Who said the property market is dead? Last weekend it was just like the good old days in Ashbourne, Co Meath where joint estate agents Hooke & MacDonald and Tormey Lee took bookings for no less than 59 houses at a new development called Churchfields.

The €22 million in sales show that, where there is value, people are prepared to buy. More importantly, perhaps, it also shows that young buyers want to invest in houses rather than apartments. The houses were firmly pitched at first-time buyers with prices starting at €335,000 for three-bed homes with lots of extras thrown in including electrical appliances, granite worktops, recessed lighting, Sky TV package and a Stira to the attic. Best off all for some, social membership of the local GAA club is being thrown in, according to Des Donnelly of sales agent Hooke & MacDonald. He is expecting another busy weekend. Elsewhere in new homes sales, Hooke & MacDonald also did quite well at a scheme in Tallaght called Arena where 12 out of 25 apartments sold. Again, first-time buyers were the main market for these units with one-beds starting at €265,000.

Over in west Dublin Castlethorn's latest phase of Adamstown - Adamstown Square - has been doing well. Shane Daly at Gunne New Homes reports 31 sales in the first week - 10 more sales were made in the last week. First-time buyers were going for two-bedroom units which were priced from €310,000 and trader-uppers were buying larger duplex units. Three large four-bedroom houses priced from €495,000 were also purchased.

Meanwhile in Arklow, Colliers Jackson-Stops did a brisk trade at Bridgewater Quay, a small scheme of waterside apartments adjacent to the new Bridgewater shopping centre. Ron Cregan of CJS sold an impressive 13 out of 23 apartments. Prices at the scheme overlooking the Avoca River started at €425,000. All four of the €550,000 penthouses were snapped up.

In general, however, agents are reporting that while the buyers are out there they are taking their time to shop around before singing on the dotted line. Buyers will visit a property several times before sealing the deal, according to new homes agents. A big change from the days when punters arrived with blank cheques hours before marketing suites opened for business. around