A small development of expensive apartments overlooking one of the best stretches of the River Liffey in Dublin goes for sale off the plans today with prices ranging from £175,000 for one-bedroom units up to £410,000 for large two-bedroom homes on the top floor.

There will only be 19 apartments, most of them two-bedroom and three-bedroom units, in the three-storey block which faces directly across the Salmon Pool at Islandbridge in Dublin 8. It is no surprise that agents Ross McParland are taking bookings for the apartments just as construction begins. An increasing number of schemes are being sold off the plans because of the scarcity of new apartments in the city and the willingness of buyers to make commitments at an early stage.

In the Salmon Pool development, buyers will be paying a small premium for the landmark waterside location - prices work out at an average of £330 per sq ft - but they will be compensated by the views all along the river. This stretch of the Liffey is one of the most prolific for salmon fishing.

The 1.3-acre apartment site has been owned by a succession of developers and was bought three years ago for around £500,000 by Cathal Mallon's company Mantwood Investments. He has opted for a high-specification fit-out, which will include natural wooden floors, power showers, Telecom Phonewatch system and a complete range of Neff electrical appliances in the kitchen.

The development will have 10 three-bedroom apartments, seven two-bedroom units and two one-bedroom homes. The two one-bedroom apartments will have floor areas of 465 sq ft and a price tag of £175,000.

There will be a considerable mix of two-bedroom homes, the cheapest with 606 sq ft and costing £220,000. For those looking for extra space, there will be four two-bedroom units on the top floor with between 1,135 sq ft and 1,249 sq ft, which are priced between £375,000 and £410,000. Both bedrooms come with en suite bathrooms.

The three-bedroom apartments have 960 sq ft to 1,213 sq ft and cost between £315,000 and £390,000. Car-parking spaces are included in the price.

A short distance downriver, Capel Developments has sold 66 of the 117 apartments under construction at its River Park development. Prices are pitched lower than at The Salmon Pool, ranging from £148,000 to £166,000 for one-bedroom units with an average of over 500 sq ft, and from £174,000 for two-bedroom homes with 690 to 775 sq ft.