Tony Kavanagh of Sherry FitzGerald Kavanagh has reported strong sales activity for residential property in all parts of Galway city in the first six months of 2010.
The main activity is in family homes for first time buyers, for expanding families who are trading up, and for those who require smaller properties. “We have seen very strong demand for traditional starter homes such as three and four bedroom semidetached homes in suburban locations such as Roscam, Rahoon, Newcastle, and Knocknacarra,” Kavanagh said. “There is also strong demand for larger detached family homes in areas such as Salthill, Barna, Oranmore, and Taylor’s Hill, where owner occupiers are buying homes with space which they intend to occupy for 10 years plus. These buyers are making their purchasing decisions on needs and practical use of the property for their family structure over a long period of time. Many find they can get quality property which now represents very good value for money.”
It has been a busy and positive six months for the company. Viewing activity is about 50 per cent ahead of last year, and house sales reflect a similar increase on the same period. First time buyers are the most active cohort in the marketplace. Increased affordability has allowed many of them to buy a far more substantial first property than they would have done four or five years ago. In the past 10 years many bought apartments and now they can buy a larger house, often in a location close to where they grew up and are familiar with. In effect, they are buying their second house first.
Tony Kavanagh has reported strong levels of semidetached sales in Knocknacarra in Monalee Manor, An Cimín Mór, Driseóg, Slí Gheal, and Ros Aitinn. Three and four bed semis in areas like Rahoon, Roscam, and Newcastle have also proved very popular. Larger detached homes in Salthill, Threadneedle Road, Devon Court, Dr Mannix Road, Barna, and Bushypark have shown strong demand. Larger homes in the surrounding towns of Claregalway, Oranmore, and Moycullen have also proved strong. Townhouses and apartments in Salthill or the city centre are registering healthy demand with owner occupied developments attracting the most interest.
New homes sales have improved over the past six months. Sherry FitzGerald Kavanagh has sold a number of two and three bed apartments and three and four bed houses for the Kenny Group in Leas na Mara, Knocknacarra. Other sales include two bed apartments in Coill Tire, Doughiska, large luxury homes in Carraig an Iolair in Barna, exclusive seafront apartments at Rockland Court in Salthill, and superb townhouse properties at Cuirt an Dolain in The Claddagh for Cordil Construction.
Purchasers are seeking value for money, which means buying the property at a price that reflects the current market. They are attracted to the better fitted and presented homes first, and the auctioneers advise all vendors to present their property to the best of their resources as this is a key factor in whether you achieve a successful sale or not.
Sherry FitzGerald has experienced three recessions since opening its doors in 1981, and in the past 29 years has grown to be the largest estate agency group in Ireland and the most recognisable property brand with 92 offices nationally.
“Selling property is our business and we know how to achieve successful sales in strong and weak market conditions,” Kavanagh said. “The level of sales we have completed in the past six months proves we don’t just list properties, we sell them. We offer correct market researched advice on the value of our clients’ property before going to market. We advise on presentation of the property and we ourselves feel we will present the property through the marketing mediums to its best advantage with excellent photography (many professionally taken ), floor plans of each property (only agent doing so ), professionally printed brochures, full window display at our offices in Eyre Square, listing on Ireland’s three largest property websites sherryfitz.ie, daft.ie, and myhome.ie, and large colour adverts in local and national papers.
“In addition, Sherry FitzGerald Kavanagh has a very actively managed database of qualified buyers who we call when we receive a new property that matches their needs. It is our job as agents to present our clients’ properties in the very best image and open it to the widest market possible. It is a difficult market at present but the level of successful sales in the past six months proves that with the correct advice, correct presentation, and widest marketing approach which Sherry FitzGerald Kavanagh offers that properties will sell.”
Sherry FitzGerald Kavanagh is looking forward to a busy autumn selling season over September, October, and November and would be happy to offer free and confidential advice if you are considering selling your property.
For more information call Sherry FitzGerald Kavanagh at No 4 Eyre Square on (091 ) 569123 and ask for Tony Kavanagh or Lorraine Scully.
