Wexford holiday homes: prices rising but still some bargains

The sunny southeast has been a popular tourist destination for more than a century. Bolt holes for weary Dubliners wishing to escape the city’s pace are scattered along the shoreline from Courtown to the Hook peninsula.

Recent sales in the holiday home sector have increased. Contributing factors to this are: there are still bargains to be had, and many cash buyers earning so little on deposit are investing in holiday properties.

Prices vary throughout the county, with Rosslare Strand attracting the highest prices. Recent sales there through Sherry FitzGerald Haythornthwaite have achieved €400,000 and €300,000, sums which were unheard of in 2014.

In the bargain sector, where buyers are looking for doer-uppers, a small property on Tay Lane in Fethard-on-Sea achieved €50,000 and The Cottage at Riverchapel sold this year for €45,000. These appear to be great value when compared with the asking price of a 574sq ft mobile home, albeit in excellent condition, on Carne Beach, at €57,000; it also incurs annual site rental. An old farmhouse on two acres in Drinagh, just 400m from the sea, is currently asking €95,000 through Sherry FitzGerald Haythornthwaite.

At the upper end of the market and an example of what tasteful renovation can achieve is Lavender Lodge (below) in Fethard-on-Sea. This 18th-century farmhouse has had a simple but stunning makeover and is for sale through P N O'Gorman with an asking price of €265,000.

Houses at St Helens in Kilrane, a favourite of golfers, were selling for €350,000 at the height of the boom, dropping to €75,000 during the crash, and are now from €130,000 upwards.

Auctions are also making a comeback and PN O’Gorman is selling a 1,500sq ft coastal farmhouse overlooking the water with an AMV of €150,000.

A commercial opportunity is Harbour House in Courtown. Dating from the 1850s, this 13-bedroom house also has an 11 bay caravan park attached, and was featured on the RTÉ programme At Your Service. It is for sale through Warren Estates asking €525,000.