WHY IS LIVING beside the sea a common want for those looking to buy a home?

According to recent studies, there are several benefits to living beside the sea. Those who live beside the sea are more likely to have good mental health, with improved air quality and opportunities for exercise afforded by the beach being a big reason. Access to blue spaces in general is said to be good for both your body and mind.

If you are looking for your dream home near the seaside, you should discover Folkstown Park, which is located just a five minute’ drive from Balbriggan beach. This is a new collection of family homes right beside the seaside town of Balbriggan in north Dublin and is brought to the market by Glenveagh, one of Ireland’s leading community builders.

This picturesque setting is home to countless amenities, with plenty of shopping and dining options as well as gorgeous sights to take in. Balbriggan Lighthouse, Martello tower and Ardgillan Castle and Demesne are all amazing places for a stroll, with these sites all close to Folkstown Park.

Ardgillan Castle in Balbriggan.

Ardgillan Castle has a range of family-friendly activities as well as views over the Irish Sea, with a gorgeous vista stretching from the Mourne Mountains to Lambay Island. You can enjoy weekend woodland walks in the grounds, stroll through the Rose and Walled Gardens, take a tour of the castle and partake in the regular family events throughout the year. 

Folkstown Park (take a virtual tour here) is not just close to the town of Balbriggan but it is also superbly located just a short drive from Dublin (45min), Drogheda (25min) and Skerries (15min), with the M50, M1 and N2 road links just minutes away. Those needing to commute into the city centre can enjoy regular bus and train services to and from Dublin, meaning a stress-free daily commute. A train ride from Balbriggan to Connolly station takes as little as 40 minutes. 

Two, three, four and five-bedroom homes are available in the community, with detached, semi-detached and terraced homes on sale. These range in price from the two-bed semi-detached The Hazel for €350,000 to the €550,000 five-bedroom detached The Elder. 

All homes in Folkstown Park are new builds and boast excellent energy efficiency credentials, with a minimum A-rating on the BER scale, thanks to high standards of insulation and air tightness. These modern homes are equipped with the latest technology, leading to high levels of comfort. Sustainable measures are sprinkled throughout the home, including solar panels, heat pumps and pre-wiring for electric vehicles should you have one now or in the future.

Stylish and beautifully-designed family homes are on offer at Folkstown Park.

As with all Glenveagh builds, potential buyers will be supported with unrivalled service by helping to simplify the buying process, offering advice and supporting buyers every step of the way. 

Folkstown Park is perfectly suited for first-time buyers as it qualifies for both the First Home Scheme and the Help to Buy Scheme.  

Let’s take a two-bed property in Folkstown Park, The Hazel, as an example of how you can avail of both schemes together. The home purchase price is €350,000 and first-time buyers are required to have a deposit of 10% of the property value.

With the Help to Buy scheme, you can get a maximum of €30,000 towards your deposit, meaning the remaining deposit is only €5,000. This means the total mortgage needed to purchase the home would be €315,000. For more information on the Help to Buy scheme, check out Glenveagh’s site.

The First Home scheme can bridge any difference between the deposit and the mortgage up to the value of 20% of the property price (when used in conjunction with the Help to Buy scheme).

Every home in Folkstown Park is warm and comfortable, with the highest standards of air tightness and insulation.

Under the current central bank rules, mortgages can account for up to four times the gross salary of applicants. For a mortgage applicant(s) with a salary of €65,000, that equals €260,000. If we combine the deposit and the maximum approved mortgage, this still leaves us with a shortfall of €55,000 compared to the purchase price.

This is where the First Home Scheme comes in, by providing that €55,000 in return for a 15.7% equity share in the property.

With the First Home scheme, there is no charge for the first 5 years, and a maintenance charge is applied after that. For more information, check out Glenveagh’s site.  

For further information on Folkstown Park and to request a viewing, register your interest here.

Folkstown Park is brought to you by Glenveagh, one of Ireland’s leading community builders.