Town&Country: What will €275,000 buy?

Town
Address: 5 Mayfield Terrace, Ballinteer, Dublin 16
Agent: Sherry FitzGerald Dundrum
This three-bedroom end-of- terrace house has been home to the same family for 50 years. Although it needs remodernisation, it has retained many original features, including wooden floors, fireplaces and picture rails. Accommodation, running over 67sq m(721sq ft) includes a sitting room, kitchen and shower room downstairs and three bedrooms upstairs.
Plus: Leafy location yet close to Dundrum's retail extravaganza, Balally Luas and the M50. Good period features include wooden floors, fireplaces and picture rails.
Minus: Too many doors and interruptions into the bathroom but that does offer potential to make it bigger. The downstairs-only bathroom may not suit some.

Country
Address: Quignalecka House, Ballina, Co Mayo
Agent: Property Partners/Garrett Loftus and Associates
This 1930s house sits on three quarters of an acre of land a five-minute walk from the Quay. Accommodation in the 204sq m (2,200sq ft) house is elegant and includes a drawingroom, diningroom, livingroom, modern kitchen/diner, pantry and cloakroom. Upstairs are three bedrooms, two of which have bay windows. Original features include hand-crafted coving and picture rails.
Plus: Period proportions and charming details such as large windows, exposed beams and glazed tiling in the kitchen. Lots of facilities in the area from water-based activities to mountain walks.
Minus: The colour scheme is strong and while some will love it, it won't suit everybody, and obviously can be easily rectified.