Address: Apt 9, Richmond View, South Richmond Street, Dublin 2.

Agent: Young's.

Property: 38sq m (409sq ft) one-bedroom second floor apartment for €310,000.

Landscape: in the heart of Dublin 2, this four-storey scheme is beside Harcourt Luas stop and a short walk from St Stephen's Green/Grafton Street.

Features: the modern apartment is in good order and needs some fresh furniture to get it ready for the rental market. Maintenance fees are €1,000 a year. There is no car-parking.

How much for an investment? Stamp duty will be €15,500 for an investor on this property. A 90 per cent mortgage over 25 years on a two-year fixed rate of 4.75 per cent with Permanent TSB would involve borrowing €279,000 and cost €1,590 per month on a full payment basis and €1,104 per month on interest-only basis. Alternatively, an investor could secure a 4.6 per cent tracker rate, also with Permanent TSB, which over a 25-year period would cost €1,567 a month or €1,069 interest-only.

How much for a residential buyer? First-time buyers could go for a 100 per cent mortgage, which over 35 years would cost €1,457 per month on a one-year fixed rate with ICS. A first-time buyer or owner-occupier could get a 92 per cent mortgage at a one-year fixed rate of 4.34 per cent, which would cost €1,320 a month.

Potential: it should fetch a rent of around €1,105 to €1,100 a month, according to the agent.

Verdict: going on these figures the rental income represents roughly a 4 per cent yield which is reasonable in today's market. The location should ensure that the property is easily lettable.

Calculations by Simply Mortgages

- Fiona Tyrrell