Category: House Hunting

House Hunter Westport

Westport is to Mayo what Killiney is to Dublin. And so it stands to reason that properties in the town and surrounding area are more expensive than elsewhere in Connaught.

And yet, there’s some great options for ready-to-move-into three-bedroom houses available for a price tag that would get you a one or two bed fixer-upper in any of the posh parts of Dublin.

This week we’re looking at a selection of three (and one four) bedroomed properties based in the town of Westport, rather than rural locations close by. If you’re in need of three bedrooms, only two of today’s selection will offer a home-office option as-is (although a couple of the others have space to install a garden room). However, Westport is already home to two co-working spaces and I have no doubt that more will come on-stream if the demand increases.

If you’re used to being disheartened by the price of property in the greater Dublin area, prepare to be pleasantly surprised at what “the best place to live in Ireland” (officially) has to offer.

I’m starting with my favourite and want to declare my bias up front. This mid-terrace house is being sold by a friend of mine and I lived in it for two years. I also lived in another house on this terrace for another two and a half years, and can hand-on-my-heart state this is my favourite location of all of today’s picks.

While this house does have the benefit of a lawned front and back garden, it’s probably a better option for kids that have outgrown having toys spread all over the place. Like all of the properties highlighted this week, it’s within easy walking distance of most of the schools, and less than five minutes to both secondary schools.

And if there are no kids in the equation, it’s a perfect sized home for a single or couple – not too big, not too small, but just right.

It’s in turn-key condition if you don’t need extra space, with the kitchen and bathroom having been updated in recent years. If you do need more space there is potential to expand at the rear.

There is a side entrance to the back garden which was home to about a dozen happy chickens, their roomy hen house and a polytunnel in my day, but it’s been smartened up since then. Behind the original shed (which is used as a utility room) there’s now raised beds (so you can still enjoy a spot of veg-growing) and a lovely tree-shaded spot for sitting out in – it gets some lovely light in the evening.

It’s only minutes walk from the town, and just off the main Castlebar road. However, the terrace itself is set well back from the road behind a large green, and it’s actually a quiet spot. Check out the full details here.

If you’d like more space without having to do any work to create it, here is another option at the same price. Another turn-key mid-terrace house within walking distance of everything, I would say this is definitely better sutied to a family with teens rather than smallies as it is located right on a busy road.

That said, the location is certainly handy and has all you need for a small but more mature family. And it’s also just a few minutes walk from two co-working spaces on the edge of town.

In addition to living and kitchen, the ground floor also has a utility room and downstairs loo. And the enclosed back yard is low maintenance, beautifully presented and has the benefit of a storage shed as well. The bathroom has a shower and no bath, but again this is an ideal scenario for teens, not so great for younger kids. And the master bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe – always a win in my book!

Check out the full details here.

This end-of-terrace is the farthest from the town centre, but is walking distance – and also located opposite a playground and the gaelscoil primary school.

While not the prettiest of today’s interiors, it is in fairly good decorative order and leaves plenty in the budget to bring more of the cute factor. Meanwhile it has undergone extensive upgrades in terms of energy efficiency and it has a pretty garden that leaves some of the other options in the shade. It’s definitely one to check out for a smaller household. Read the full details here.

At the top end of our €220K budget, we have another end-of terrace with a bit more room to offer than the others. With four bedrooms (all ensuite) and a separate TV room, it offers options for a home-office. Like some of the others, it has room to expand at the back, and in this case it comes with the planning permission in place.

Location-wise, this one is more than on the edge of town – it is practically in the heart of it. Tubber Hill is a residential street however, so it’s one step removed from all the hustle and bustle, while having the advantage of being just the shortest of strolls to whatever you might need. Check out the full details here.

Although this is one of the pricier of today’s picks I wouldn’t describe it as turnkey. For sure it could do with some decorative updates.

That said, it has a lot of plusses going for it.

The eat-in kitchen is roomier than some of the others and it also has a utility room. It has four bedrooms, although one of these is on the ground floor and might be better used as a home-office – again, a plus. And the master bedroom is en-suite. The stove in the living also has a back-boiler, and the location is handy to town, while having the benefit of not being directly on a busy road.

I’m not a fan of tiled living room floors and I’d be adding that to the updates needed. But that’s a matter of taste and not everyone is as anti-tile as I am. (I wouldn’t even put them in the kitchen, or bathroom!)

And the right paint job could add a bit more curb appeal to the exterior. Having seen the benefits of an extension/renovation completed by a friend on a neighbouring house, this definitely does have potential to be a stunning home. See the full details here.

Next time we’ll explore what’s on offer in Galway. In the meantime, you might also be interested in some of the posts below. And if you’d like some custom house-hunting done on your behalf, including in-person vetting of properties, then please get in touch.

Cottages for Sale in Sligo under €200K.

Three and Four Bedroomed Houses in North Mayo.

Four 4-bedroomed Homes in South West Mayo.

9 Things to Do Before Putting your Home on the Market.

House Hunting in Connaught.

This week’s listings are more suited to singles, couples or small families (with kids that have grown out of having toys scattered all over the house). Except (potentially) the last one…

Three of them also have low BER ratings, which isn’t uncommon for cottages. So I’d be looking into every kind of insulation opportunity going, but the price tags leave room for that, hopefully.

Starting with my favourite! While the cottage itself is cute and appealing, the setting is the real stunner. It’s just a stone’s throw from the beach, and the garden is magnificent with a selection of picturesque spots to relax in as well as a polytunnel and raised beds. The Good Life is ready and waiting!

The original cottage is extended to the rear and has two bedrooms downstairs with the attic converted, providing an ideal and roomy office space. There is a separate dining area off the kitchen, although there is also plenty of space for a dining table in the kitchen itself if the island were removed. (And the island doesn’t appear to be fixed, and it is wrong anyway – the scale is too small for the space.)

The small conservatory off the living room offers sea views. However, I’d be upgrading the structure of the conservatory (and that might help with the BER when it’s done). And there’s an abundance of outbuildings, of which I am jealous.

The listing includes nearly 40 photos and a video tour. Click here for full details.

Another property close to the sea. This one doesn’t have the same charm factor as the Templeboy cottage, but it does have potential to inject the charm. With a very attractive price tag, there’ll hopefully be enough left over in your budget to bring the cosy and cute to what is essentially a blank canvas. Apart from any necessary insulation required, it’s mostly decorative work that’s needed if you don’t need additional square footage.

The main cottage has two bedrooms, living room, kitchen/diner and bathroom. There are no photos of the outhouse interiors, but it sounds intriguing. As well as a utility room, it also has a bedroom and toilet. Perhaps this could be used a home office, while keeping both bedrooms in the cottage itself as bedrooms.

Although it comes off as quite plain, both internally and externally, with a little vision this cottage could grow into something far more attractive. If you don’t want everything done, and prefer to make it your own over time, this is an option worth checking out.Click here for the details.

Kerb appeal galore is on offer here but despite appearances, it is actually a new build on the site of an original cottage. And it comes with all the benefits of both worlds – timber framed with stone cladding, the cottage charm is combined with contemporary insulation standards. And it is also flooded with light.

It has three bedrooms (master is ensuite), but the living space wouldn’t be family-sized. For me this would be one for a single or couple, designating one or even two of the bedrooms as home offices. It also offers a very pretty garden for downtime. And while Tubbercurry isn’t a coastal location, is it the setting of Normal People, if that’s a point-scorer for you. Click here for the details.

So this one needs some updating, although it doesn’t look like major work. Some decorative updating throughout and some improvements to the living room (which is dull and dated) and the kitchen (which just looks a bit odd, to my eye). However, this is a four bedroomed cottage AND it comes with a 24 acre farm! And of course, there’s outhouses – always a bonus. It’s an interesting opportunity for sure. Check out the details here.

I’ll come back to Sligo in another post, as there’s lots of fixer-upper opportunities going, if that’s your thing. In the meantime, if you’d like some custom house-hunting done on your behalf, including in-person vetting of properties, then please get in touch.

You may also be interested in:

House Hunter: 3 and 4 Bedroomed Houses in North Mayo.

House Hunter: Four 4-bedroomed Homes in South West Mayo.

9 Things to Do Before Putting your Home on the Market.

House Hunting in Connaught.

This is part of a series looking at different sizes and types of housing for sale in Connaught, for those living in the greater Dublin area who are considering a move west. They are based on online listings. If you’d like a tailored house-hunting service, with in-person visits to vet properties, get in touch.

This week I’m looking at north Mayo, specifically in or around the town of Ballina. The area offers great value for money, even for large detached houses. The cheapest from this selection is €135K and the dearest is €265K.

This cottage has been extended and sympathetically modernised, retaining lots of cottage charm. The ground floor of the original cottage is an open-plan kitchen/dining/living room, but it’s well zoned and each area is spacious enough to function comfortably.

The extension houses the main bathroom and an ensuite bedroom, while the second floor has three more bedrooms (one ensuite) and a storage room. With the renovations being only two years old, there is literally nothing to do here except move in.

If you didn’t want to give one of the bedrooms over to your home office, the spacious landing provides an option for a study nook too. If you’re looking for a rural location, with easy access to the coast, this is one to check out for sure. It’s also only 20km from Ballina town.

Click here for full details which includes a video tour as well as plentiful photos.

This cute dormer bungalow is a great option if you’re looking for something to put your own stamp on, without needing to do any major work. It has a gorgeous country setting, sitting above a lough, but is only a short drive from the towns of Ballina, Crossmolina and Castlebar.

Although the listing says one bathroom, this would appear to be a mistake as the description says the upstairs bedroom is ensuite, while the main bathroom is downstairs.

Still, it’s probably one for a smaller family, or a couple. But it’s one to check out if you’re in that bracket and looking for something neither too big nor too small, but just right! Click here to see the details.

Another rural location, with a short drive to Ballina or Crossmolina, if you need more space this large detached house has plenty. That includes a downstairs office, so you still get to have four bedrooms. The solid fuel stove in the living room has a back-boiler which is a great bonus when you have oil-fired central heating.

It’s another blank canvas waiting for you to put your stamp on it. Don’t let the current lacklustre decor put you off! With some colour and art on the walls, and a few rugs on the downstairs floors, this house has great potential to be a cosy and charming family home. Click here for the details.

If you don’t fancy a rural setting, this semi-D in Ballina may suit instead. It appears to be in excellent condition and the garden shed is listed as a home-office option if you don’t want to give up one of the bedrooms.

I think it was probably photographed on a dull day – some of the rooms do appear quite dark. However, I wouldn’t rule it out on account of those…almost of the blinds are pulled partway down and some of the curtains are dark (black in one room). These can have a negative impact on the lighting in photos and in reality the rooms may be brighter (or have the potential to be brighter) than they currently appear.

Sellers tip: when having your home photographed for the listing, ensure all curtains and blinds are fully opened to maximise the light coming into the rooms.

The kitchen/diner could be brightened up too with a change of flooring and splashback. And the same applies to the colour of sofas and rug in the living room. With a utility room and downstairs loo, this is a good option for a family home. If a four-bed in a surburban location is what you’re looking for, I wouldn’t write this one off based on the online photos. Click here for the details.

This cute little bungalow is a wonderful small home option if you want a country setting, but also want to be close to a town. Overall it doesn’t appear to be cramped – it just doesn’t have the bedrooms (or extra bathroom) for a large family. But for a couple, it offers up a room that can be used as a home office and still leaves one spare for guests. (Or use both as offices, and put in sofa beds for occasional guests.)

It’s just five minutes drive from Ballina and is ready to move into. Sure, there could be some updates to maybe the bathroom or fireplaces. But that all depends on your taste – if you like the vintage look, the condition of everything looks remarkable.

I would replace the gas fire installations though, and it does have a low BER rating, so it would probably benefit from some insulation work. But hopefully the price tag leaves room for that in your budget. Click here to check it out.

So this one is something of a fixer-upper. It used to be a doctor’s surgery and the property is now vacant and seriously dated. As a townhouse, it might suit buyers looking to combine commercial and living spaces.

Equally, it could be converted back to strictly residential if you don’t mind the front of the house being on the street – the back garden has amazing space and potential. Either way, you can configure it to meet whatever your needs are. Check the details here.

You may also be interested in:

House Hunter: Four 4-bedroomed Homes in South West Mayo.

9 Things to Do Before Putting your Home on the Market.

House Hunting in Connaught.