Killarney, Co Kerry, DNG Ted Healy, €230,000

The remainder were looking for holiday homes or to buy a second home with ties to family in Ireland.

In addition, REA says that 19 per cent of its monthly inquiries now come from abroad and, as the exchange rate has improved for Americans, it has seen a rise in inquiries from there, with one in six of the overseas inquiries coming from the US.

The dollar’s strength against the euro has meant buying property within the next year or two in Ireland seems like a good opportunity, and a particularly attractive one for Irish families who find the American education system extremely expensive, according to O’Connor.

Cash buyers

“A lot of them are cash buyers. A lot of people I spoke to, the money they were saving was for their children’s education and now they’re looking to buy a house in cash with it,” he said.

Families are looking to return to where they grew up, meaning demand is spread across the country, and they are looking for houses over apartments.

Charles McCarthy of Charles McCarthy Estate Agents in Skibbereen also reported an increase in inquiries from abroad in the last year, but found the majority looking at properties in Cork were from the UK, something that has remained consistent over the years.

The majority of them are in the market for holiday homes or are looking for a home to retire to, with sea views being a priority, and a similar demand for houses over apartments.

“The quality of life here they find quite lovely,” says McCarthy, who maintains Ireland’s promise of a tranquil retirement amidst glorious landscapes and seascapes will never grow old.

The dream of a white-washed, thatched cottage on Irish turf is still as appealing and charming an idea as ever.

Now with favourable exchange rates and the market in its current state, it’s a more affordable dream for those beyond these shores.

Three to buy: What can you get for your money?

Cir Mhor, Kilcoe, Ballydehob, West Cork, Sherry FitzGerald O’Neill, €545,000

About 32km east of Mizen Head and 10km west of Skibbereen, Cir Mhor in the village of Ballydehob is an exceptionally designed residence and guest cottage with incredible coast, island and mountain views.

It was built using materials from a nearby church. Features of the detached three- bedroom house include pitch pine floors, salvaged decorative materials, natural stone finishes, bespoke kitchen design and a big sunny, south- and west-facing conservatory lounge overlooking the nearby bay.

The grounds have been landscaped to enhance the privacy of the property without interfering with the views.

The property is 169sq m (1,821sq ft) including an entrance hall, open plan living-cum-diningroom, kitchen, porch, conservatory lounge, master bedroom with ensuite, upstairs bedroom-cum- study, and lounge/bedroom with a bathroom off it.

The detached guest cottage comprises a spacious bedroom with an ensuite. There is also a detached workshop-cum-utility.

The house and guest cottage have a pressurised water system, oil-fired central heading and hardwood double-glazed windows and doors.

Coolgarriv, Killarney, Co Kerry, DNG Ted Healy, €230,000

Coolgarriv is the name of this detached cottage in the popular Aghadoe area, about 2km outside Killarney town.

The two-bedroom house is for sale at €230,000.

The house was built 15 years ago in the style of an old cottage and exudes old-school character and charm throughout.

It has been well maintained by its current owners and is likely to attract most interest from holiday home buyers and retirees.

A small, bright entrance porch leads to the living room, which has solid timber flooring, a solid burning stove with feature stone surround, and a large bay window seat.

The kitchen is bright and airy, with an attached utility room. Both double bedrooms have timber floors, fitted wardrobes and Velux windows.

The cottage is 95sq m (1,022sq ft) and sits on a small site (0.143 acre) that’s beautifully presented with an abundance of plants and shrubs, a lawned area and parking for two cars.

Round The Bend, Delgany Village, Delgany, Co Wicklow, McGovern Estates, €395,000

Situated in the heart of Delgany Village, Round the Bend is a two-bedroom period cottage that has been a prominent feature of the village for years.

Presented in immaculate condition, the cottage manages to marry a charming period exterior and a contemporary modern interior.

The property has 106sq m (1,141sq ft) of space following a recent extension to include a fully integrated bespoke kitchen.

A unique feature of this cottage is the south-facing roof terrace, which is accessed through French doors leading from the second bedroom.

It’s walled on all sides and there are beautiful views. The terrace covers 23sq m (248sq ft) and is an ideal place for summer dining al fresco.

The property comes complete with a vaulted ceiling living space, solid oak wood floors and doors, and gas-fired central heating.

Greystones village is within easy reach along with local bus stops and Dart station, and a host of sport and leisure clubs and amenities.