MarketAnalysis The season is winding down and builders are packed for their summer holidays after bumper sales in the first six months of the year. However, despite sell outs in several developments around the city, apartments and houses can still be bought in popular schemes in the greater Dublin area.
HOK sold 160 apartments in two weeks at Ballintyre in Ballinteer, a good stride from the Luas but in the general area nevertheless. Five two-beds are on offer here, priced from €400,000-€445,000.
Also available with HOK are four two-bed duplex apartments at Hanover Quay in the south city centre from €410,000. This Park Developments project has sleek contemporary interiors, most notably the penthouses with their 360-degree views. For €860,000, buyers can snap up a two-bedroom duplex penthouse on the sixth and seventh floors at Hanover Quay. One three-bed duplex costs €495,000 and three two-bed duplexes are €455,000 and €475,000.
HOK also has four three-bed penthouses with sea views at The Crescent, a Ballymore development in Greystones, Co Wicklow and six sumptuous apartments at MKN's Sutton Castle scheme in Sutton, Co Dublin, priced at €1.4 million.
Perhaps the biggest launch for Sherry FitzGerald New Homes this season was One Beacon, a scheme of apartments and work/live units around a hotel and health clinic complex in Sandyford.
A few units can still be bought here from €375,000-€995,000 for one and two-bed apartments, one-bed work/live units and three-bed penthouses. Sherry FitzGerald New Homes is also selling from plans at Gallery Quay in the south docklands, where one and two-bed apartments are from €365,000 and €410,000. Two-bed units from €310,000 at The Lighthouse in East Wall are also available from plans.
Families looking for traditional houses are usually obliged to look further afield for affordable housing. McGarrell Reilly's Lusk Village scheme has the advantage of proximity to a mainline train station. For sale here with Sherry FitzGerald New Homes are a few four-bed semis from €299,995. Three-bed townhouses from €253,950 can be bought at Steeplechase in Ratoath, Co Dublin. The same agency is handling Lissadell Wood in Malahide where a small number of units remain for sale, from €365,000.
Gunne New Homes participated in this season's bonanza, with Riverside in Kilmainham all but sold out on day one. Contrary to expectations, buyers at Riverside were mostly owner-occupiers who were drawn to the convenient city location. Eight one and two-bed units have come back on the market at Riverside, priced from €265,000 and €350,000. Rookstown in Howth was another strong mover for Gunne, with just one four-bed detached house for €1.4 million and a couple of two-bed apartments at €480,000 and €500,000 left for sale.
Also with Gunne New Homes are two apartments at Chapel View in Lucan ( in the sought-after St Mary's School catchment area) priced at €360,000. Gunne also has three five-bed detached houses for sale from €750,000 at Bartra Hall in Donabate.
The market was dominated by first-timers this season, says principal Ken MacDonald, with investors chasing Section 23s in anticipation of the end of tax incentive properties.
A good range of apartments and houses are still available with Hooke & MacDonald, including two-bed own-door apartments at Ridge Hall in Ballybrack Village at €365,000. This scheme is in the grounds of a former garden centre and has fine mature grounds.
Also with Hooke & MacDonald are duplexes from €385,000 at The Distillery, a development in a restored period building off Clonliffe Road; one, two and three-bed apartments from €320,000 at Park View, a high quality scheme by Cork developer Fleming at Stepaside, Co Dublin; The Gasworks in Dublin 4 with about 15 one, two and three-bed apartments currently for sale with prices from €385,000, €490,000 and €650,000 respectively; and one three-bed apartment has come up for sale at The Island in Chapelizod, priced at €400,000.
City Section 23 schemes with availability through Hooke & MacDonald include Liberty Corner on Talbot Street and Brabazon Hall and McGovern's Corner in the Liberties.
Douglas Newman Good New Homes had a strong season, with Citywest and Newcastle Manor among the best performers. Currently on its books are two and three-bed houses at Somerton in Donabate from €295,000 and €367,000, two-bed apartments and townhouses at Newcastle Manor from €232,000 and €264,000 and two-bed apartments at Marlfield, Kiltipper, Dublin 24, priced from €235,000.
Relative newcomer Felicity Fox is making her mark on the new homes scene. Edward Square in Donnybrook almost sold out when launched last December, but a few units can still be bought here. Very large two and three-bed apartments and duplexes are priced at €975,000 and €1.85 million. One four-bedroom Regency-style house has a €4 million price tag, while two four-bed mews houses are €1.8 million. Also with Felicity Fox are two large four-bed houses at The Beeches in Straffan, Co Kildare, priced at €850,000.
Buyers usually find better value for their euro beyond the city boundary. Maynooth auctioneer Coonan Real Estate Alliance has availability at eight schemes in Kildare and Meath, including houses from €261,950 at Straffan Wood, apartments at St Wolstan's Abbey in Celbridge from €257,500, four-bed semis at Seagrave Park, Ratoath from €382,500 and three-bed townhouses at Moyglare Hall, Maynooth from €315,000.
Colm McEvoy Auctioneers of Naas has a few new schemes within commuting distance of the city. At Oldtown Demesne in Naas, two-bed apartments and duplexes start at €290,000 and four-bed detached houses cost from €560,000.
