Areas in South County Dublin for first time buyer

wrestlemaniac

Just looking for advice from anyone who could offer any, on nice areas to live in South County Dublin.

Me and my partner are looking into purchasing our first house together. We will both be commuting to Greystones every morning. Our price range is limited to 250,000. We would prefer to purchase a house, rather than an apartment.

We are both from down the country, so have no real idea of areas, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

HavingCrack

What about buying a house in Greystones itself if you're both working there? It's on the Dart line so you'd be into Dublin in no time. I'd much rather live in Greystones than somewhere like Dundrum or Knocklyon to be honest.

wrestlemaniac

Unfortunately, Greystones and surrounding areas like Bray, Kilcoole, Delgany etc. are ruled out for sociable reasons, as my partner is a teacher and does not fancy bumping into children and parents, doing the shopping, or going out for meals, drinks.

HavingCrack

wrestlemaniac wrote: »

Unfortunately, Greystones and surrounding areas like Bray, Kilcoole, Delgany etc. are ruled out for sociable reasons, as my partner is a teacher and does not fancy bumping into children and parents, doing the shopping, or going out for meals, drinks.

Hmm, whatever about ruling out Greystones ruling out Bray etc. seems a bit overly concerned but different strokes I guess.

South county Dublin is very expensive as a whole, particularly for a 1st time buyer. For that sort of budget you'd probably want to be looking at areas like Rathfarnham, Ballybrack, Loughlinstown, Sandyford, Stillorgan, Dundrum maybe Dun Laoghaire.

The likes of Blackrock, Sandymount, Dalkey, Killiney, etc. (basically anywhere on the Dart line) are all a lot more expensive to buy in but generally seen as much better areas to live in. You might be able to pick up a terraced house or cottage in these areas if you get a good deal though.

ted1

Killiney is a good area, seafield, Bayview would be in your price range. Not much on the market at the moment. The start of summer there was about a dozen houses for sale.

wrestlemaniac

Thanks for the response Ted.

Just had a look at some houses in Killiney. I'm wondering does anyone know anything about St. Aubyns Court and Castle Court?

Also saw a nice house within budget in Firhouse. Anyone know anything about this area?

Seaswimmer

wrestlemaniac wrote: »

Thanks for the response Ted.

Just had a look at some houses in Killiney. I'm wondering does anyone know anything about St. Aubyns Court and Castle Court?

Also saw a nice house within budget in Firhouse. Anyone know anything about this area?

With the price of fuel I would not consider Firhouse as I think you could get a lot nearer for your money. Also if working in Greystones I would aim for somehwere along the DART line in case you need to travel without a car. I think your best bet would be Shankill or the Dublin side of Bray or as previous poster pointed out Bayview/Seafield. The 2 estates you mention are in this general area. I dont know much about them except to say they are on the edge of large council estates in Ballybrack. My uncle lives on the other side of Ballybrack and never has any issues so i am sure they are fine..

ted1

I looked at castle court a few years ago, the houses are much smaller than bayview and seafield, as well as having smaller gardens.
I'd put St. Aubyns Court more in ballybrack than Killiney. I don't know much about it.

just had a quick look and at the moment there isn't much available. have you thought about renting. Rent in the area for a year, keep an eye out for a property you like.

We just bought in June, and back then there was 2 houses in seafield for sale and 10 in Bayview. The prices they sold for were between 200K-240k. this will give you a guide of what the are actually goign for as oppose to what they are beign offered at.

Fratton Fred

Bayview and seafield court ate nice, but there's no decent pubs within walking distance.

Personally I would go for something smaller in a better location.

You can get a decent apartment in Killiney/dun Laoghaire for the same money and be in an area with a bit more life.

ted1

The druids is a good pub within walking distance as is the dungeons. Dalkey is just a stop away on the dart.
I'd strongly advise anyone not to buy an apartment especially a couple who may plan on starting a family in the next few years.

markpb

wrestlemaniac wrote: »

We are both from down the country, so have no real idea of areas, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

If you're both moving to Dublin for the first time, it would seem to be wise to rent in the areas you're considering purchasing in first. At least that way you can get a feel for the area, it's facilities, the people, the commute to work, etc before you commit yourself.

ted1 wrote: »

I'd strongly advise anyone not to buy an apartment especially a couple who may plan on starting a family in the next few years.

That's a very broad statement. There are some apartments which are perfectly fine for raising a family just like there are some houses which are not.

Fratton Fred

ted1 wrote: »

The druids is a good pub within walking distance as is the dungeons. Dalkey is just a stop away on the dart.
I'd strongly advise anyone not to buy an apartment especially a couple who may plan on starting a family in the next few years.

Blimey, I'd hate to see your idea of a hike

HavingCrack

markpb wrote: »

That's a very broad statement. There are some apartments which are perfectly fine for raising a family just like there are some houses which are not.

Generally I'd agree but in most of South Dublin the quality and size of most (in fact, nearly all) apartments constructed since 2000 (to be honest, since the 1980s even) simply aren't up to scratch when it comes to raising a family. Most are nowhere near big enough and are very poorly built. Also, for the same price of a biggish apartment (3 bed) you could probably buy a small house that would be of much better build quality in the same area.

wrestlemaniac

Well we have rented in Bray last year and Greystones the previous year, which is why we do not really want to buy in those areas, due to the amount of times we have met parents from my partners school when we have been out socially.

We have our minds set on a house, just a matter of finding out as much about different areas as possible.

HavingCrack

wrestlemaniac wrote: »

Well we have rented in Bray last year and Greystones the previous year, which is why we do not really want to buy in those areas, due to the amount of times we have met parents from my partners school when we have been out socially.
.

Wow, that's suprising, I have a huge number of relatives who are teachers and all live in the locality of their schools without any problems. All are in cities though so i guess that's the difference.

Fratton Fred

Are you looking to drive to Greystones or Dart it in?

Are you looking for the right area or the right house? How fussy are you in terms of address?

There are houses in Dalkey in that price range, but some people would have a hang up (unfairly IMHO) about the road It's in. Fantastic location though for the dart and all that Dalkey has to offer. Dalkey is expensive, but for a good reason.

Similarly there is a house on the market in oakton green, which although the address is Killiney, is actually Ballybrack. Again, people will turn their nose up because Ballybrack has a bad name, again, pretty unfairly. Half of the "Brack" should be avoided, the other half is ok.

wrestlemaniac

We would be driving to Greystones.

Not fussy at all about address, anywhere within reasonable driving distance to Greystones in South Dub region.

Biggest issue would be finding a nice area where we can put down some roots for the next 5-10 years. Obviously if we were to find a ideal house in the nice area, then thats all the better.

In your own opinion, are there any areas around Ballybrack, Killiney etc. that would be a no go?

SerialComplaint

If you head south or west of Greystones, away from Dublin, you'll get much more house for your money. Try Kilcoole or Aughrim or towards Arklow.

enda1

I'd be looking at close to the city myself. Perhaps Sandymount?
I think the prices are close to bottom there with the chance of upside potential. I'd fear for investing too far from Dublin.

Also will ye always be looking to commute to Greystones? Perhaps somewhere down the line there's a plan to work somewhere else?

Fratton Fred

wrestlemaniac wrote: »

We would be driving to Greystones.

Not fussy at all about address, anywhere within reasonable driving distance to Greystones in South Dub region.

Biggest issue would be finding a nice area where we can put down some roots for the next 5-10 years. Obviously if we were to find a ideal house in the nice area, then thats all the better.

In your own opinion, are there any areas around Ballybrack, Killiney etc. that would be a no go?

Killiney has no bad areas as such and Ballybrack has one or two that are less than desirable, but its not like there's people shooting each other or anything.

Luca Brasi

Why not have a look at Ballinteer, Sandyford, Dundrum. Handy for M50/N11.
Plenty of social, shopping etc

Andy-Pandy

No one has mentioned Cabinteely. Its a lovely area.

Rasmus

If you're certain that you'll be driving to Greystones, then it's pretty convenient if you were to choose somewhere on the westside - like Sandyford, Stepaside, Dundrum, etc along the Luas line.
Alternatively, I think Cabinteely would also be a good choice - both commutes would be about 30 minutes.

the groutch

I'd agree with Cabinteely, but it'd take more than 250k imo to get a house in the real Cabinteely (ie. not Cherrywood, Tullyvale or Druids Valley).

best you'd get at the moment for that money is an apartment in Watermint which are built to a very good standard, but very close to the village and might be too noisy.

there does be the odd house in The Park that pops up that you could haggle down under 300k, but chances are it'd have nothing done to it in the 30 years it's been there, and need major refurbishing.

wrestlemaniac

Have been viewing houses around a number of areas, and a particular house in Cherrywood is looking good.

Anyone know what surrounding area here is like?

ActingDanClark

Depends on which cherrywood. The new one over by the luas or the older one in loughlinstown,which is on the other side of the n11. The New one has a lot of apartments in its various developments, quite a few transient tenants. The older one suffers from a lot of pedestrian traffic to/from luas, not all of it great.

ActingDanClark

Don't rule bray out, some nice developments along the southern cross. I understand your partners dilemma, but greystones people don't tend in the main to
socialise in bray, and vise versa, with the exception of those looking for nightclubs going one direction and those looking for restaurants in the other. Broad statement I know, but its been my experience over the years

AltAccount

What about this one?

http://www.daft.ie/searchsale.daft?id=670498

highly1111

We live in rathfarnham and I commuted last year to greystones (i'm a teacher too coincidently) and it was fine. Less than half an hour. I'd look at stocking wood as you'd get a 3 bed up there and it's a lovely area and there's a nice house on the market at the moment in grangebrook which is a lovely estate. Very family orientated and a lovely settled area. It's beside whitechurch estate which doesn't have the best reputation but grangebrook is lovely. Stocking wood houses are brand new though - builder has gone into liquidation and bank are selling off remaining houses at great prices - definitely worth a look.

I completely understand why you wouldn't want to live where you teach. I once bumped into some of my 5th years in the pub!! Madness!

HavingCrack

Cherrywood would be seen as 'ok' to be honest, not bad but nothing to write home about either. It also has a fairly transient population as its so new. I also felt it just doesn't feel like a 'real' area as its so recent. If your budget could reach to Cabinteely proper it would be a better place to live in the long term.

HavingCrack

AltAccount wrote: »

What about this one?

http://www.daft.ie/searchsale.daft?id=670498

Far better place to live in in the long term than Cherrywood really.

Fight_Night

I'd be a big supporter of living in the Dundrum/Stillorgan/Sandyford area. Nice in general, you can find houses for relatively cheap and you have the LUAS and the Bus near you.

Won't work if you need to live on the DART line though...