A NEWLY-engaged couple have found the “ideal” starter house on Virgin Media’s Help Me Buy A Home
Buyers agent Liz O’Kane was back for a second season of Help Me Buy a Home tonight to unpack the unfiltered realities Irish people face in the search for a home.
Avril and Barry wanted to spread their wings and move out of the family home[/caption]
JP and Tom were Dublin cash buyers looking for a country lifestyle[/caption]
Liz O’Kane was determined to help both couples find their ideal home[/caption]
Liz lends her experience to overwhelmed and frustrated house-hunters and her mission is to get people out of endless viewings and drive them toward that elusive goal of home-ownership.
First up tonight Liz tried to help Westport couple, Avril and Barry.
Avril’s dad passed away seven years ago, which led her mum to give up the running of the family-owned pub.
Two years ago she met her now partner Barry and ever since they have been living above the pub.
The pair wanted to find a three-bedroom bungalow in Westport so they could have their own space to raise a family.
For their search the happy couple had a budget of €290,000, made up of €80,000 in savings and were mortgage approved for €220,000.
They held back €10,000 for stamp duty and possible taxes.
Liz explained that the couple’s hope of a turn-key condition home wasn’t entirely possible within their price-range.
It was more likely they could get a starter home and eventually “sell-up” to their forever home
For their first home, Liz brought the couple just 6km from the town centre to a cute three-bedroom cottage with an asking price of €280,000.
However, they didn’t appear to be totally sold on the home, so Liz brought them to another property in an attempt to meet more of the couple’s criteria.
Next, they were brought to a charming three-bedroom home a bit further afield with an asking price under the couple’s budget of €240,000.
Despite the home coming in well under their budget, the happy couple didn’t seem taken by the property, as Liz exclaimed: “I can’t tell what’s going on with you at all behind those glasses. I can’t tell at all.”
Taking off his shades, Barry admitted: “I’m keeping to myself.”
While Avril said the price and location were “food for thought”.
Soon the reason behind the couple’s hesitations became clear as they contacted Liz telling her about a property they had fallen in love with.
WESTPORT HAVEN
The home, just outside Westport, had been previously viewed by the couple, but they were outbid at the time.
In a twist of fate, that home’s sale fell through putting it back on the market for €260,000.
Liz was adamant the couple should put in the full offer, but Barry wanted to go in lower with €250,000 – leaving Liz less than impressed.
Catching up with the couple at the end of the show, Liz was overjoyed to discover Barry’s prudent nature had paid off as they secured the three-bedroom bungalow for €257,000.
In the time since filming, they also got engaged, with Barry getting down on one knee.
CASH RICH
Elsewhere on the show, viewers met Dublin-based couple JP and Tom, who were selling their mortgage-free apartment in the capital, in place of a country lifestyle.
Together, the couple hoped to sell their apartment for over €800,000 in order to find enough acreage to start an alpaca and chicken farm.
For their first property, Liz brought them to a 6-acre four-bedroom home in Meath, just a forty-minute drive from the capital.
The pair liked aspects of the home, including its tennis court and size, but ultimately felt that it would be too costly for them to renovate.
WICKLOW WILDERNESS
Next, she brought them to a 20-year-old four-bedroom bungalow in Avoca, County Wicklow.
The breathtaking property was situated on ten acres of land in the Wicklow wilderness – the unfinished home didn’t spark much imagination with the couple.
And it didn’t seem much more attractive when Liz revealed its €780,000 price tag.
Finally, Liz brought them to a 3,000-square-foot, five-bedroom home just outside Mullingar in County Westmeath.
The couple were blown away by the “ideal” 9 acre home, complete with a forrest and perfect space for JP’s yoga studio.
However they were almost instantly put off by the €950,000 asking price.
In the end, the couple settled on the “magical” home in Avoca that needed some work, but it had everything the couple wanted.
