The new selling season got off to a better than expected start last weekend when David Daly's company, Albany Homes, sold all 60 houses and apartments in the first phase of its Riverside scheme at Swords in north Dublin. Over 2,000 people viewed the showhouses and, according to Ronan O'Driscoll of Hamilton Osborne King, most of them were first-time buyers keen to get their feet on the first rung of the property ladder early in the new year.

Three-bed semis with 1,100 sq ft were priced from £172,950 to £178,950. Two-bedroom townhouses with 800 sq ft were available at £145,950 and three-bedroom 900 sq ft townhouses at £159,950 to £162,950. HOK also took bookings for eight two-bedroom apartments with 720 sq ft which were priced between £133,950 and £134,950.