Looking at moving to Charlesland

johng2008

Hi
I am thinking of moving to Charlesland but have heard so many bad stories about the place from some locals and on some other websites like overcrowding, noise, break ins (i see on this forum that more breakins are happening), devaluing properties etc but is seems so nice when you drive through it.
any local info appreciated.

The Bishop Basher

Noise seems to be a major issue from the threads on here. Everything from ice cream vans and wind chimes :rolleyes: to house alarms and dogs...

I suppose break ins happen everywhere but going by this forum they do seem to have more than their fair share. I would suspect it's more of a target as most homes are owned by young families where both are usually working during the day.

Devaluation speaks for itself. They were built and bought at the height of the boom. Probably still overvalued, same as everywhere, but you don't say whether you buying or renting

It is well maintained and well kept but you'd have to wonder about this in the future. As I've said before on here before, it's high density and it's currently unproven and time tested in this country.

It will be up to the residents to ensure it keeps it's sheen.

Hope this helps but probably important to get opinions from people living there too.

Dr.Silly

johng2008 wrote: »

Hi
I am thinking of moving to Charlesland but have heard so many bad stories about the place from some locals and on some other websites like overcrowding, noise, break ins (i see on this forum that more breakins are happening), devaluing properties etc but is seems so nice when you drive through it.
any local info appreciated.

I think more break-ins, overcrowding, noise, devaluing properties is not just a charlesland issue, this is increasing throughout the majority of the country unfortunately, and will continue to increase in my opinion.

For what it's worth, I think the area is great. You're a walk away from Greystones village which is one of the nicest little villages with plenty of coffee shops and restaraunts to choose from. If you have kids the area has one of the best sporting facilities in the country with a swimming pool, basketball courts, athletic field, skate park, football pitches, tennis courts. You've also got the beach of course, a nice harbour, and some fabulous walks around.

You're going to get pros and cons with every place, but I think Greystones has a lot more pros to offer.

Good luck if you move.

mikedragon32

If you were to base you opinion of Charlesland purely on this forum, you'd never visit, let alone live here. Nor would you open a business in the village or eat in any of the restaurants.

I've lived here since 2004, no robberies, no malicious damage to my car, no neighbourly issues worth mentioning. Maybe I'm lucky, but I doubt I'm in the minority. Simply put, folks don't post on this forum to say "nothing happened to my house or car today" or "the meal I had from [food outlet] was adequate to my wants".

Likewise, describing the development as "high density" is a little sensationalist. Higher density than the rest of Greystones perhaps, but hardly Tower Hamlets either.

Simply put, I like living in Charlesland. There's a decent Superquinn Convenience Store (I wouldn't go so far as to call it a supermarket), a good Chinese takeaway, a doctor's surgery and a selection of Creches on your doorstep. There's a reasonable bus service with expresso bus service to the city center on weekdays, quick and easy access to the N11 and it's a mile to the Dart Station. It enjoys exactly the same amenities that the rest of the town enjoys too: golf clubs, tennis club, rugby club, soccer and GAA, not to mention the seafront.

FWIW, my in-laws live in the Burnaby and their house has been broken into twice this year. Does that make it a bad place to live?

Dr.Silly

mikedragon32 wrote: »

FWIW, my in-laws live in the Burnaby

Give us a loan of a fiver Mike ?
:P

Charlie-Bravo

When first living in Charlesland (2004), not many neighbours spoke to each other, it was just a wave as you were leaving for work in the morning. you were so busy you didn't really look to socialise with your neighbours. It's so much different now. Everyone really does give you their time. Neighbours stop and chat. In the last two years I've gotten to know more neighbours than in the previous 5! There's real community spirit out there. Very enjoyable place to live I must say.

2011

mikedragon32 wrote: »

I've lived here since 2004, no robberies, no malicious damage to my car, no neighbourly issues worth mentioning. Maybe I'm lucky, but I doubt I'm in the minority.

I know quite a few people living in Charlesland and they have all had the same experience.

Likewise, describing the development as "high density" is a little sensationalist. Higher density than the rest of Greystones perhaps, but hardly Tower Hamlets either.

It is by far the highest density housing in the area and units are particularly small even by Celtic Tiger standards.

Simply put, I like living in Charlesland.

This seems to be the view of everyone I know that lives there, and that is the most important thing.

For the price paid for homes the build quality is poor (but structurally sound) in my opinion . But as others have pointed out poor build quality is not limited to Charlesland. I have suffered from many of the same build quality issues with my own home and I don't live in Charlesland (and my car was broken into ).

OP why don't try it out by renting to help make the decision?
There are plenty of places to rent in Charlesland and prices in general seem to be dropping.

Charlie-Bravo

2011 wrote: »

OP why don't try it out by renting to help make the decision?
There are plenty of places to rent in Charlesland and prices in general seem to be dropping.

How do you know they are buying? Very presumtuous of you 2011!

@johng2008 - aim for the Wood - much nicer area. You could choose an apartment like in the Crescent, but those snobby people only look down their noses at us real dwellers. :P

2011

astrofluff wrote: »

How do you know they are buying? Very presumtuous of you 2011!

Just an assumption based on the fact that the OP mentions "devaluing properties" which is hardly a concern if renting. If anything it is a bonus for a tenant as it drives rent down.

Jimjay

Lived here for 6 years.
Never been broken in to, never heard of any of my neighbours being broken in to. Never had car damaged or heard reports of neighbours cars been damaged.

I visit many houses with my job, build quality is on par with a lot of houses built within the last few years.we have not had many problems with our house, a couple of little niggles but nothing major that wasn't fixable. I never have any problems with noise from my neighbours, sometimes hear a baby screaming from next door but very rare and it does not effect our comfort. I know of a few estates in greystones that have had a spate of burglaries. I have visisted a few houses on Burnaby heights for example and the residents there have told about a few problems with break ins, One person showed me crow bar damage to a front door and another person watched two people climb over his back fence and attempt to break in to his door before being scared of by approaching guards. So as mentioned above I don't think any estate is safe from burglaries.

Charlie-Bravo

2011 wrote: »

Just an assumption based on the fact that the OP mentions "devaluing properties" which is hardly a concern if renting. If anything it is a bonus for a tenant as it drives rent down.

o:cool:

mikedragon32

Dr.Silly wrote: »

Give us a loan of a fiver Mike ?
:P

I don'tlive there! Lend me a fiver!

audreyp

I moved to Charlesland 3 and a half years ago and I love it here. People are so friendly and i'm very lucky to have great neighbours. The houses have de-valued but then again so has everywhere. Although i'm in negative equity, as are most people, at least i'm living somewhere I love and in no rush to move out. We are just hoping to do as much as possible to the house to increase the time we can live there. Like an attic conversion and re-doing the kitchen.

Thankfully I never had my house broken into or my car. Though i'm mid terrace so they would have to be a very agile burglar to jump 3 fences to get to my house. :-D

Its a 20 minute walk to the village which has great restaurants. Less then 10 minute walk there is a great sports facility that has courts, football pitches and a running club which is a great place to meet people. Charlesland itself does not seem high density to me. I moved from city centre (Dublin) to Stillorgan to Charlesland and it almost seems rural in comparison. There are plenty of green areas and what is most important is that is it finished. So many estates are not finished and those people I feel so sorry for.

I love it here I have to say and although there are plenty of negative things on this board try to remember that people generally only post bad things!

Good luck on your decision!

Millers02

Just want to add to what others have said.

We moved here six years ago, and have no complaints - great neighbours, everything's close to hand and it's great for the kids around here. We've also never had our house or car broken in to, and I've always felt safe walking around the estate, day or night.

Langerland

johng2008 wrote: »

Hi
I am thinking of moving to Charlesland but have heard so many bad stories about the place from some locals and on some other websites like overcrowding, noise, break ins (i see on this forum that more breakins are happening), devaluing properties etc but is seems so nice when you drive through it.
any local info appreciated.

Noise? There is some, its a built up area. The other issues? I would say less so than if you lived in Dublin or any city or large town. It does seem the contrary when you look at this forum, I will admit. However, that's just how forums naturally run. People are far more likely to get online and make a song and dance about their neighbours alarm, or a break in or anything that annoys them. One rarely see's a thread on "my house has never been broken into" or "my neighbours are too nice" etc

Welcome to Charlesland (we know you'll come and join us! )

2011

Well OP are you going to give it a go?

markest

Millers02 wrote: »

Just want to add to what others have said.

We moved here six years ago, and have no complaints - great neighbours, everything's close to hand and it's great for the kids around here. We've also never had our house or car broken in to, and I've always felt safe walking around the estate, day or night.

Ditto