When baby Erica was on the way, Ciara and Andrew Murphy realised they'd have to move. They sold their two-up-two-down cottage in Stoneybatter for €450,000 and went househunting.

A four-bedroom end-of-terrace townhouse in Glenkerrin's new Ballintyre development in Ballinteer, selling through Hamilton Osborne King, was their eventual choice. It cost €695,000 and the couple moved in two months before the baby was born.

There were many reasons why it suited them, says Andrew. "We looked at a second-hand house which needed a lot of work and decided a new house was the way to go. This house has 160sq m (1,800sq ft) and the spec is great: three bathrooms, new appliances and tiling. Plus we have the Luas, good schools, Marley Park and a shopping centre on our doorstep. A lot of our neighbours are young couples with children and we know people to say hello to now."