With Dublin house prices still on the high side for families wanting to trade up, buyers are looking further afield where there is frequently much better value available.
A good example is to be found in Drogheda where a large four-bedroom detached home at 86 Ashfield is available through Sherry FitzGerald Lannon for around £185,000 (€235,000).
A similar house in an area like Swords would make at least £100,000 (€126,974) more.
Apart from the fact that Drogheda has a good, if busy, train service to Dublin, the Ashfield house is located close to the Drogheda bypass due to be completed next year.
The opening of the Balbriggan bypass a few years ago has already reduced commuting time into Dublin city.
Ashfield is owned by a skilled cabinetmaker who worked on the house's fit-out so that it is now of a particularly high standard. The kitchen/diningroom, for example, has attractive oak wall and floor units with polished granite worktops and a full range of integrated electrical appliances. There is also an a kitchen with an island unit with polished worktop, wooden ceiling and a Chinese slate floor. There is a handy utility room with maple units off the kitchen, and for the summer months, a barbecue deck in the back garden for alfresco entertaining.
The lounge is equally impressive with a wooden floor, coal-effect fireplace and bay window. There is a guest toilet off the hall. Hardwood doors throughout are part of the high quality fit-out.
All four bedrooms have wooden floors and three of them have built-in wardrobes. For families needing even more space, the integrated garage could be converted into another livingroom.
The selling agents say that the price will include all the electrical appliances as well as the carpets and curtains and barbecue deck.
