Starting out in Co Kildare
The Glades at Oldgrange Wood, Monasterevin, Co Kildare ASKING PRICE: €257,000-€266,000 AGENT: Kelly Hudson Properties (045) 430336
OLDGRANGE Wood is a development situated on the northern edge of the historic town of Monasterevin and is designed to appeal to young families on a budget. Monasterevin originated from a monastery built on the river Barrow in the sixth century by St Evin, but it became a booming commuter town after the 2004 opening of the M7 motorway, which enabled its residents to drive the 68km to Dublin more quickly.
Off the town’s Rathangan Road, ten threebed semi-detached homes in two different styles were released last month at Oldgrange Wood, in a phase called The Glades. Prices at the Kingston New Homes scheme start at €257,000 for the B type (1,227 sq ft), while Type A is a tad more expensive with starting prices of €266,000 as it has 1,486 sq ft of living space and comes with a large floored attic with strengthened trusses and a staircase, making it more easily converted at a later date.
At the Glades, the bottom half of each façade is in brick while the top half is finished in render. An angular canopy hangs over the hardwood Ultratech front door. All the windows are high-performance, triple-glazed and made from UPVC, and there is a bank of bay windows to the front of the ground floor and first floor. There is room for two cars in the front driveway, and a side access gate leads to the seeded back garden.
On the ground floor, there is a sitting room with a front bay window and double doors that open onto a kitchen-cum-dining room with space for another family seating area. French doors lead from the dining area to the back garden. A utility/guest WC is plumbed for a washing machine and dryer. Upstairs are three bedrooms, including a master en suite, and a family bathroom.
Buyers can choose from a range of countertops and matching upstands for the modern fitted kitchen, which is available in different colours and finishes. There is a stainless-steel backsplash to the hob, a stainless-steel sink, provision for integrated appliances, and plenty of USB power points. Large Velux windows on the kitchen roof allow for additional natural light, and there is a tiling allowance of €1,500 for the entire home.
A stairs with newel posts and a handrail made from solid wood leads to the first floor, where there is a bathroom with a contemporary-style bath and mixer tap and sanitaryware. Purchasers also have a choice of three colours for the built-in wardrobes to the master bedroom and second double bedroom. An electric pump shower and sanitaryware will be installed in the master bedroom en suite. The insulated water tank is located in the hot press, which has been shelved for storage.
The A-rated homes have PV roof panels to generate extra electricity, and the natural gas heating can be controlled at three different zones; natural gas can also be provided for cooking if requested.
Oldgrange Wood is 3.5km from junction 14 of the M7 which links Dublin and Limerick. The town also has regular train services to both Limerick and Heuston stations, with the rail trip to Dublin taking 42 minutes at peak times.
Viewing is by appointment.