The boot is now firmly on the other foot for first-time buyers, with developers cutting prices to the bone and competition between schemes hotting up nicely.
This weekend, Menolly Homes - renowned for producing keenly-priced housing for the starter market - is launching 38 apartments at Ongar Lodge, near Clonee in County Dublin. Ross McParland is the selling agent.
One-bedroom apartments starting at £107,950 (€137,070) will challenge the huge Tyrrelstown scheme, unveiled in a flurry of publicity last week. The incentive of one-bedroom apartments from £99,950 (€126,910) was instrumental in ensuring the success of the first phase when 109 apartments and houses were sold.
At Ongar Lodge, good-sized one-bedroom apartments cost from £107,950 (€137,000). Two-bedroom apartments are from £120,950 (€153,570), with larger two-beds from £123,950 (€157,380). Two-bedroom penthouses are also available from £160,000 (€203,160).
The Ongar location is leafy and attractive, with proximity to Porterstown rail station a distinct advantage for commuters. Units are larger than usual, with feature windows flooding the sittingrooms with natural light.
The finish at Ongar Lodge is impressive, on a par with upmarket city centre schemes. Solid oak doors have curved brass hand rails, wall tiling is standard in kitchens and bathrooms and apartments on upper levels have good-sized balconies. Groundfloor units are provided with paved terraces.
The scheme is composed of seven three-storey and penthouse blocks, with 14 units to each building. Apart from four of the six penthouses, the entire first three blocks are for sale.
Exteriors are of part-brick and cream-painted render, with curved centre walls creating unusual interior lines in some apartments.
The one-bedroom units have 613 sq ft of floor space. These have large open-plan living areas, with a tall angled window providing good light.
A kitchen off the livingroom has white units and tangerine wall tiles. There is a fair-sized double bedroom with fitted wardrobes and a white-tiled bathroom.
A typical two-bedroom apartment of 840 sq ft priced from £123,950 (€157,380) has a large open-plan sitting/diningroom and compact kitchen off. The angled sittingroom window increases the impression of space.
On upper floors, there is a balcony off the livingroom and another linking both bedrooms. An en suite shower room with the main bedroom is bigger than average. Slightly smaller 765 sq ft two-bed apartments from £120,950 (€153,570) come minus the en suite shower room.
Second floor one and two-bedroom units lose the bay window, but have the advantage of a more favourable aspect over the trees in Ongar.
Sure to prove popular with double-income buyers are two bright two-bedroom penthouses from £160,000 (€205,160). Sizes range from 1,100 sq ft to 1,200 sq ft. Double doors open from an entrance hall to a large airy space, with two angled windows and loft-style ceilings.
In one larger penthouse, a corner nook in the sittingroom is perfect for a desk. There are two timber-clad balconies off the sittingroom and a separate enclosed kitchen. Both bedrooms have fitted wardrobes and the main bedroom has both an en suite shower and a walk-in wardrobe.
The landscaping surrounding the first three blocks is beginning to take shape, augmented by tall deciduous trees lining Hansfield Road, which have been preserved. A long stretch of this road will be pedestrianised, once a new road network servicing Ongar is up and running.
The apartments on sale this week will be ready to move into in six to eight weeks' time.
Residents will be within walking distance of Clonee and the new Ongar village centre.
Factfile: Ongar Lodge
Address: off Hansfield Road, Dublin 16
Number of units: 42
Type of units: One and two-bedroom apartments and two-bedroom penthouses
Sizes and prices: 613 sq ft one-bed apartments from £107,950 (€137,070); 765 sq ft two-bed apartments from £120,950 (€153,570); 840 sq ft two-bed apartments from £123,950 (€157,380); 1,100 and 1,200 sq ft two-bed penthouses from £160,000 (€205,160).
Features: Balconies or terraces off all apartments; wall tiling in bathrooms and kitchens standard; large angled feature windows; solid mahogany hall door; fitted wardrobes in all bedrooms
Architect: Conroy Crowe Kelly
Developer: Menolly Homes Ltd
Agent: Ross Mc Parland
Viewing times: 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
