The Dream of an Irish Cottage
It's always been a dream of those of us who live in cities, no
matter where in the world, to buy an Irish Cottage and retire
there. For the past ten years, Irish cottage prices spiralled
out of control along with house prices in general, but now it is
possible to spot a bargain or two on the market.
How to buy or rent a cottage in Ireland
Irish Real Estate agents advertise extensively online, in
magazines, and in newspapers. Many newspapers carry a special
property supplement each week and these are well worth having a look
at. In Ireland you will find that Real Estate Agents are
called auctioneers or valuers as well as Estate Agents. A walk
through any large sized Irish town is instructive given the number
of estate agents who advertise their houses and cottage in the
windows. Of course, they don't always carry a price so you
have to call in or call on the phone to find out the price.
Its very much a buyers market at the moment (2010) and there is
debate as to whether the market has bottomed out or has further to
fall.
When the famous, but badly named, Celtic Tiger was at its peak,
and banks were engaged in all sorts of crazy practices like giving
120 per cent loans on houses, thousands of cottages were bought up
and converted into modern bungalows. This has been a great
loss to the country, as the Irish Cottage is as much a part of
Ireland as Shamrock, the Harp, and the green fields.
Questions to ask before buying your Irish Cottage
When you do find a cottage that interests you, don't buy it
because it has a red door and a rose growing over the old
shed. No matter how 'postcard pretty' it looks, a
cottage can consume an awful lot of money in restoration. Is
there damp? Is there woodworm or rot? How does the
septic/sewage system work? Is the house insulated? Is there a
satisfactory water supply? Do you have broadband connection?
Will you need new windows? Check with the relevant County
Council listings to see if the cottage is a listed building. How
large is the garden? Are there any boundary disputes on your
dream Irish Cottage? If it is thatched, is thatch really what
you want? Are you aware of the cost and frequency of
thatching? Is there a planning application for a factory or
scheme of houses in the green field next door?
Rent an Irish Cottage
It's a good idea, if it suits your itinerary and budget, to rent an
Irish Holiday Cottage for a couple of weeks before deciding if this
is the life for you. We have all grown accustomed to the
comforts of modern living and a week or two in a cottage might open
your eyes to the practicalities of owning an Irish cottage.
Cottages range from those that make you feel you are on a camping
trip to those that are so well appointed that you can't wait to buy
your own. But if you do buy, will you live in it all year
round? Will you be able to get insurance for your cottage when
you are back in the city? No problem if you are full time
resident ....unless it is a thatched cottage. Before you
buy a thatched cottage, check to see if you can get insurance.
Not as easy or as cheap as you might wish.
More
information on Irish Cottages here
Information on Irish
Insurance here
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