At other new homes locations around Dublin agents say that more and more people are putting deposits on both apartments and houses just in case Charlie McCreevy decides to restore the mortgage interest relief on residential investment borrowings. Developers are taking deposits of around £2,000 (€2,540) but, fearing that the investors are just taking a punt, agents are putting pressure on them to complete the purchase before the December 5th budget.

The gamble may not pay off because while the government is expected to tweak the tax regulations to help the building industry, it is by no means certain that it will do a U-turn on the mortgage relief. One suggestion is that they may do more for investors in pre-63 buildings set out in flats. As there is a limited supply of these kind of properties - most of them have been turned into family homes - any further intervention is unlikely to bring much relief to the stressed-out rental market.

In the Weekly Roundup of Thursday, October 25th, a thatched cottage in Bray, Co Wickow, was featured in the Under £500,000 section. The property at Killarney Road was listed as being for sale through Dooley Poynton. In fact it is for sale through Gabriel Dooley.