Take five @ around Eur 620,000

Sherry FitzGerald is seeking around €620,000 for number 12 Ardmeen Park, a four-bedroom semi-detached house in Blackrock, Co Dublin. Kate McMorrow finds properties at a similar price in South Africa, the USA, Costa Rica and France

SOUTH AFRICA: Knysna

Perched on the edge of the sea at Buffalo Bay, this ultra-modern designer house has five bedrooms, a family sittingroom, staff quarters and a large roof terrace. Planted gardens running down to the ocean.

Price: 610,000

Agent: Pam Golding International 0044 20 7824 9088

FRANCE: Montpellier

30 km from the Med and 20 km from Montpellier, a hotel on 6 km of landscaped grounds, with 19 apartments, three bedrooms and substantial owner's accomodation. Also a 400 ft terrace, barbecue area and pool.

Price: 625,000

Agent: Karen O'Reilly 0033 607 421668

CENTRAL AMERICA: Costa Rica

This is the view from the terrace of Casa del Bosque, a 371 sq m (4,000 sq ft) house on over 10 acres of primary rain forest. Fully furnished, with wood floors and ceilings, sunken livingroom, an outdoor Jacuzzi and pool.

Price: 620,000

Agent: Coldwell Banker Dominical Realty 0506 787 0223

USA: North Carolina

In the Western Blue Ridge Mountains, an Alpine-style lodge and separate house on 1.8 acres on a golf course. The main lodge has 10 self-catering units for paying guests and the house includes two large bedrooms, a pool room and office.

Price: 600,000

Agent: Claude Gagne 001 828 324 7291