Four first-time buys from Dublin to Mallow

Capital: €425,000  ADDRESS: 79 Burleigh Court, Burlington Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. BEDROOMS: 1. SIZE: 48sq m (520sq ft). PARKING: driveway parking. MAINTENANCE: 880. LINKS: bus. STAMP DUTY: €25,500. AGENT: Daphne L Kaye. WEB: www.daphnek.com.

DESCRIPTION: Spacious one-bed apartment within five minutes walk of Baggott Street. In excellent condition it has a modern kitchen, with appliances included, a double bedroom with built-in sliderobes and bathroom. Secure parking and gas central heating.

Commute: €295,000  ADDRESS: 10 St Columcille's Terrace, Bray, Co Wicklow. BEDROOMS: 2. SIZE: 77 sq m (830 sq ft). PARKING: driveway. LINKS: Dart, train, bus, M11. STAMP DUTY: none. AGENT: DNG. WEB: www.dng.ie.

DESCRIPTION: this end-of-terrace two-bed is in walk-in condition and is located beside Superquinn in Bray town. It is 10 minutes from the Dart station and close to the M11. Accommodation includes a modern kitchen, livingroom, two bedrooms and a family bathroom.

Countrywide: €235,000 ADDRESS: Collegewood, Mallow, Co Cork. BEDROOMS: 3. SIZE: 101 sq m (1,087 sq ft). PARKING: driveway. LINKS: train, N20, N72. STAMP DUTY: none. AGENT: HOK. WEB: www.hok.ie

DESCRIPTION: one of 80 houses in phase two of a new development opposite Mallow Golf Course. It is 20 miles to Cork city.Three-bed semi-detached houses have a livingroom, with bay windows, and open-plan kitchen/diningroom with patio doors to the garden. The houses are pre-wired for alarms.

Country: €250,000  ADDRESS: Lisaduff, Craughwell, Co Galway. BEDROOMS: 3. SIZE: 93 sq m (1,000 sq ft). PARKING: ample. LINKS: N6, bus. STAMP DUTY: none. AGENT: Property Partners Michael Cunningham. WEB: www.propertypartners.ie.

DESCRIPTION: this pretty country cottage is just 20 minutes drive from Galway city. It has a sittingroom with an original stone fireplace and a kitchen with original stone fireplace and solid fuel stove. Set on a mature 0.5-acre site, it is in need of modernisation.