'Abroad or at home: Irish dwellings where warmth and energy efficiency meet in an embrace of style'

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First time buyers looking for a home before winter can rejoice as this three-bedroom semi-detached home at 10 The Cedars, Classes Lake in Owens has been upgraded to a B2 energy efficiency rating. "Since purchasing eight years ago, the owners have installed high-efficiency radiators and a modern electric fireplace," says Olivia Roycroft of O'\' Mahony Walsh. Other upgrades include new laminate flooring and bathroom and a cleverly designed corner storage room in the kitchen. In listing this property, built in 2002, with a asking price of €345,000, she says that owners who return home to Portugal include most of the contents in the sale, including furniture and appliances (apart from''TV).

The first floor has a long L-shaped kitchen/dining/living room with a modern wall mounted electric fireplace in the living room and white modern handleless kitchen units and corner storage in the kitchen. There is a guest toilet under the stairs and upstairs there is a bathroom and three bedrooms, one with en-suite bathroom. To the front of the property there is parking and to the rear there is a garden with patio, sheds and garden furniture that won't be taken back to Portugal. 'make some buyers happy in time for Christmas.

High Street, Cork City €275,000 Area 59 sq m (635 sq ft) Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 2 Energy Performance Level C3 Unusual in that it is a detached house overlooking a field within a 15-minute walk of the city center, 17 Tonyville on High Street is new on the market at €275,000. Small at 59 square meters, this two-bedroom dwelling, built in 2006, is close to the Coláiste Chríost Rí playing fields. Judy O'\''Brien of ERA Downey McCarthy says the home is in good condition and would be ideal for an investor or young buyer. "It's not rented out, so it's not subject to a rent charge," she says.

Small, central and affordable.

Carrigallin, County Cork''€295,000 Area 110 sq m (1,184 sq ft) Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms 1 Energy Performance Level c3 Visitors coming to view this three-bedroom semi-detached house at 32 Highbury, Waterpark in Carrigaline this week are looking at the adjoining garage and wondering about the possibility of converting it, as many neighbors have already done. That's according to John Corbett of Cohalan Downing, who says a number of young couples have already expressed an interest in the house, built in the 1990s, which is on the market at €295,000.