Eager buyers start off the season at a hectic pace

There has been a hectic start to the new homes selling season, with most developments being swamped last weekend mainly by first-time buyers. Estate agents who are well accustomed to heavy selling over the past two years expressed surprise at the level of interest in starter homes. The Ross McParland agency had a particularly successful weekend, selling 75 houses at Leixlip Manor, in Leixlip, Co Kildare; 29 homes at Lambay View, in Rush, Co Dublin; 39 houses at Sans Souci, in Bray, Co Wicklow, and 15 starter homes in Bramblefields, Navan Road, Dublin 15. More than 90 per cent of the sales were to first-time buyers.