Enfield: Prices to tempt first time buyers on to the property ladder will undoubtedly attract crowds of young couples to Enfield village in Co Meath this weekend when showhouses open for the first time at a smart new development.
At €235,000 for three-bedroom semis and €245,000 for four-bed semis, the homes are among the cheapest to go for sale in the greater Dublin area for a considerable time. The site is just off the main street in Enfield, now a fast 23-mile run into the city, mainly along a motorway. There is also a rail service from the village which is due to be upgraded to encourage more passengers on to commuter trains to and from Dublin.
Brendan Byrne of Sherry FitzGerald New Homes will be taking bookings at two showhouses open for viewing on Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 5 pm.
Apart from the fact that the houses in the Rathdale development seem good value, first-time buyers will be aware that it is getting harder to find conventional starter homes in the Dublin area now that most builders have switched mainly to apartments and duplex units to maximise the use of sites.
Rathdale will have a total of 104 new homes, most of them four-bed semis. There will also be 12 four-bed townhouses in later phases of the scheme.
One of the advantages of choosing to buy in Enfield, rather than in some of the sprawling developments closer to the city, is that the Meath village has a good range of shopping and leisure facilities as well as a good national school.
There is also a local five-star hotel, Johnstown House Hotel, which is to be extended following its recent sale.
Rathdale is within a few minutes' walk of a local supermarket. Village life has been considerably enhanced since the heavy west of Ireland traffic was diverted on to the Enfield bypass.
Both house types going for sale have oodles of space and front and rear gardens, something that is becoming ever so rare. The three-bed semi has 106.8 sq m (1,150sqft) while the larger unit extends to 120.7 sq m (1,300 sq ft).
Both types have attractive livingrooms to the front which open through double doors into a particularly large diningroom/kitchen.
There is an attractive range of wall and floor units and the incentive of a range of electrical appliances for those who complete the purchase on time.
The overall impression is that the houses have lots of space and light and larger than usual back gardens that will be appreciated by families with young children.
Fittings generally are of a high standard and there is more than adequate wardrobe space. Bathroom and kitchens have been tiled and all rooms have been painted. Both house types have guest toilets off the entrance hall and en suite facilities with the main bedrooms.
The Enfield scheme is being developed by Killoe, an experienced firm led by Michael Keogh and James Gilna. They are also currently completing Taylors Hill, an upmarket development in Rathfarnham.
