More stories

  • in

    Glenveagh’s Silver Banks has much to offer

    Glenveagh Homes have recently launched the second phase of 3 and 4 bed homes at the Silver Banks development in Stamullen, Co Meath.

    Sponsored by Glenveagh

    One of the fine homes in Silver Banks

    If Covid-19 has thought us anything it is the importance of where we live. These fine homes in a beautiful setting will ensure you have everything you could possibly need close by no matter what the future brings.

    Stamullen enjoys close proximity to the sea and the beach

    Silver Banks is just a five minute drive from Junction 7 on the M1 motorway with Dublin Airport just 20 minutes away and the city centre 40 minutes drive.
    There are endless transport links nearby too, including Gormanston Train Station just five minutes away and Balbriggan Train Station 11 minutes away as well as a private bus service from the village and Bus Éireann services from Balbriggan.

    One of the living rooms in Silver Banks

    While the towns of Drogheda and Balbriggan are within close proximity, Silver Banks is within walking distance of Stamullen village and all it has to offer.
    Stamullen offers a strong rural community within close proximity of the capital. Its amenities include a St Patrick’s primary school, Gormanston College, St Patricks GAA club, various sporting amenities, childcare, local shopping facilities and the City North Hotel.

    The kitchen in the Silver Banks development

    Your lifestyle will also be completed by a visit to Gormanston beach, just five minutes’ drive away.
    Stamullen has much to offer nearby including train stations and the beach

    Silver Banks is a small exclusive development with a good selection of 3 and 4 bed family homes. With prices starting from €299,950, these fantastic houses are designed with family living in mind.

    Silver Banks boasts a fine finish throughout

    The spacious houses all have excellent interior finishes and with an A-rating they are future proofed to ensure this is a home that will cater for many generations to come.

    A living area in Silver Banks

    All houses are constructed to provide a high level of air tightness in order to retain heat. Internal features include walls painted throughout in a mid-tone easy neutral paint with ceilings painted in white.

    One of the bedrooms in Silver Banks

    All kitchens are integrated by Gallagher Kitchens while shaker style fitted wardrobes are provided in the master and second bedrooms. The houses also feature a stylish contemporary bathroom, en-suite and guest w.c. with elegant sanitary ware.

    Another of the bedrooms in Silver Banks

    External features include a tasteful mix of brick and render exteriors with composite front doors and driveways that are finished in Kilsaran paving.

    A bedroom in Silver Banks

    The confirmed prices for Silver Banks are:
    3 Bedroom Homes from €299,950 (starting from 115sqm/1,234sqft)
    4 Bedroom Homes from €320,000 (starting from 134sqm/1,437sqft)
    Find out more about these superb family homes now on MyHome.ie at www.myhome.ie/4379627, by contacting selling agent Raymond Potterton on 046 9027666 or at www.silverbanks.ie

    All of the homes in Silver Banks are finished to the highest of standards More

  • in

    Go up, go out: which extension type is right for you?

    Lots of us need more space or want to maximise what we already have. Potential savings from a mortgage switch, combined with additional funds could be the way to create a dream layout   Sponsored by Ulster Bank   For many of us, space has become something we’ve been thinking a lot about over the…
    The post Go up, go out: which extension type is right for you? appeared first on MyHome.ie Advice & Blog. More

  • in

    Barnhall Meadows – A chance to live in a ‘Wonderful Place’

    The Wonderful Barn in Leixlip, Co Kildare, provides the perfect backdrop to the stunning Barnhall Meadows development by Glenveagh Homes.
    Situated on the edge of Castletown House estate, formerly belonging to the Conolly family, the corkscrew-shaped building – which was built in 1743 – sits in front of these new architecturally designed, 2 and 3 bed homes which have prices starting from €320,000.

    The Wonderful Barn overlooks Barnhall Meadows in Leixlip, Co Kildare

    As well as providing a protected 4 acre parkland area right beside these fabulous new homes, the enchanting Wonderful Barn also forms part of the scenic 16km Arthur’s Way Heritage Trail which provides a superb walking, running or cycling route for local residents.

    Barnhall Meadows takes its name from The Wonderful Barn and is further evidence of developers’ Glenveagh’s appreciation of the past. They might be a young company but they appreciate their history and even the brochures for this new development have been designed in such a way as to encapsulate the inside of the barn.

    The Wonderful Barn is described as a fairy tale-style building and you can create your own wonderful story in Barnhall Meadows – a development which truly blends the best of town and country. The aforementioned walk and scenery brings peace and tranquility while Leixlip with its wide range of services and amenities – including two railway stations with regular links to the capital and further afield – has all you could ever need on your doorstep.
    Following the hugely successful previous launch in Barnhall Meadows, Glenveagh Homes have now released new 2 and 3 bed semi-detached and detached houses to the market.

    The living room of The Juniper 3 bed detached house

    Barnhall Meadows offers the discerning purchaser spacious accommodation, stylish, contemporary kitchens & bathrooms, a maintenance free exterior finish & an ‘A3’ energy rating as standard, thanks to high levels of insulation and state-of-the-art heat pump systems.
    The development also boasts one of the best buyer incentive packages on the market today with all appliances and flooring are included subject to the purchaser signing and returning contracts within 21 days.

    One of the bedrooms in The Juniper 3 bed detached house

    In terms of location, Barnhall Meadows is unrivalled with the N4/M4 & M50 all within close proximity. For those doing the daily commute to Dublin, the City Centre is under 30 minutes away by car. Dublin Bus also provides a regular service (No 66) as does Irish Rail with Louisa Bridge & Confey train stations close by.

    The Poplar 3 bed end of terrace/semi-detached house

    For families with school-age children, there are quite a few creches, as well as Scoil Mhuire and Leixlip Educate Together primary schools. For older kids, Confey College, Leixlip Community School, and Colaiste Chiarain offer secondary educational opportunities. Additionally, Maynooth University is only 15 minutes away.

    The living room in The Poplar 3 bed end of terrace/semi-detached house

    Leixlip town has plenty to offer residents of all ages with local athletics, including GAA, soccer, rugby and basketball clubs. Leixlip Reservoir and the River Liffey allow for canoeing, fishing, and other water sports. Whether you’re walking around the Wonderful Barn, or taking a jaunt down to Leixlip Castle, you’ll have a wide array of historical spots to visit, adding some culture to your weekends.

    The kitchen of The Poplar 3 bed end of terrace/semi-detached house

    Weekends can be filled with shopping, dining out or taking in the local scenery with Leixlip & its surrounds offering a wide variety of boutiques, restaurants, bars & natural features including, the aforementioned ‘Wonderful Barn’, Leixlip Castle & the Arthurs Way heritage trail.
    Glenveagh Homes are synonymous with quality, precision & a strong focus on providing the highest standard of finish from construction right through to landscaping.
    The bedroom of The Poplar 3 bed end of terrace/semi-detached house

    Through joint agents Savills New Homes and Coonan New Homes, Glenveagh Homes are releasing a number of 2 and 3 bedroom houses to the market. Find out more now at www.myhome.ie/4373808 or visit www.barnhallmeadows.ie
    The Barnhall Meadows price list winter 2020 More

  • in

    Housing market showing resilience in the face of Covid-19

    The housing market has not been severely impacted by Covid-19 and has outperformed expectations, according to a new report from Goodbody.
    Its latest BER Housebuilding Tracker – which it calculates using data from Building Energy Regulation certificates – estimates that 5,500 units were completed in the third quarter of the year.
    That was up from 3,290 in the second quarter of the year, when the pandemic restrictions were at their most severe and building sites were closed down for several weeks.
    According to Goodbody’s calculations, that left output just 3% lower year on year.
    “This suggests that productivity levels have not been as severely affected by social distancing measures as we would have feared,” Dermot O’Leary, chief economist with Goodbody said.
    “We now expect 20,000 units to be completed this year, down 8% year on year, and up from our previous estimate of 16,500,” he said.
    The Central Bank estimates that 35,000 completions a year are needed to satisfy demand.
    However, Goodbody also said there were some indications that the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic may be longer lasting.
    Many of the completions in the most recent quarter were accounted for by developments being completed at a faster pace.
    In the three months to August, housing starts fell by over a third.
    Goodbody also revised downwards its expectation for house price reductions.
    It now expects prices to fall by 5% by the middle of next year – half its previous forecast.
    Rents are expected to fall to a greater extent, the stockbrokers also predicted.
    “Mortgage lending is making some recovery, but we still expect new lending to fall 20% in 2020, before growing by 9% next year,” Mr O’Leary said.
    “Given the unpredictable nature of the virus and the government reaction to it, forecasts are still subject to a higher degree of uncertainty than normal,” he added.

    Tags: Ber housebuilding tracker, Goodbody

    Tweet Like Plus Pin It Share

    Next Article More

  • in

    Cosy and colourful: this Wicklow cottage is a décor delight

    Switching your mortgage could offer you the opportunity to create your perfect space. For designer Emma Edmonds, doing the work herself is all part of the charm

    Sponsored by Ulster Bank

    In part eight of our Switch it Up series, we discover the cosy country cottage owned by interior designer Emma Edmonds. Lockdown was a time when many chose to try their hand at some form of amateur DIY, but when you’re a professional like Emma is, and you’re working from home, house renovations can be taken to a whole other level.
    [embedded content]
    Emma works as a designer and colour consultant for Stillorgan Décor and lives with her dog Maxi, “the love of her life”, in a beautifully renovated home in Ashford, Co Wicklow.
    A stand-alone cottage, it is a stone’s throw from Mount Usher Gardens and Avoca, and is compact in size with a sitting room, kitchen, bedroom and a dressing room, as well as a wonderful porch that blends the inside with the outdoors, which was built by Emma’s dad.

    Having bought her house 10 years ago, since then she has worked hard to turn it into her dream home. Plenty of inspiration came from visiting Martha’s Vineyard in the US on a trip with her mum a couple of years back.
    “The house was built in 1984 and when I bought it, it was liveable, but a little run down. I’m on my own, I didn’t have anyone to help me financially or otherwise so my mum, dad and brother were great,” Emma says. “They came in and ripped up smelly carpets, took out old cupboards and a few big sheds out the back. Since then, I have made it more old-world. I love the white picket fence look in America and have incorporated that style into the house.”
    In her own words, Emma is “never done” updating the cottage in some shape or form, mostly by her own hand, and at little expense. But renovating took on a whole new meaning recently. Tearing down walls, building patios and painting everything in sight are just some of her newest accomplishments. It gave her “little time to worry” she says.

    “In my bedroom, there was a plaster board wall that stuck out and I could never get the bed in the right place. I tried everything including patterned wallpaper but nothing worked, so one night I took a hammer to it and knocked down the wall,” she laughs.
    Taking inspiration from American interior designer and presenter of TV show ‘Fixer Upper’, Joanna Gaines, she decided to put shiplap panelling on the wall instead.
    “On the show they find terrible houses in good areas and renovate them. When they pull off the wallpaper they almost always find this thing called shiplap, which is planks of wood going across the wall. I hid the old wall by putting that up myself. I ordered the timber locally, clicked it together, screwed it to the wall and painted it white. That changed the room hugely for me. I keep it very neutral, all white, and seasonally, I add pops of colour,” she says.
    The bedroom is the only room where colour takes a rest. The rest of the house pops with black accents, deep forest hues, earthy neutrals and candy pinks.

    “I am a visual magpie and there are no rules in this house when it comes to the pieces I fill it with. It’s a mix of antiques and modern and I have loads of old photos everywhere,” Emma says. “My grandmother was a huge influence on me – I lived with her when I was going to college. She was a really good gardener and won awards for it. I have her picture in the kitchen, watching over me as I’m cooking the apple sponge she taught me how to make.”
    As a colour consultant, Emma knows you can rip up the rule-book. “People are sick of greys and that industrial look and are going for rich earthy tones, so I have Farrow & Ball’s Sap Green in the sitting room, which is really warm and cosy.”
    Recently she painted another sitting room wall a deep mustard – so it, “now looks like a pumpkin latte”. A large mirror and ornate black fireplace complete the décor here.
    “In lockdown, I also painted the kitchen cabinets black and papered the ceiling with a tin-effect wallpaper to give it that honky-tonk vibe. Everything is on a budget, and is usually done by me,” she says.

    One of her favourite spots is her American-style porch, which doubles up as another room. It’s the perfect spot to have a drink or cup of tea with a friend, especially while restrictions are in place. “It’s covered on all sides but open to the elements and is so handy in summer,” she says.
    The garden is her haven. “It slows you down. I recently made a patio out the back, it nearly killed me but I didn’t have time to worry while lifting slabs,” she laughs, adding, “I have a day bed on the porch so I plonk down there and read a book while listening to birds singing, which is heaven.”

    While Emma is happy to turn her hand to almost any DIY task, she did pass on fixing a leaky roof. “A really good local builder sorted me out ­– he got me a roofer and took down the old popcorn ceiling. It was upsetting when it happened, but I have a new ceiling there now and it’s plastered and painted. That’s the one job I couldn’t do myself,” she says.
    Next on the agenda is a possible attic conversion. “The perfect place to showcase all my Vogue magazines”, she says. Whether Emma takes on that particular project herself remains to be seen, but it’s safe to say, no better woman for the job.
    About Switch it Up
    Switch it Up is a new 12-part series for those who might be considering switching mortgage provider to make savings on their monthly repayments. It is a follow-up to the award-winning Story of Home series, which explored the idea of home through the eyes of creative people who found their dream place to live.
    Now, Switch it Up, which like Story of Home is supported by Ulster Bank, looks at helpful information on home improvements as well as renovators’ home tours. Plus, we’ve got helpful answers to your mortgage switching queries: from the incentives to how long it will take (not long!) and what’s involved in making a mortgage switch, read our Everything you need to know about switching your mortgage guide at irishtimes.com/switchitup.
    Perhaps now more than ever, we want our homes to suit the way we live and work, and being able to explore the potential in our homes offers us flexibility. This series is designed to unlock the ways in which we might Switch it Up in our homes as our wants and needs change.
    Switching your mortgage could free up funds to help you make these changes. “At Ulster Bank, we want to be a part of the journey you take in making your home the best it can be,” says Sean Kellaghan, mobile mortgage manager at Ulster Bank.
    “We want to make the mortgage switching process as simple and as hassle free as you do,” he adds. Kellaghan understands the stress that can come with making a switch, and he offers reassurance.
    “We are here to help you, and the process is a lot shorter and a lot more straightforward than you might think. Get in touch today and we can talk you through the options and process.”
    For more information, visit ulsterbank.ie
    Ulster Bank Ireland DAC is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

    Tags: Switch It Up, Ulster Bank

    Tweet Like Plus Pin It Share

    Next Article More

  • in

    MyHome.ie Webinar: What the Level 5 restrictions mean for the property industry

    Following on from the country’s move to Level 5 at midnight and the publication of the new guidance protocols published by the PSRA, IPAV and the SCSI, we caught up with IPAV CEO Pat Davitt for a special edition webinar where he outlined what the new protocols mean for agents.
    In the Webinar, Pat clarifies that:
    Agents can travel beyond their 5km radius or across county boundaries to carry out tasks associated with the business
    Agents will not be held responsible for providing a viewing to someone who has travelled more than 5km for it or across county boundaries
    All estate agent offices should remain closed in Level 5
    The new protocols were signed off on by Government so are fully approved
    Check out the full chat with Pat below….
    [embedded content]
    The full document containing guidelines for the various levels in the Government’s Living with Covid plan can be found here.

    Tweet Like Plus Pin It Share

    Next Article More

  • in

    How to get a warm, energy-efficient home now and into the future

    Improving your BER rating is a great way to reduce bills. Potential savings from switching your mortgage along with access to grants could be the way to create your own cosy home

    Sponsored by Ulster Bank

    This winter our homes will be our havens. We are likely to be working from them, relaxing in them and we will likely be using more light, heat and energy than ever before as a result. Lots are thinking about an energy retrofit right now too, because insulation and heating upgrades can greatly improve comfort levels in the home – as well as reducing our energy bills.
    So, in part seven of our Switch it Up series, we’re talking to two experts who explain how to maximise the efficiency of our homes.
    Many of us are a bit bamboozled by the process of upgrading our properties, and are unaware of the grants available to help us to bring our home from a low building energy rating (BER) to a higher one.
    A BER is a grading, from the highest at A1, to the lowest at G, on how much energy a home requires for heating, hot water, lighting and ventilation. The goal for many is to have an A-rated home. Better for the environment, achieving it will save you lots in energy bills – but many homes are nowhere near this grade.
    Architect Gearoid Carvill of ABGC Architects explains what a bad BER means for a property and how to achieve a better one. “CSO statistics tell us that more than 50 per cent of housing in Ireland is D-rated or lower, so most of us have direct experience of bad BERs. Typically, a lower grade means that the house is more expensive to run.
    “Studies show that improving BERs add value to homes and that changing up one level, say from C2 to C1, equates to a 1 per cent increase in property value,” he says.
    To improve a BER, the simplest and most inexpensive changes can help. “I have seen refurbishment projects where you could improve the rating by swapping out the light bulbs with LEDs,” he reveals.
    When considering a more significant energy efficient retrofit of a property, Carvill recommends homeowners start with the ‘thermal envelope’ – that’s the walls, floors, roof and windows.
    “In an uninsulated home, a third of the heat is lost through the roof,” he says. “Insulate your attic with a minimum of 350mm quilt insulation in layers between, and above the ceiling timbers. You could also insulate the water tank if uncovered.”
    “Then look to heating controls and update your heating system. You could replace an oil or gas boiler with a heat pump or by adding solar, to heat hot water, which can be done with an existing tank. Update heating to controls for time, temperature and zonal, if feasible. An individual thermostat costs from €70 to €200. Thermostatic radiator valves sense the temperature in the room and adjust the flow. They are inexpensive, less than €20 a radiator,” he adds.

    For retrofit refurbishment there’s a holy trinity: comfort, economy and environment. If done right you should achieve all three, regardless of which is your priority.

    Wall insulation and window upgrades go together. The cost of insulating a compact three bed semi-detached property could be around €14,000 to €16,000, but significant grants exist towards the work. The price for triple-glazed AluClad windows will be similar, he adds.
    Typically the average 3-bed semi-detached property will perform much better and be more comfortable once work is done.
    In terms of your energy costs, “previously published data by the SEAI suggests that for a 3-bedroom semi, the costs per annum could be €190 for an A1-rated home, and €4,000 for the G-rated home,” he says.
    Grant help
    While there are significant costs attached to many of the works, grants of up to €6,000 are available for most of them from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
    Tom Halpin, head of communications with SEAI, says to apply for a grant, start with a BER assessment carried out by a SEAI-registered assessor. The certificate and advisory report provided will explain what works can be undertaken to improve the home’s energy performance, and what works should be prioritised.
    There are a range of grants available. “There are grants for attic and wall insulation which make the home cosier and keep in heat,” he says.
    “Once you have sealed your home and it is more efficient, you move to improving the heating system. Grants for heating controls are available and we are also encouraging renewable heating systems in the home – that could be solar panels to generate hot water or going all the way towards using a heat pump. The lowest grant is €400 for attic insulation and highest is €6,000 for external wall insulation on a detached house,” Halpin says.
    Once you have decided on the works you want to have carried out, the process of applying for a grant is quite simple.
    “You must decide what contractor you want to use – and there are hundreds of contractors from across the country listed on the SEAI website that are committed to the terms and conditions of the grant scheme. They have the properly qualified staff to do the work and can be inspected by us at any time,” he says.
    “You need a metre point reference number which is written at the top of a bill from your electricity supplier. You then go online, put in all your details and select the measures you would like to undertake, and the contractor that you want to use, and you will get almost an instantaneous approval if all of that is in order.
    “You then have eight months in which to get the works done. Once you get the offer, you can schedule works with various contractors. Grants are paid directly into your bank account or can be paid directly to the contractor. You must then get a BER assessment carried out after the works to see the uplift to the property,” he finishes.
    Homeowners can also engage with energy supply companies such as SSE and ESB, which offer to manage the works as it helps towards their energy reduction targets.
    One major benefit to an energy retrofit is that a BER rating generally translates to a higher resale value of the property. However, Halpin says this isn’t usually a homeowner’s motivation.
    “The first big benefit is the comfort in their home, and research has shown people realise immediately that comfort,” he adds.
    For retrofit refurbishment there’s a holy trinity, Gearoid Carvill says. It is “comfort, economy and environment. If done right you should achieve all three, regardless of which is your priority.”
    About Switch it Up
    Switch it Up is a new 12-part series for those who might be considering switching mortgage provider to make savings on their monthly repayments. It is a follow-up to the award-winning Story of Home series, which explored the idea of home through the eyes of creative people who found their dream place to live.
    Now, Switch it Up, which like Story of Home is supported by Ulster Bank, looks at helpful information on home improvements as well as renovators’ home tours. Plus, we’ve got helpful answers to your mortgage switching queries: from the incentives to how long it will take (not long!) and what’s involved in making a mortgage switch, read our Everything you need to know about switching your mortgage guide at irishtimes.com/switchitup.
    Perhaps now more than ever, we want our homes to suit the way we live and work, and being able to explore the potential in our homes offers us flexibility. This series is designed to unlock the ways in which we might Switch it Up in our homes as our wants and needs change.
    Switching your mortgage could free up funds to help you make these changes. “At Ulster Bank, we want to be a part of the journey you take in making your home the best it can be,” says Sean Kellaghan, mobile mortgage manager at Ulster Bank.
    “We want to make the mortgage switching process as simple and as hassle free as you do,” he adds. Kellaghan understands the stress that can come with making a switch, and he offers reassurance.
    “We are here to help you, and the process is a lot shorter and a lot more straightforward than you might think. Get in touch today and we can talk you through the options and process.”
    For more information, visit ulsterbank.ie
    Ulster Bank Ireland DAC is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland More

  • in

    Residential property prices down 0.6% in the year to August

    Residential property prices decreased by 0.6% nationally in the year to August, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
    This compares to a decrease of 0.6% in the year to July and an increase of 1.9% in the twelve months to August 2019.
    In Dublin, residential property prices saw a decline of 1.6% in the year to August – house prices decreased by 1.4% and apartments increased by 0.1%. The highest house price growth in Dublin was in Fingal at 1.7%, while Dublin City saw a decline of 3.4%.
    Residential property prices in Ireland excluding Dublin were 0.3% higher in the year to August, with house prices up by 0.4% and apartments down by 0.7%. The region outside of Dublin that saw the largest rise in house prices was the South-West at 5.2% – at the other end of the scale, the Border saw a 2.7% decline.
    Overall, the national index is 17.6% lower than its highest level in 2007. Dublin residential property prices are 22.6% lower than their February 2007 peak, while residential property prices in the Rest of Ireland are 20.1% lower than their May 2007 peak.
    Property prices nationally have increased by 83.8% from their trough in early 2013. Dublin residential property prices have risen 91.8% from their February 2012 low, whilst residential property prices in the Rest of Ireland are 83.9% higher than at the trough, which was in May 2013. More