Rathmichael: €2.45m: A €175,000 saving in stamp duty is one of the attractions of Southwell, a large newly-built five-bedroom house on Ballybride Road in Rathmichael, Co Dublin. The 310sq m (3,335sq ft) house on 0.7 acres is for sale through Lisney at €2.45 million.

A neighbouring house, built by the same company, Beech Tree Properties, is slightly smaller, but broadly similar in design and layout. It's for sale at €2.3 million.

Designed by architect Paul Brazil, the two-storey houses are aimed firmly at the trade-up market where affluent buyers are increasing turning to newly built or refurbished houses to save themselves the headache having the builders in. Southwell has a series of well-designed interconnecting rooms that culminate in a fine kitchen cum livingroom. The spacious bedrooms share several high-spec bathrooms, and the decor throughout is fashionable neutral.