An architect-designed two-bedroom cottage along a pilgrim's path, in the Garden of Ireland, or a turnkey three-bed townhouse, with a stylish garden, in the wee county? These properties are both in Dublin’s commuter counties
We all know doer-uppers are possibly the most expensive homes to buy in the current market, given the high cost of building renovation costs and the low number of talented tradespeople to execute the work.
A walk-in condition is more cost-effective if you can afford to pay the premium.
Here are two well-turned-out, well-priced homes within commuting distance of Dublin city centre.
A sunny delight in Dundalk
Address: 39 Broughton Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth, A91 C6T3
Asking price: €385,000
Agent: Sherry FitzGerald Carroll
Commute time to Dublin city centre by train and bus: 65 minutes – 90 minutes
This turnkey condition townhouse is ready to simply open your suitcases and move in.
From the sunny yellow of its front door all the way through to its pristinely presented, city-sized garden, complete with outdoor fire and lighting,
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom property has an open plan ground floor with the living area at the front, a dining area set around an exposed yellow bring chimneybreast where there is a stove.
Wallpaper is used decoratively in both of these spaces.
At the back is a kitchen with French grey-painted cabinetry and polished black granite countertops.
The dual aspect space opens to the back garden, where there is pedestrian read access.
Upstairs on the return is the first of its three double bedrooms, where the family bathrooms are also.
There are two bedrooms on the first floor.
The principal spans the width of the property and has an Orla Kiely print wallpaper.
A spiral staircase leads up to the attic room, currently used as a study.
If a train commute of 65 minutes or a bus journey time of 75 to 90 minutes to Dublin city centre doesn’t put you off, this turnkey townhouse in the centre of one of Co Louth’s large towns.
The C1 BER-rated house extends to 103 square metres with a further 22 square metres of attic space.
Pilgrim's path escape in the Wicklow hills
Address: Knocknadroose, Valleymount, Co. Wicklow, W91 VF8W
Asking price: €399,000
Agent: J.P.M. Doyle
Commute time to Dublin city centre by car: A 39-kilometre journey that will take upwards of 90 minutes
A two-bedroom, two-bathroom detached vernacular cottage on about 1.3 acres of grounds comprising lawn, mature trees, vibrant planting, and native woodland.
The property was stripped back to its bare bones and overhauled in 2014 by Studio Red Architects to give a double-height vaulted ceilinged open living space that is light-filled.
The kitchen features birch ply cabinetry and polished black granite countertops.
Bi-fold doors from the voluminous room open out to the grounds, where granite steps take you into the grounds.
The principal bedroom is on the ground floor, along with the family bathroom.
On the mezzanine level above, there is a second double bedroom and bathrooms, along with a home office that is open to the floor below.
It could double as a small guest room.
The B3 BER-rated detached house measures 89 square metres.
There is also a cedar-clad tri-aspect studio that could be used as a home office, hobby room or guest house.
This extends to about 27 square metres.
The house is right beside Saint Kevin’s Way, a pilgrim path of just under eight kilometres, through the Wicklow Gap to the Glendalough valley, where some of the original flagstones of the path remain.
The destination is the monastic buildings, which include one of the country’s best-preserved examples of a round tower.
