While it is only November it is important to book your company Christmas party ahead of time so you can have the best choice. The annual Christmas party is a wonderful celebration and it is a night that everyone looks forward to. The Christmas party is a chance for all teams to come together and enjoy each other’s company without worrying about work. Luckily, Wexford and Wicklow host some of the best Christmas Party Nights around so you can rest assured that there are plenty of options depending on what you are looking for. As Kinsella Estates’ understands the busy lives you lead, we have listed a few places for your company to consider so all you need to worry about is making a call!

Amber Springs, Wexford Road, Gorey, Co. Wexford, Ireland

The Amber Springs is a beautiful hotel and you will receive the warmest of welcomes and enjoy what the hotel has to offer on your Christmas party night. Minutes away from miles of sandy beaches offers a lovely opportunity to blow off the cobwebs the morning after a night of dancing. 

Christmas Party Night Package includes:

• Now Christmas with hits of the 80’s 90’s and 00’s with live band Fusion 
• Mulled wine reception
• Four course meal
• Booker goes free with groups over 20
• Accommodation packages are available

For further information check out the website here.

Seafield Hotel & Spa Resort Ballymoney, Gorey, Co. Wexford

The Seafield Hotel is a stunning hotel with its own private beach – ideal for morning walks if you have the option to stay over for your Christmas party night. 

Christmas Party Night Package includes:

• Complimentary Mulled wine drinks reception on arrival
• Late bar until 3am* (*dependent on numbers)
• Special accommodation rates available
• Tasty four course meal

Find out more here

The Arklow Bay Conference & Leisure Hotel, Sea Rd, Arklow, Co. Wicklow

Overlooking the lakeside wildlife reserve, The Arklow Bay Hotel is set on idyllic grounds and it is a nice place to relax in if you get the chance the morning after your party night. 

Christmas Party Night Package includes:

• Christmas cocktail on arrival
• Festive four course dinner
• Photo booth with Christmas props
• Live band
• Bar and DJ till late
• Special accommodation rates

To find out more check out their website here. 

Glenview Hotel & Leisure Club, Glen of the Downs, Co. Wicklow

The hotel is set amongst 30 acres of landscaped gardens and woodland walks which make this the perfect place to wake up to after a night of fun. 

Christmas Party Night Package includes:

• Prosecco reception
• Four course festive meal
• Live music and late DJ
• Special overnight rates

All the details are here. 

Please note: Early booking is advised 

If you don’t fancy a full-on Christmas Party Nights, there are lots of restaurants to choose from. Here are some to consider:

• Katie Daly’s Bar and Restaurant, Gorey, Co. Wexford
• Table Forty One, Gorey, Co. Wexford
• Ocean Bar & Grill, Bray, Co. Wicklow

Wherever you end up we hope you have a wonderful Christmas Party Night and enjoy the opportunity to relax, laugh and eat/drink with all the team!

For your FREE, no obligation, valuation in the South Wicklow and North Wexford area, call into one of our offices (located in Carnew and Gorey) and chat to any of our expert team or you can contact us online at www.KinsellaEstates.ie. We are happy to facilitate overseas buyers and sellers via Skype or similar, outside of regular office hours.  Alternatively, email me directly on michael@kinsellaestates.ie or telephone: +353 53 94 21718

Second-hand homes are in demand

There are certainly more buyers looking towards the Arklow, Carnew and Gorey areas this autumn and these buyers are coming with greater budgets than we have seen over the past eight years; however, there is an ever-growing storage of high-quality, second-hand homes coming to the market right across the South East.  There are many possible reasons for this, like a lack of confidence in the higher-end of the property market locally or perhaps a lack of suitable properties for home–owners to move to, whether their intention is to trade up or to scale down.  Arguably, it is easier for those hoping to scale down as new developments tend to provider smaller units and a mix of houses and apartments.  So what is holding these potential sellers back?

Window of opportunity

There is a good window of opportunity right now for existing home-owners who might be thinking of selling over the next few years to bring their homes to the market before any significant volume of new developments are completed.  Also, in terms of delivery of new homes, what we are seeing in South Wicklow and North Wexford is that the first tranche of new developments are very much geared towards first-time buyers.  Home owners locally who are  looking to trade up are much more likely to choose an existing or second-hand family home.  Of course, this will not always be the case.  Over the next five years as we see first-time buyer and investor demand being satisfied, developers will start to develop larger, more executive-type homes for growing families to trade up into.  But for now, owners of larger homes within the commuter belt, which includes Gorey and much of north County Wexford, will find a cohort of ready buyers for their properties, provided these properties are well-presented and priced appropriately.

Rising property prices across the South East

Many local home-owners are not aware that property prices in Wexford increased at  rates of 11% – 13% over the past year, which is almost double the average increases seen nationally over the same period.

If you fall into this category and you want some initial advice or guidance about the current value of your home, contact myself, Michael, here at Kinsella Estates.  I can help you with more than the valuation by giving you some tips on minor work that could be carried out to improve your home in a way that adds value (multiple times the cost of the work).  Also, the team here are noticing a reduction in the time properties close to town are taking to sell, with some homes selling in less than three to four weeks.  Of course this depends entirely on having the right buyer finance-ready but it is something that we can discuss with you and prepare you for.

Holiday homes

It’s worth noting that this also applies to holiday homes that owners might have been holding onto for a few years longer than intended, waiting for the market to recover.  Earlier this year we saw a stunning holiday home at Roney Beach make over half a million euro, which was €100,000 in excess of the guide price.  This shows the gulf between the busyness of the market sub-€250,000 and the buyers waiting for an opportunity at the higher end of the market.  Certainly, it is a smaller and less active market but the advantage of a smaller market is that the buyers are known to our offices and this allows for direct contact to speed up the initial sales period.

If you are considering selling in the South Wicklow and North Wexford areas, call into one of our offices (located in Carnew and Gorey) and chat to any of our expert team or you can contact us online at kinsellaestates.ie.  We are happy to facilitate overseas buyers and sellers via Skype or similar, outside of regular office hours.

 Alternatively, email me directly on michael@kinsellaestates.ie or telephone : +353 53 94 21718       

Earlier this week, the Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers (IPAV) for Ireland published their ‘Residential Property Price Barometer’, which gives a breakdown of prices for two-bed apartments, three-bed semis and four-bed semis across every county in Ireland.  According to this most recent research, the cost of  an average family home in Dublin is now €527,894 – more than double that of the national average three-bed at €253,466.   Wicklow remains the most expensive area outside of Dublin, followed by Kildare and Meath.  Counties Longford, Sligo and Leitrim recorded the lowest house prices nationally.

The current average prices for County Wicklow and County Wexford are as follows:

On average, two-bed apartments in County Wicklow are coming in at €202,750, the highest apartment prices outside of Dublin by quite a significant margin.  Three-bed semis are achieving an average of €275,591, while four-bed semis are making €344,036.

Similarly, across County Wexford, two-bed apartments are achieving an average sale price of €83,334, with three-bed semis making €145,000 and the four-beds getting, on average, €171,667.

The stand-out surprise is the unexpectedly strong performance of Wicklow apartments.   Of course, we know that lack of available stock – in particular, houses –  and delays with any new stock coming to the market is still the driving force behind the rising prices.  Construction across the country, including the South East region, is nowhere near the level required at this stage.  While the industry is set to deliver up to 20,000 homes per year by 2018 (which is up from just 12,666 in 2015), this is not happening quickly enough to meet current or immediate demand within the commute region.

As we watch for the delivery of new homes, it is worth reflecting on changing buyer trends in recent years.  For example, here at Kinsella Estates, we can see that house-hunters have never been more organised, better researched or as familiar with the market as this current generation of buyers are.  They are knowledgeable and well-informed, however, their expectations of quality and energy efficiency are much higher than their predecessors and developers need to be mindful of this.

With such a dearth of new homes available, particularly here in South Wicklow and North Wexford, it makes sense for home buyers – whether they are looking for their first home, trading up or perhaps downsizing by the coast – to consider purchasing a second-hand home.

Traditionally, September has always been the height of the selling season.  Over the past decade, the market has definitely become less seasonal and more opportunistic.   The reality is that homes coming to the market locally are being presented to known buyers.  Through our offices in Carnew and in Gorey, we know buyers who have been looking for the last few months and when we visit a home to appraise it for sale, very often, we have a good idea of who the buyer is likely to be.  This can help speed up the sale process, which is good news for the seller, but more importantly, by knowing the buyer, their budget and their capacity to close the deal, we can add a greater degree of certainty at a time when sellers need it most.

If you are considering selling in the South Wicklow and North Wexford areas, call into one of our offices (located in Carnew and Gorey) and chat to any of our expert team or you can contact us online at kinsellaestates.ie.  We are happy to facilitate overseas buyers and sellers via Skype or similar, outside of regular office hours.

 Alternatively, email me directly on michael@kinsellaestates.ie or telephone : +353 53 94 21718       

Selling your home, holiday home, investment property or perhaps an inherited house or land can be daunting.  With so many questions and so much  – often conflicting – information out there (online or chats over the garden fence), it can be difficult to get straight answers.  When you are thinking of selling, straight answers are exactly what you need.  Property valuations that are too vague, or too general, or that carry lots of exceptions and exclusion clauses are just not helpful.  What you need is local insight that tells you not only the likely open market value of the property today, but more importantly, you need insights into local supply and  demand.  This is the difference between listing your property and actually selling your property – we’re guessing that once you have made the decision to sell, you want to get things moving!

Unlike when dealing with an investment or inherited property, the biggest factor in the decision to sell your home should not be market conditions.  Certainly, it is important to be aware of current market performance and undoubtedly, there are times when the market trends favour the buyer moreso than the seller, and vice versa, but none of this is more important than your personal, family and financial position.

As your estate agents, our first step  generally is to arrange to do a walk-though of your property.  This helps us to get specific in terms of the market valuation, but it does so much more than that. It is at this point where we use our experience and expertise to help you, as a seller, prepare your home or investment property for the market and a few weeks of viewings. Long gone are the days when sellers can list a property ‘as is’ just to test the market.  The rise in property technology, the increased pace of life and competition in the marketplace all mean that sellers usually only have one opportunity to impress potential buyers in person.  In fact, getting them inside the property requires great photos/videos/3D tours and great copy (which is why you need a great estate agent!).  For this reason, it is recommended that any little fixes around the house are done prior to getting the photographs taken for the brochure and online listing, and certainly before opening up the property for viewings.

Sellers must not underestimate the importance of preparing the property and this is equally true for the photography and video (or virtual reality tours) as it is for viewings.  A bright, airy and freshly painted entrance sets a positive tone for the rest of the home.  Stylish furnishings that are consistent with the age/type of property are great but a deep cleaning and decluttering session will go a long way towards impressing house-hunters – as will sparkling windows and neutral tones throughout.

For many people, buying and selling their home coincides with other big life events, like changing careers, getting married, starting/growing a family or perhaps downsizing as our children grow up and leave home.  This undoubtedly adds to the pressure, confusion and perhaps feelings of overwhelm.  As this is such a big decision, we understand the importance of getting it right.  Taking the time to discuss your overall plans will help your estate agent to guide you in the right direction.   It is never recommended to make quick decisions in reaction to sudden life changes, but sometimes it has to happen like that.  Having a good relationship with your agent will make the transition smoother.

If you are considering selling in the South Wicklow and North Wexford areas, call into one of our offices located in Carnew and Gorey and chat to any of our team or contact us online.  We are happy to facilitate overseas buyers and sellers via Skype or similar outside of regular office hours.

For specific queries or to speak with a local property expert about your buying and selling needs in Wexford, Wicklow and surrounding areas, contact Michael, Alan or Eileen Kinsella at kinsellaestates.ie . 

Email me directly on michael@kinsellaestates.ie or telephone : +353 53 94 21718       

Congratulations to Wexford builder, Anthony Neville, of Anthony Neville Homes, on his recent appointment as Chairman of the Irish Home Builders Association (IHBA) for 2017 and 2018.

It is great to see a provincial builder at the helm, particularly at such an important time for residential building.   He has pledged to address the main issues hindering new development outside of Dublin, namely, the high cost of building, and he is optimistic about development prospects here in the South East.  Shortly after his appointment, he had the following to say:

“We have seen in some areas of provincial Ireland that house building has recommenced again. This is only in areas where the sales price of houses has exceeded the construction costs, therefore creating a margin that makes it viable for the homebuilders to secure finance from their financial institutions and build much required homes.  We, at Anthony Neville Homes, have been lucky over the last number of years to have had exposure to the greater Dublin area on our sites in Maynooth, Kinsealy and Saggart, where we have seen continuous demand for our product. However, over the last 12 months we have noticed the increase in demand spreading down through Wicklow to our site at Baltinglass and hopefully we will be recommencing construction at one of our Enniscorthy sites in Co. Wexford. Members of the IHBA have experienced increased demand in places such as Gorey, Kilkenny, Portlaoise and Tullamore, so whilst the recovery is taking a lot longer than we had hoped, it is spreading gradually further away from Dublin.”

Help-to-Buy under threat

Anthony is also a strong supporter of the help-to-buy(HTB)  scheme and has spoken out about the need to retain the initiative after news last week that the aid scheme for first-time buyers might be shut down.   This is certainly positive for first-time buyers who are eligible for the scheme but perhaps not for those who have worked outside of Ireland for the last few years and are finding themselves at a disadvantage when it comes to bidding on property back in Ireland.  The application of the tax relief means that eligible first-time buyers can outbid non-eligible buyers (of equal financial status) for the same property but it only applies to new homes.

In fact, buyers  who are not entitled to avail of the HTB relief are much better off looking at contemporary or recently built second-hand homes.  This offers a good opportunity for sellers and those thinking of selling in 2017.  If you are considering selling and want to know a bit more about your market and about demand for your particular property locally, just contact us for a quick and confidential chat.

The M11 motorway has made towns like Arklow and Gorey much more attractive to buyers.  Here at Kinsella Estates, we are currently listing a great three-bed semi-detached house in Arklow, just five minutes off the M11 motorway and less than 40 minutes from Dublin.

Link to further details here:

84 The Avenue, Meadowvale, Arklow, County Wicklow

This beautiful property is presented in showhouse condition.  Call us now to arrange a viewing on +353 53 9421718.  Also, don’t forget that we accommodate house-hunters and buyers from outside of Ireland and can do a virtual walkthrough of this or any of our other listed properties.  If you need extra help, just ask!

For specific queries or to speak with a local property expert about your buying and selling needs in Wexford, Wicklow and surrounding areas, contact Michael, Alan or Eileen Kinsella at kinsellaestates.ie . 

Email me directly on michael@kinsellaestates.ie or telephone : +353 53 94 21718       

Market update

You might have seen the latest Daft.ie quarterly report all over the news and across social media in the last few days; the headlines were along the lines of ‘Property prices could rise for the next 10 years’.  House prices are up an average of 6% over the past six months.  Once again, it’s good news for sellers but not so much for buyers. According to Daft’s second report of the year, house prices country-wide are up 46% from their lowest point in 2013.

In fact,  a report on the average amount that first-time buyers across Ireland must pay as a contract deposit revealed that South Dublin is the most expensive area (unsurprising), with the average buyer requiring an average €56,300 in cash.  Roscommon is the least expensive county for first-time buyers with the average first-time buyer requiring just €13,000.  The required figures for Wicklow and Wexford are €31,484 and €19,753 respectively.

New landlord/tenant regulations

But for investors, it was a week of changes with new regulations coming into effect on July 1st.  This new legislation  means that landlords will need to deliver a higher standard of accommodation, particularly  in the area  of safety.  To meet the new fire safety standards, every rented house or apartment must be equipped with a working fire alarm system and a fire blanket.  This also applies to the communal areas of multi-unit buildings, which must have working emergency lighting.

In relation to air quality, all houses and apartments need to have a functioning (regularly maintained) carbon monoxide alarm and proper ventilation systems in the kitchen and bathroom.

In the kitchen, every home must have a ring hob with oven and grill, a microwave, an extractor fan, a fridge/freezer, a sink with drinking water, adequate storage and access to laundry facilities.

One big change is that pest control  and dealing with any vermin (it happens!) is now the responsibility of the landlord.

One to consider

With landlords needing to supply a higher quality of property to tenants and with first-time buyers who don’t qualify for the help-to-buy scheme finding opportunity in modern, second-hand houses,   we have a great three-bed house on offer, just a five-minute walk from Gorey’s Main Street.  This is a great, family-home type property and garden in excellent condition.  With an asking price of €165,000, this property will suit a family or a landlord for letting to a family at an approximate rent of €900-€950 per month.

21 Charlotte Grove, Gorey, County Wexford:

http://www.daft.ie/wexford/houses-for-sale/gorey/21-charlotte-grove-gorey-wexford-1444131/

For specific queries or to speak with a local property expert about your buying and selling needs in Wexford, Wicklow and surrounding areas, contact Michael, Alan or Eileen Kinsella at kinsellaestates.ie . 

Email me directly on michael@kinsellaestates.ie or telephone : +353 53 94 21718          

The question of whether or not buying the show house is a good idea is an on-going debate and certainly, there are pros and cons but experienced buyers know that the long term advantages tend to out-weigh any of the short term disadvantages.

So, what are the disadvantages of buying a showhouse?

You might need to wait for a few months before closing and moving into the property.  In other markets, particularly in the US, a buyer might close the purchase and then agree to lease the property back to developer for the sales period, which could be up to two years.  This does not happen in the Irish market, in fact, most developments would only use their show house  for a few months or  a year for phase one.  It is common for developers to sell one show house and simply kit out another so two show houses in the space of a year or two years is not unusual and can work well for both the developers and the buyers.

Another perceived disadvantage is that the site adjacent to the showhouse is often used for car parking so it can be busy/noisy at times.  Again, this is a very temporary inconvenience.

As anyone who has ever bought a home in the early stages of a new development launch will know, the show house is highly sought after and generally commands a higher price.

What are the advantages of buying a showhouse?

There are multiple reasons for this but the main one is that the show house is generally finished to an excellent quality, beautifully styled and furnished with top end, luxury  brands that the developer writes off as a promotion and marketing expense so the full (trade) cost is not passed on to the new buyer.

Also, at a more basic level, all new developments up -sell ‘extras’  that a buyer can pay for if they want a higher specification throughout.  This is always demonstrated throughout the showhouse so  you can expect that it comes equipped with the highest specification available.

There is nothing standard about a showhouse.

The kitchen, including worktops and light fittings are invariably top quality.  This is also true of flooring, however, do remember that what is visually beautiful might not always be practical for families (cream carpeting comes to mind!).

In addition to the high-end finish, showhouses are a feast for interior design enthusiasts with opulent furnishings that a buyer might never be able to buy at the early stages of buying a home.  In most cases, the house is sold with everything included, right down to the bed linen, duvet covers and soft furnishings like cushions and table lamps.

Mirrors are a surprising expense for new homeowners and most showhouses use them throughout the house to enhance the light and space available.

Outside the house, the garden is usually architecturally landscaped in a low-maintenance finish (very important for busy families).

In the short-term, showhouses tend not to give new owners  the same teething problems as standard new homes as settling cracks are dealt with as they arise – the sales agent will always ensure the showhouse is kept in top condition throughout its use.  The same principle applies to snaglist issues.  These are generally dealt with as soon as they are identified.

For many buyers, the convenience is irresistible.  You can walk into your new home with a only suitcase and there’s no waiting around.

In the long term, as the glossy interior of any home fades over a few years, the showhouse quality will generally stand the test of time.

We are currently listing a former showhouse and the high-quality fit-out is still evident throughout.

1 Woodlands Drive, Gorey, County Wexford is a superb four bedroom detached home and garden, in excellent condition throughout (asking price €235,000).

Don’t you just love when summer arrives right at the moment it’s due?

It’s certainly a rarity in Ireland – although here in Ireland’s sunny South East we can boast the most hours of sunshine per year compared with any other part of the country.  That is probably why sales transactions soar in summertime.  In fact, in last weekend’s Sunday Business Post newspaper, a report on commuter counties placed both Wicklow and Wexford high on the list of buyers’ destinations, with recorded increases of 17% and 13% respectively.  Carlow, Kilkenny and Waterford have all seen reductions in demand over the last 12 months.  This makes for an interesting time in South Wicklow and Wexford county right now as demand increases by supply has yet to catch up.  House-hunters, especially those looking for family homes will need to widen their search areas/criteria and be prepared to engage in competitive bidding.

The real opportunity exists for sellers of second-hand homes and those thinking about bringing a residential property to the market over the next few weeks and months.

For existing sellers who are waiting for the right buyer to come along, it might be worth going through the tips below and freshening up their homes and perhaps update the property listing and photos online.

Tips for summertime property sellers:

1. The notion of ‘kerb appeal’ is a cliché but that doesn’t make it any less relevant. The initial impression that your home creates as a potential buyer pulls up is difficult to change so it’s important that the impression is the best one possible.   This applies to the photos that appear online also.  They should be clear, bright and clear of clutter.

2. As a rural estate agency, we understand the importance of giving good, clear directions to your home. Eircode has not been hugely successful but marking properties on a digital map makes it easy for house-hunters to use GPS when arriving for a first viewing. That’s our job.  As the seller, it’s your job to ensure that if your property has a house name or number, that it is clearly marked.  If would-be buyers get lost trying to find your property, by the time they arrive, late, they will be too stressed and frustrated to fully appreciate the presentation of your home.

3. The front door should be thoroughly cleaned or freshly painted and clear of dust and cobwebs. Choose the colour well, be sure to reflect the tone of your home for example, yellow for youthfulness, blue for calm and red for a warm welcome!  If possible, the entire front of the house should be freshened up but we understand that this is not always possible.

4. Following on from the point above, if resources are limited, allocate them wisely; concentrate on the areas that will have the most impact. For example, wash the windows and scrub or repaint window frames.

5. Tidy the front garden, sweep pathways, trim hedges and pull weeds. If flowers are not an option, invest in a few well thought out planters to add colour and to create an abundant feel.  Put wheelie bins away, out of sight if possible.

6. Treat your entrance like a room of its own with a good design, clutter-free, and with some light furnishing or focal piece – like a hall table with flowers (and nothing else!).

7. Once inside, continue the fresh, clutter-free theme and remove unnecessary, bulky furnishings. In fact, this might be the right time to start preparing for your impending move.

Here at Kinsella Estates, we offer a free sales appraisal and with this, we offer key suggestions about how to best present your property to suit the type of buyer your home is likely to attract.  Contact us directly to discuss your home and to arrange an appraisal.

For specific queries or to speak with a local property expert about your buying and selling needs in Wexford, Wicklow and surrounding areas, contact Michael, Alan or Eileen Kinsella at kinsellaestates.ie . 

Email me directly on michael@kinsellaestates.ie or telephone : +353 53 94 21718                  

Every few months,  the team here at Kinsella Estates bring you the round up of property statistics and trends from the previous quarter but this week we have even bigger news.  The Central Statistics Office , or CSO, have released a special housing report, based on the latest census figures.  This is a big deal as it offers an insight into the market and key measurements  that we only get once every five years and for those who have been watching the market over the last five years, you will know that there have been lots of changes – good and bad.  This is the first such report since the market started to recover in 2012 and it definitely going to cause a bit of trouble as it contradicts new housing supply numbers released earlier this year by the Department of Housing.

The report covers total housing stock levels, new builds completed and the changing patterns of renting, for example, the trend towards older people renting rather than owning their own home. One Irish Times journalist described it as “a picture of everything we wanted to know about the Irish housing crisis but were too afraid to ask”.

Looking at the 12 months up to March  this year, we can see that the overall residential market is  up almost 11%.  Broken down, this translates into increases in the capital of just over 8% while areas – particularly in the west of the country, which was well behind the recovery we have seen here in the south east – have seen house price growth of up to 20% in the last year.  In general, the property market in Ireland  is still about 30% below peak levels last seen in 2007.

In terms of volume, the total number of  homes purchased over the last year (February 2016 to February 2017)  is 37,294.  What is interesting to note is the breakdown by buyer type; only a quarter of all buyers were first-time buyers and less than a quarter were investors or non owner-occupiers.  This means that homebuyers trading up and down, and those buying holiday homes, represent the driving force within the market.  People might be surprised to learn that the average home price in Dublin is now €398,319 and it is difficult to believe that that could have been achieved without the relaxing of the Central Bank lending rules last year and the introduction  of the controversial Help-to-Buy scheme. The average price paid for a  home nationwide is currently €245,165.  In County Wicklow, house prices are the highest outside of Dublin, with an average sale price achieved of €313,023.  Take a look at the image above (figure 3.1) for an indication of where real progress has been felt and where the recovery has effectively bypassed.

Outlook

While it is not good news for house-hunters, property prices are set to increase by double digits again this year.  In fact, Davy Stockbrokers said that 10% is a conservative estimate of future growth this year and the real figure might be much higher.  This will come as a great relief to sellers and homeowners currently caught in the negative equity trap but it raises the ugly question: Is double digit growth sustainable without significant development and can buyers truly depend on new supply coming into the market?  Unfortunately, there is no single answer to this but as the new homes specialists in counties Wicklow and Wexford, Kinsella Estates are in a good position to help would-be buyers identify new developments coming up locally over the next 18-24 months.

For specific queries or to speak with a local property expert about your buying and selling needs in Wexford, Wicklow and surrounding areas, contact Michael, Alan or Eileen Kinsella at kinsellaestates.ie .  Alternatively, you can email me directly on michael@kinsellaestates.ie or telephone : +353 53 94 21718 to arrange a viewing on our qualifying new builds.

It’s that time of the quarter again, lots of property news, results and price reports.  Daft.ie and MyHome.ie are showing average property price increases of almost 10% nationwide.  While the average increase is lower across County Wicklow, this is likely due to fewer transactions and those transactions are coming from an already-high value base.  County Wexford is picking up speed  and this has been one of the busiest quarters that we have seen in years.   In general, house prices are up 40% since the bottom of the market – which is great news for sellers and home owners whose property might be in negative equity but not so good for house hunters.

Added to the usual run of house price news, KBC Bank have published their Homebuyer Sentiment survey.  These type of survey is few and far between as ‘sentiment’ is more difficult to measure than percentages or euro, but the findings are usually more interesting.  And this one doesn’t disappoint.  Key findings include the following:

• Only 49% of Irish consumers are content with their current housing
• 23% are not in a position to purchase despite wanting to
• 28% are considering buying  within the next two years, with half of these actively house hunting
• Of those currently ready to buy,  less than a quarter are investors while the remaining buyers are an equal mix of first-time buyers and those trading up or down

The phrase ‘pent-up demand’ has been thrown around since the confusing days of 2011/2012 and the effects of this have been felt in the market for a few years.  Usually we think in terms of people who are either  looking to buy or to sell; this survey includes homeowners who are trapped in unsuitable and inappropriate housing.

Interestingly, the survey estimates (based  upon  their random sampling) that there are approximately 70,000 would-be buyers ready to hit the market, with a total anticipated demand of 300,000over the next two years.  While we have sufficient zoned land  in parts of County Wexford to deal with short-term future development, the same cannot be said for most of County Wicklow.

All of this activity and these findings are reinforcing the trend for home buyers to look further from the Capital as  they search for their future home.  Improved road infrastructure right through Wicklow from the M50 to Gorey, just over the Wexford border, makes a 45 minute commute possible from  smaller towns like Carnew, Shillelagh and Tinahely.  For people looking for a coastal home, Riverchapel, just outside the seaside town of Courtown, will be an increasingly attractive location.

To view a selection of the properties currently available, visit kinsellaestates.ie

For specific queries or to speak with a local property expert about your buying and selling needs in Wexford, Wicklow and surrounding areas, contact Michael, Alan or Eileen Kinsella at kinsellaestates.ie .  Alternatively, you can email me directly on michael@kinsellaestates.ie or telephone : +353 53 94 21718 to arrange any viewings.