38 Hampton Park, Booterstown, Blackrock, Co Dublin: in prime position, facing a small green. Right: the muslin-tented conservatory

Househunters looking for an early buy might be interested in a five-bedroom detached house on the popular St Helen's Wood estate at Booterstown, Co Dublin.

Number 38 Hampton Park, due to be auctioned by Lisney on February 14th next, carries a price guide of excess £700,000. Not exactly a steal, but it reflects the scarcity of good five-bedroom detached houses in the Blackrock area.

Last April, a five-bedroom semi-detached house on Hampton Park achieved over £510,0000 after auction, considerably more than the guide price of £450,000.

Larger houses in St Helen's don't often change hands, so it is difficult to assess the level of interest. The position off Booterstown Road is hard to fault - close to the DART and down the road from some of the most sought-after schools in the city. At the time St Helen's Wood was built, the attractive landscaping encouraged a great deal of interest, despite a then sluggish market. Ten years on, the estate has a mature look, with the advantage of plenty of green spaces and quiet cul-de-sacs.

Number 38, a large 2,500 sq ft doublefronted house with timbered eaves, is in a prime position, facing a small green planted with beech trees. Half-brick to the front, there are windows either side of the front door and a small veranda over the porch. Inside, the house is in good order and well-maintained. Sunny colour schemes, polished timber floors and a large conservatory help to create a warm atmosphere. Off the hall, there is a useful cloaks cupboard and a guest toilet. The interconnecting sitting and diningrooms have corniced ceilings and there is a curved marble mantlepiece with a gas fire. The diningroom has a deep bay window. Double French doors lead from here to a muslin-tented conservatory. There is an ornate ceiling fan, white floor tiles and an artist has painted flowers and trailing vines on the back wall. The conservatory links round to the kitchen/breakfastroom, a big family-sized space with a maple floor and a good range of pine cupboards. A Neff double oven, gas hob and dishwasher are included in the sale. Adjoining this is the utility room. A family room/study near the kitchen is fitted with a gas fire. There are three double and two large single bedrooms upstairs, though all the bedrooms would fit a double bed with ease. Wardrobes are fitted in each of the five rooms. Off the main bedroom there is a very spacious en suite shower room with twin wash-hand basins and a power shower with side jets. The family bathroom also has a separate power shower.

The southwest facing back garden is surprisingly large for a modern house and nicely planted, with climbers on whitepainted walls, cherry trees and evergreen shrubs bordering the terrace. A garden shed with power and light will please DIY enthusiasts. There is side access and a parking for two cars to the front.