I'm taking you to Ireland today, while we still can.
Also, I was reminded in a tweet from Wreck reader Hazel that southern Ireland is pretty fabulous, and cheap, but I hadn't covered it. She sent me the property, above and below, in County Donegal by way of example.
It is handsome and definitely not a wreck, looks like someone has already started updating it. But it's the price - just 150,000 Euro for a big detached, stone-built house in the suburbs - that makes it really interesting.
The detached property is about a mile from the town centre of Ballybofey. There's an impressive hallway, three good-size reception rooms and a small kitchen downstairs; three bedrooms and bathroom upstairs.
Outside is a yard area, detached garage and a good-sized garden.
On the market through Paul Reynolds/Property Partners at 150k Euro, more here and here.
One the even-cheaper-but-more-of-a-wreck side of the equation, is the cottage below, in the County Kerry village of Kilgarvan.
It looks to have been empty for sometime and, given that agent describes one of the two downstairs reception rooms as a "bedroom" (with a look in the corner - yuk...), looks like it's last occupant may not have ventured upstairs for a while either.
Certainly some of the three bedrooms are in a bit of state:
Outside is a small but sweet garden with lovely views and the village location makes it attractive, even on the wet Irish day the photos were taken.
On the market at 40,000 Euro (yes, 40k!) via Gallivan/Property Partners. More here.
But if space and views are more your thing, the property below (my personal favourite) comes with 20 acres of land, gorgeous mountain views and a part-finished project.
Meenala is just outside Gortahork, in Donegal, about 30 miles from Letterkenny.
Basically a derelict, three-room original cottage with a new-built and part-finished big extension.
The open-plan kitchen/living room extension has marble floors, a wood burner, oil-fired central heating and double-glazed windows, new bathroom, and an unfinished mezzanine.
Outside, as well as those 25 acres, is a big new garage and older original buildings.
All that for 125,000 Euro. Imagine what you'd pay for the same space and views in Tuscany?
On the market through Paul Reynolds/Property Partners, more here.
Incidentally, buying property in Ireland is not that much different to buying one in the UK, i.e. painful, slow and costly but mostly worthwhile ; )
There are plenty of guides online, including here and here.
