Sea views on the double in Howth with a little earner on the side

Two large neighbouring terraced houses with views of Howth Harbour could be good investments – or become family homes. The houses, built around 1888, are on the corner of Abbey Street and Harbour Road, just across the road from the East pier in Howth, and both are for sale.

One was used as offices and would need major refurbishment to turn it into a family home or apartments. The other was converted into three very smart apartments 10 years ago.

The three-storey houses are for sale through different agents – but an investor might consider buying both properties, converting the offices into more apartments. Number 1 Abbey Street, Howth, Co Dublin, the one that was offices, is for sale through Sherry FitzGerald for €700,000. Number 2 Abbey Street is for sale for €825,000 through JB Kelly.

Neither of them has a garden, although both have built outdoor terraces at different levels at the back.

Chemical business

Number 1 Abbey Street, a 212sq m (2,282sq ft) house described as a five-bed by the agent, is at the end of the terrace, and has the best views. A businessman, the late Peter Holmes, bought the property over 25 years ago to run his chemical business from and put an apartment at the top of the house.

There are some good period details in the house, particularly cast-iron fireplaces with tiles inset; ground-floor rooms have a lot of businesslike oak panelling. Accommodation includes what would once have been the livingroom and diningroom on the ground floor, with a door at the back opening into a small tiled courtyard.

There are very good views of Howth harbour from rooms on the first and second floors that are dual aspect and on the second-floor return, a conservatory – that could be an artist’s studio – opens onto a narrow tiled patio space.  There are good views from here over the roof of the chipper around the corner to Ireland’s Eye.

A steep staircase leads to the floored attic (not included in the overall size) which has Velux windows.

Stylish apartments

The 230sq m (2,476sq ft) house next door, 2 Abbey Street, was converted into three apartments, very stylishly decorated, about 10 years ago. Walls are painted muted grey shades, floors are oak, kitchens have royal blue-tiled splashbacks, bathrooms have blue mosaic tiles.

The ground-floor apartment has one bedroom, the middle-floor apartment has two; the top-floor apartment has one bedroom and up a steep spiral staircase, an attic room with Velux windows and an en-suite bathroom. They all have comfortable sittingrooms, decent-sized kitchens and smart bathrooms.

Each of the apartments opens onto a terrace, with a backdrop of greenery in the hill behind the house; the top-floor apartment has a good-sized patio (next to the wall of the conservatory next door). There are limited harbour views from the front windows of number two.

Both houses could be turned into single family homes, homes-cum-income, or rented out as apartments. There is just about enough room to park one car next to the steps of each house, between the building and the footpath.