We are very proud to offer to the market this very attractive 4 bedroom detached residence at 138 Meadowgate which extends to 124 sq mt / 1334 sq ft. This property which was built in 2007 to a very high standard of specification has been done up to show house condition throughout. Meadowgate is one of the most sought after developments and is conveniently located within walking distance of Gorey town centre and close to many amenities including Gorey Shopping centre, restaurants, schools, pubs and many other amenities.

The start-up scene across County Wexford right now is impressive. So, not only do we have the most hours of sunshine per year here in the ‘Sunny South East’, we are also gaining a reputation for innovation amongst business start-ups in the region.

No fewer than five start-ups secured a high level of investment from Enterprise Ireland over the past 18 months and among them were four high potential start-ups companies (HPSUs). In case you are unaware, High Potential Start-Ups (HPSUs) are start-up businesses with the potential to create at least 10 jobs and €1million in sales within three to four years of starting up. The investment and obvious belief in these start-ups from the South East Region is a strong indicator of the entrepreneurial activity in the region and it promises to get even better.

Of course, Wexford has a vibrant tech start-up scene with companies such as SONRU and SCURRI originating in the county. Furthermore, these Wexford based companies have significantly expanded both nationally and internationally in recent years. Datapac is based in Wexford too and it is Ireland’s largest native ICT solutions and services provider. The company recently became a HP Platinum Partner for Printing and Computing in Ireland, which is the highest level of HP Partner accreditation, proving that business is booming in Wexford and this is heartening. However, it isn’t just big tech companies that are recognising the benefits of Wexford and all that it offers…

Co-working is growing in popularity and it is another fantastic option available in Wexford for remote workers or freelancers. The area offers ample opportunities in starting at business and though some small business owners prefer to work from home, many are seeing the advantages of co-working.  While starting a business in the home seems appealing to start ups initially, the remoteness and distraction or isolations soon pushes people to look for a space outside the home.  The trouble is that these can be expensive but, across County Wexford, but particularly in Gorey, we are actively building communities of people who work together and build relationships with like-minded people, thanks to the team at The Hatch Lab. It can be fundamentally beneficial to businesses too, as many choose to collaborate, share ideas and support one another while socialising too. It is growing in popularity throughout Ireland and this is indicative of a larger global trend.

The South East Region is already home to approximately 70 foreign-owned multinational companies therefore, Wexford is attractively positioned to support further growth in the shape of tech start-ups. It is fair to say that the area offers a competitive platform across commercial property, salary, rates and the cost of living when compared to Dublin or regional cities. Tech companies are choosing smaller locations as these companies understand that not every professional wants to live in the city either. Wexford offers a more affordable cost of living and this alone is a winning formula for attracting companies, employers and of course, employees to the area. It helps that we are close to the beach and have a host of walking trails and leisure facilities on our doorstep, offering the ultimate work/life balance!

Statistically, property is at least 30% less expensive than in Dublin or indeed, some of the bigger commuter-belt counties. Skilled workers are looking for more options and turning to smaller, less populated counties in order to settle down and raise their families. Raising a family in Wexford is a dream with its many schools, family friendly activities and numerous schools. It also benefits from being within 50 minutes to an hour of Dublin’s M50.

It is great to see the area being recognised for creativity and innovation amongst a new generation of start-ups.  Certainly, as a region, we are proud to showcase the local benefits for new potential businesses and residents. The future is looking bright for County Wexford!

If you are considering buying or selling in the South Wicklow and North Wexford areas in 2018, 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

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       

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).

Kinsella Estates had the privillage of bringing 48.48 acres of prime holding at Ballybuckley, Bree, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford under the hammer last week.

The land is located less than 1km from Bree and 5.1km from Enniscorthy, across from Wilton House, with 0.3km of road frontage.  Given the high quality of the land, and its suitability to any farming enterprise, a high level of demand was expected.

The auction, which took place at the Riverside Hotel in Enniscorthy last Friday December 16th, was widely marketed beforehand and it was certainly well attended.  The lands were offered in one or two lots in advance of the auction but intensive, competitive bidding on the day ensured that the entire holding went in one lot.

The bidding opened at €350,000 and strong interest in the room meant we received no fewer than 64 bids!

Kinsella Estates auctioneer Michael Kehoe decreed the land to be sold to the highest bid at €662,000,which is over €13,500 per acre.  It was a great result for the seller and for the stellar Kinsella Estates team this close to the holidays.

It takes strong local knowledge, market expertise and relationships within the community to sell agricultural lands – this is where Kinsella Estates can help you.  We understand the market and know the value of land and property locally, more importantly, our marketing expertise will attract the right buyers in order to achieve the best price for you.

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.

Last chance to buy in the current phase

With the supply of new homes running low across the South East, it won’t surprise local house-hunters to see that only one house remains available in the current phase of Riverchapel Wood.
6 The Parade, Riverchapel Wood is situated within walking distance of the scenic Courtown Harbour and many leisure attractions. This developement has proven popular with both homebuyers and investors, with returns almost as attractive as the views!

Number 6 is a spacious three-bedroom semi-detached house in excellent condition throughout, with a bay window and double doors leading onto the rear garden;  Asking price €137,000.

For more details on the property, check out the listing on :- http://www.daft.ie/wexford/houses-for-sale/courtown/6-the-parade-riverchapel-wood-riverchapel-courtown-wexford-1354836/

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.

Property Returns

Property Expo 2016 returned to the RDS, Dublin for the first time in almost a decade and the team here at Kinsella Estates were delighted to showcase the best of Wicklow and Wexford properties.  I was delighted to be invited to speak on the New Homes panel discussion, where we talked about the challenges facing the New Homes market – for both the developers and the buyers – and how best to address these challenges.  At a time when supply is seriously low in most areas, it was great to bring two new developments to the show:

Gleann an Ghairdin, Ballytegan, Gorey, Co. Wexford

And

Riverchapel Wood, Courtown, Co. Wexford

Budget ’17 has brought new homes back to the attention of first-time buyers with the announcement of the new grant/tax rebate but investors and AHBs (Approved Housing Bodies) are all struggling to get their hands on properties at the moment so this is something that we will be talking about a lot over the next 12 months.

The ‘Help-to-Buy’ scheme for first-time buyers really does not go far enough to help, particularly when you consider that the problem is lack of supply.  In other parts of the country, there does not appear to be much goods news on th etopic of new homes but here in South Wicklow and across Wexford, we can see that the market is moving on.  We are speaking to developers about bringing new housing stock to the market and development sites are under consideration.

We will bring you details of new developements as they are announced and as they launch, but in the meantime, do let us know about potential development sites you might wish to bring to the market.  We know the area, we know who is looking for property and, most importantly, we understand local property values.

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

Huge thanks to everyone who came along and supported our East Coast FM Coffee Morning to raise money for cancer services throughout County Wicklow.  I am delighted to say that the team here at Kinsella Estates, together with our clients and friends raised €960 so far, with more money still coming in daily.

This is a great sum raised for a great cause – we were delighted to get involved this year and genuinely appreciate the support locally.

Thank you all,

Michael, Eileen and the team here at Kinsella Estates

Michael Kinsella’s top ten tips for sellers:

1. Commit to selling – Make decision, know your bottom price

This might sound strange but often times people bring their home to the market, not really sure if they want to sell or whether now is, in fact, the right time. This is always a recipe for disaster. Uncommitted sellers tend to value their own home disproportionately high, they are generally not accommodating when it comes to viewings and not flexible when negotiations start. There can be no winners in this scenario so the best advice that I can give would-be sellers to to do their research, then make a decision and stick to that decision unless circumstances change. The main challenge of being an uncommitted seller is that if when you finally make the decision to accept any offers, the buyers might be gone. Second changes are rare in a recovering market.

2. Know your buyer

Once the decision to sell has been made, it’s important to figure out who your buyer is likely to be as this will help to determine pricing and targeted marketing. In most areas outside of Dublin, there is very little overlap between the types of property that a home-buyer (first-time buyer or those trading up) or and investor will consider. Budget plays a part in this but the other considerations are property type i.e. house or apartment, or location i.e. town, country or outskirts of town.  Knowing who your buyer is likely to be makes marketing the property more straightforward and increases relevant enquiries quickly.

3. Price it right

Property valuation is actually quite different to pricing a property to bring to market. There has to be some element of strategic thinking involved. Depending upon the local supply and demand, it might make sense to start at a lower price to garner as much interest as possible from as many different buyers as possible. The higher the number of bidders, the better chance of achieving a strong price.  On the flip side of that, it is important not to price too low so that prospect buyers are put off by some perceived ‘flaw’ or reason for the cheap price. This is particularly true when it comes to home buyers, who often equate price with value i.e. a higher price means better quality, but this is not always true.

4. Present it well

I mentioned earlier that there are no second chances and this is always true for first impressions.  It can be tempting just to bring your home to the market as is just to ‘test the marketplace’, with the intention to carrying out any upgrading works if and when they are needed. My best advice here is to resist this temptation. As a general rule, home buyers will not revisit a property they have already viewed and ruled out due to lack of appeal. The one exception to this is a substantial price drop but this is a very costly mistake to make. You really do only have one chance for your home to make a good first impression, don’t blow it for lack of a coat of paint!

5. Carry out necessary work

Following on  from my point above, if a property needs clearing (most do) and a fresh lick of paint, do it prior to coming to the market.  Similarly, small fixes like cupboard doors with loose hinges or dripping taps should be rectified before starting viewings. It is amazing the tiny details that house-hunters focus on when viewing a property. Quality fittings, like new door handles and freshly varnished door/doorstops will generate a positive feeling with potential buyers. I am not suggesting that you need to rip out your bathroom but a new set of mats might just help.

6. Neutralise the decor

Too many home-owners are confused about the difference between a property with character and a property with the owns personality stamped all over it. Character is good, excessive personality – usually demonstrated by shocking pink bedrooms or nude art painted in the bathroom – will rarely help home buyers imagine their own future lives in the home. There is a time and a place for tasteful minimalism and selling your home is both the time and the place.

7. Get the best photos

Now that you have your home looking great and de-personalised, it’s time to capture it in its best light. Even great properties need great photographs to make them stand out on-line. The trick here is not to try photograph the entire room in one shot but rather showcase beautiful features that would be lost in a wide room shot. Help potential buyers find the beauty in your home.

8. Timing isn’t everything, but it helps!

In the past, property was relatively seasonal in that there were quiet times and busy times; however, since the property crash and as the market recovers, seasons have gone completely out of the window.  It is true that investors and ready buyers will buy at any time. Having said that, home-buyers, particularly those with school-going children will generally start looking to the market in March/April time for a summer move. This is a great time to launch a family home on the market to a captive audience.

9. Be flexible

The most frustrating part of selling your home is that you can do everything right and still the right buyer hasn’t come along. If you find yourself in this position, it is worth re-evaluating the price, presentation and marketing of the property. While it is a cliche to say that you only need one buyer (provided that it is the right buyer!) this is true. Remaining flexible gives your property the best chance of sale.

10. Eliminate legal delays

Finally, have title deeds taken up (if with your mortgage lender) and have them delivered to your conveyancing solicitor prior to sale agreeing your home so that contracts can be prepared and ready for when the right buyer (and the right offer) comes along. This will give your solicitor the opportunity to spot and resolve any legal issues, and essentially to pre-empt any queries that the purchaser’s solicitor is likely to raise, before they become a cause for delay.

Remember that all-important ‘curb appeal’ to tempt buyers in.