Christmas Cheer for First Time Buyers

News Release


CHRISTMAS CHEER FOR FIRST TIME BUYERS
Affordable Housing through Respond! Housing Association

Respond!, Ireland’s largest Housing Association, will provide some Christmas cheer for those hoping to purchase their first home as it has just announced a new scheme of affordable houses in Love Lane, Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny. The development will contain 28 homes and anyone who fits the affordable housing criteria can apply.

Fr. Pat Cogan, Managing Director Respond! said: “We are delighted to announce this new development in Kilkenny and to be in a position to provide high-quality, modern, affordable homes to those who may feel excluded from the current housing market. Given the increasing cost of houses in Ireland, this new development will provide many first time buyers with a very real possibility of purchasing their first home.”

These homes will be made available under the Affordable Housing Scheme, as promoted by the Department of the Environment and Local Government, which aims to help lower-income households to buy their own homes. House prices will range from €153,000 for a two-bed to €183,000 for a four-bed. The scheme provides individuals or couples with the opportunity to buy newly constructed homes in areas where property prices have created an affordability gap for those on lower incomes. These properties are then offered for sale to eligible first time buyers at prices significantly less than their actual market value.

Casltecomer is a picturesque village with many local amenities and services. It is popular with house buyers as it is within commuting distance from Kilkenny, Athy, Carlow, Kildare and even Dublin. Respond! invested a lot of human and financial resources to ensure the design and layout of the site works well and will fit with the fabric of the scenic Kilkenny village.

Fr. Cogan added: “At Respond! we believe in building homes and communities, not just houses. This is what we feel we have achieved with our development in Castlecomer and we look forward to commencing this project in early 2007.”

Expressions of interest are being sought through two local auctioneers, John Buggy, and Pat Gannon from whom brochures on the development can be obtained.


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For further information, please contact:
Aoife Walsh, PR Officer, Respond!