WHILE SOME agents launching new homes developments reported a quiet enough weekend, Dundalk was apparently the epicentre of a buying frenzy, according to joint agents Hooke & MacDonald and Sherry FitzGerald Carroll.
A throwback to the heady days when crowd control was needed, Sherry FitzGerald Carroll say around 2,500 people converged on McGarrell O'Reilly's Marlmount on the outskirts of Dundalk and around 64 houses houses were snapped up, even though the intention was to release 30. Prices started at €279,950 for a three-bed semi and at €450,000 for a five-bed detached house.
Sherry FitzGerald Carroll say around 55 of the units were sold to local people - both first-time buyers and people trading up and puts the frenzy down to pent up demand in the area for "a first class product" and good value "nothing like on offer in the town". Around three of the buyers were from north Dublin and three were investors.
Hooke & MacDonald is also reporting brisk business at the Glen, Oldtown Mill, Celbridge, where they say the first phase of 14 two and three-bed houses were sold at the weekend.
At the Herberton, South Circular Road launch by Maplewood Elliott 18 apartments sold through joint agents GPK Properties and Hooke & MacDonald.
Gunne New Homes said their Limerick apartment scheme The Strand - where they released 24 units - got "close to double digit sales" and have a lot of interested people taking second viewings. They said it was "very positive given the market" and they were "absolutely flabbergasted" at the turnout of over 200.
