Last Friday saw leading Galway property expert DNG Maxwell Heaslip & Leonard bring 11 lots to the market in the first of its series of auctions for 2014. Following a hugely successful auction series in 2013, the St Francis Street based agent started the year on a high note with nine of the 11 lots selling on the day.
Interest was keen in a number of lots with eager prospective buyers taking their seats from 2pm in the Radisson Blu Hotel. Shortly after 3pm, auctioneer James Heaslip took to the floor and addressed the assembled crowd of approximately 200 people who had gathered in anticipation of a lively and productive afternoon. As usual the event was streamed live online attracting interest from all around the country and the world.
Lot 1: Lydican, Carnmore, sold for €290,000
The first lot brought to the auction floor was a detached house located in Lydican, Carnmore. This large country residence, only six miles from Galway city, had guided an AMV of €245,000 in the build up to the auction. With circa 3,300sq ft of living space including a family room, kitchen/dining room, utility, guest wc, sitting room, storage closet, and an en suite bedroom on the ground floor, and three bedrooms, a bathroom, and an office upstairs, it is hard not to be impressed with this property, a sentiment shared by the assembled crowd as interest was keen in this property with bidding rising steadily until the final bid of €290,000 was achieved and auctioneer James Heaslip lowered the gavel.
Lot 2: 2 Lios Ealtan, Nile Lodge – sold for €154,000
The second lot of the day was No 2 Lios Ealtan, situated just off The Crescent in Galway city. With Salthill a four minute walk west and the city centre a four minute walk east, this ground floor two bed apartment is in excellent condition and ready to occupy. Lios Ealtan is a very well presented development of apartments and townhouses, with electronic gated entrance parking, own private door street entrance, and circa 625sq ft of living space. Interest in this property had been extremely keen during the bi-weekly open viewing sessions in the run-up to the auction and, as expected, this interest turned into bidders on the auction floor with auctioneer James Heaslip swiftly navigating his way through the bids to the final bid of €154,000, at which point the property was deemed sold.
Lot 3: 7 Riverside Industrial Estate – sold prior to auction
Lot no 3 was a commercial, light industrial/retail unit in Riverside Industrial Estate. Part of a long established development of similar type properties, this mid-terrace unit is in need of substantial re-building, having suffered from extensive fire damage. Being offered to the market with a ground floor foot print of c2,300sq ft, the building has a ceiling height of 24ft which would lend itself to further development at first floor level. Guiding an AMV of €60,000, this property was sold prior to auction, having received a favourable bid.
Lot 4: 338 Castlepark - sold for €71,000
The fourth lot of the day saw Number 338 Castlepark in Ballybane come to the market. A two bedroom end of terrace bungalow house in a well-established residential area, this property is in need of substantial renovation but offers huge potential for those seeking a well-priced starter home or investment property. Located at the entrance to the estate, the house has approximately 500sq ft of living space, with off street parking to the front and a generous rear garden. Once again, interest was keen in this property with a number of bidders keeping auctioneer James Heaslip busy accepting bids and swiftly exceeding the undisclosed reserve price for this property until reaching the final bid of €71,000.
Lot 5: 212 Gort Na Coiribe – sold for €142,000
With the first four lots of the afternoon sold, auctioneer James Heaslip introduced lot no 5, 212 Gort Na Coiribe, with an air of confident anticipation. Part of an O’Malley built development within minutes of NUIG and Galway city centre, this award winning development is one of the finest the city has to offer. Comprising almost 700sq ft of spacious living accommodation, this beautifully presented two bedroom apartment includes top class fixtures and fittings. With the knowledge that many of the assembled crowd had indeed viewed this property, it came as no surprise to the auction team that interest was again keen in this property with a number of bidders in the running to claim the prize.
Lot 6: 6 University Halls – sold for €146,000
Located on Newcastle Road, directly opposite UHG and beside NUIG, the location of this property was always sure to ensure keen interest! This property is part of a compact mixed commercial and residential development that sees a branch of Ulster Bank and a pharmacy at ground level, with apartments overhead. Number six is on the second floor and is a compact one bedroom unit which has been owner occupied since built, with a range of modern appliances and is ready for occupation. And as expected, no 6 did not disappoint on the auction floor, surpassing its reserve price to achieve the ultimate sale price of €146,000.
Lot 7: 25 Ros Geal, Millars Lane - withdrawn
Lot number 7 saw No 25 Ros Geal, Millars Lane, on the Old Rahoon Road come to the auction floor. Located in a modern development of mixed residential properties, this outstanding duplex townhouse is an extremely well laid out three bedroom residence, which is tucked away to the rear of the development. Approximately 10 years old, this superb property is extremely well finished, with wood floors, extensive tiling, a fully fitted modern kitchen, and a neutral colour scheme throughout. Comprising almost 900sq ft of living space, the property comes to the market with its own private entrance and balcony, parking, and easy access to all amenities, with Galway city just 10 minutes away. Being offered to the market with a guide price of €135,000, the property was withdrawn from the auction floor and is now for sale by private treaty with the agents.
Lot 8: 9 An Luasan, Ballybrit - withdrawn
A detached residence located in the popular neighbourhood of Ballybrit, No 9 An Luasan is a four bed detached residence that offers excellent value as a starter home. Apart from the normal four bedrooms, bathroom, sitting room, kitchen/dining room, utility, guest wc, this residence has many attractive features that include a rear sun room, large front private patio/driveway, granite worktop, and a south facing rear aspect that can be enjoyed with a quality Liscannor stone rear patio. Having failed to secure a sale on the auction floor, the property was withdrawn and is now for sale by private treaty with the agents.
Lot 9: 4 Fionnuisce, Doughiska - sold for €92,000
Number 4 Fionnuisce, off the Doughiska Road, was the ninth lot to be brought to the market. Part of a mixed development of houses and apartments, this spacious two storey, four bedroom, semidetached home is located to the rear of this popular development and is in good condition throughout and ready for immediate occupation, and was sold to include laminated wood floors, tiled bathrooms, a modern kitchen, and a rear decked patio area. An excellent starter home, the value on offer in this property did not go unnoticed by prospective buyers as James Heaslip again got the opportunity to lower the gavel and secure the sale.
Lot 10: 39/40 Coole Haven, Gort – sold for €92,000
Lot no 10, located in the town of Gort in Co Galway, was Nos 39 and 40 Coole Haven. This was the perfect opportunity to buy a pair of semidetached homes which are built to roof level and require substantive completion work internally and externally. The Coole Haven estate is a very short walk from the Square in Gort, which is a thriving town in south Galway. The selling agents anticipated that these properties, which had guided an asking price of €30,000 for the pair, would attract strong interest. Recognising the value at hand, interest was indeed keen for this pair of houses, with a period of frenzied bidding from numerous interested parties eager to capitalise on the fantastic value on offer. Eventually, the final sale price of €92,000 was achieved and the properties were sold for a whopping three times the AMV.
Lot 11: Parkroe, Kilcolgan – sold after auction
The final lot of the day was a detached bungalow located in Kilcolgan, off the main Oranmore-Gort road. This lovely 1970s style bungalow, which stands on a mature site of c0.25 acre, enjoys a large parking area, a double block built shed, and a wooden deck area. This location is a short commute to Galway and also is easily accessible from Craughwell. At 1,500sq ft with four bedrooms, a modern kitchen/diner, family room, and bathroom, this would make the ideal starter or family home. Despite failing to reach the reserve price on the auction floor, the crowd had not yet fully dissipated by the time the sale of this property had been agreed.
Commenting on the day’s proceedings, Fergal Leonard MIPAV, MCEI, said: “We are delighted with the success of the day. There is a definite appetite and confidence returning to the market. This was evident throughout the five weeks of open viewings preceding today’s auction and this interest translated to results today.”
DNG Maxwell Heaslip & Leonard will host its April auction on April 17.
For details on how to list your property for sale, contact the team on 091 565261 or log onto dnggalway.ie
No 2 Lios Ealtan.
No 212 Gort Na Coiribe.
No 338 Castlepark.
No 40 Coole Haven.
No 4 Fionnuisce.
No 6 University Halls.
Parkroe, Kilcolgan.
No 7 Riverside Industrial Estate.
