Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Today the world turns green as we honor the patron saint of Ireland with parades, traditional Irish music, festivals, and the wearing of green.
The occasion is even celebrated here in Cabo, where you’ll plenty of examples of Ireland’s cultural influence…
My home country of Ireland is a beautiful place, dotted with rugged coastal cliffs, rolling green hills, glistening lakes, and ancient forests. Every year, I spend time there in the summer, when the weather is at its best and the wild hillsides burst with color.
Ireland is a romantic place…somewhere that remains popular and desirable among international real estate buyers.
But while Ireland has a strong economy, it also has one of the most dysfunctional real estate markets in the world. Put simply, there’s a chronic shortage of homes. (A shortage I predicted 13 years ago when almost no one would buy Irish real estate). Demand is far outstripping supply and prices continue to rise…house prices rose by 9% in 2024, to their highest level for nearly a decade.
Although I don’t see much opportunity in Ireland right now from an investing perspective (prices are just too high), you can find some charming homes, set among those famous rolling green hills, that would be a lovely lifestyle play for the right person.
Indeed, look outside of Ireland’s major population centers and get into the heart of the Irish countryside and you will find affordable and attractive real estate options.
So, on this festive occasion, I asked my team to dig into rural cottages on the market in Ireland right now. Here’s what they found… (Note: we haven’t done any due diligence on these listings.)
Violet Cottage in Ballyshannon, County Donegal, for $321,000
Donegal, located in the northwest of Ireland, is renowned for its rugged coastline, wild landscapes, and rich heritage. Known as the “Wild Child of Ireland,” Donegal is home to some of the country’s most breathtaking scenery, including the dramatic Sliabh Liag cliffs (the highest sea cliffs in Ireland) and the vast Glenveagh National Park.
Ballyshannon, Ireland’s oldest town, sits at the mouth of the River Erne in southern Donegal. The town dates back to prehistoric times and has a strong musical heritage—it’s the birthplace of legendary blues-rock guitarist Rory Gallagher and home to an annual festival in his honor.
This thatched cottage in Ballyshannon was built in 1750 and has been lovingly preserved. It retains much of its traditional charm while an electric shower and modern refurbished kitchen make it a home for today.
With its whitewashed walls and thatched roof, this is the quintessential image of an Irish cottage. It’s on sale for €295,000 ($321,000). Read the full listing here.
Cozy Cottage in Correaly, County Westmeath for $180,700
County Westmeath, in the heart of Ireland, offers a rich tapestry of historical sites, natural beauty, and cultural attractions.
Here, we found this small two-bed, one-bath cottage spanning 484 square feet nestled in a quiet cul-de-sac in the townland of Correaly. It’s just minutes from the village of Streete and there’s no shortage of things to do nearby.
Historical Athlone Castle is only an hour to the south, as is Lough Ree on the River Shannon, a popular spot for boating and fishing.
And half an hour drive north is Belvedere House and Gardens, an 18th-century hunting lodge set amidst expansive gardens and woodlands. Visitors can explore the Victorian walled garden and its Jealous Wall—a dramatic Gothic folly.
Dublin City Centre is about a 90-minute drive away. The cottage itself has a newly renovated kitchen and bathroom, and two bedrooms. Outside, there’s a south-facing garden and a shed which has been plumbed and wired, and which could be converted into a home office.
This property is on the market for €175,000 ($180,700). Find the full listing here.
Lakeside Views in Glencar, County Sligo, for $316,600
County Sligo, in the west of Ireland, is known for its stunning landscapes, rich literary history, and vibrant cultural scene. Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and rugged Benbulben mountain, Sligo is closely associated with poet W.B. Yeats, who drew inspiration from its landscapes, particularly Lough Gill and the Isle of Innisfree.
The Glencar Valley, just outside Sligo town, is renowned for its lush greenery, dramatic cliffs, and winding rivers. The valley is best known for Glencar Waterfall, a 50-foot cascade made famous by Yeats in his poem The Stolen Child. Surrounded by steep forested slopes and Glencar Lough, the area is a favorite for hikers, photographers, and nature lovers.
My team found this attractive, modern two-bed, one-bath cottage with 775 square feet of living space in the Glencar Valley. “Butterfly Cottage” has stunning views over the lake. Though in a rural setting, it’s only 10 minutes’ drive from Sligo town center.
The living room features double French doors leading out onto a paved patio with lake and mountain views. One of the two double bedrooms also has lake views.
This house is on the market for €290,000 ($316,600). Read all the details here.
Restored Cottage in Ballinacarrow, County Sligo for $240,100
Also in County Sligo is this restored and extended cottage in the village of Ballinacarrow, a 16-minute drive south of Sligo town.
The three-bed home spans 1,097 square feet and comes with detached stone outbuildings and a patch of bogland/peatland located about two miles from the house.
The house has a living room and a fully fitted kitchen that are connected by a sliding door to allow for open-plan living. And from the kitchen, there’s access to the rear garden. The cottage sits on a lot of just under an acre.
This house is on the market for €220,000 ($240,100). Read all the details here.
A Luxury Home in County Wexford for $1.3 million
And to finish, something a little more luxurious…
Wexford, in Ireland’s “sunny southeast,” is known for its stunning coastline and vibrant arts scene. It’s home to the Wexford Opera Festival, attracting performers and visitors from around the world. The county’s coastline features some of Ireland’s best beaches, including Curracloe Beach, known for its soft sands and appearance in the movie Saving Private Ryan.
Our final listing is less than four miles from the town of Gorey in north County Wexford, a popular spot for commuters and holidaymakers.
This seven-bed family home is located on the southern slopes of Tara Hill, a natural landmark, and has panoramic views of the Irish Sea. Spanning 5,899 square feet, “Tearmann” has three baths. The master suite has unobstructed views of Tara Hill and includes a walk-in wardrobe, while the ensuite bathroom is fitted with a standalone jacuzzi bath.
Outside, the manicured grounds cover 1.47 acres and there are multiple patios to soak up the view.
And the price? A cool €1.2 million ($1.3 million). Browse the full listing here.
Wishing you good real estate investing,
P.S. Next week, I’ll be sending you The Real Estate Buyer’s Guide to Panama. This report has everything you need to know about the best places to buy real estate in this booming Central American country, and answers all your questions on closing costs, legal dos and don’ts, visas, healthcare, and more.
And it’s free to you as an Overseas Dream Home reader! That’s coming this week.
P.P.S. Do you have a question about a particular overseas real estate market? Or do you have any thoughts/suggestions/feedback on the locations you hear about here in Your Overseas Dream Home? Drop me a line here. I’d love to hear from you.
Here’s a question I recently got from a reader…
Celia R. asks: Hi. We are open to places in Europe and fixer uppers where we can live for part of the year and maybe sell it eventually. We have looked in Portugal, Italy, France and Ireland. We retired and want a place to enjoy and maybe make a profit.
Ronan says: Thank you for your email, Celia. That sounds like an exciting plan! You can find lots of fixer-uppers in Portugal, Italy, France, and Ireland. Though if your long-term goal is to eventually make a profit on your property, you’ll have to choose your location carefully.
In Portugal, one example of a place to consider is the small town of Caminha, on the country’s northern border with Spain. This community is virtually unknown to the tens of millions of tourists who flock to Portugal each year. But Caminha, alongside other towns and cities in the far north of Portugal, has immense potential. So confident am I in the future of this town and this region that I recently purchased a historic mansion here.
You’ll find lots of fixer-uppers on the market in this area. For instance, this terraced house spanning 2,712 square feet is on the market for €159,500 ($174,200).
The Italian island of Sicily is a land of historic cities, ancient temples, charming villages, towering mountains, and stunning beaches on every shore. Last year, I asked one of my scouts, Ciaran Madden, to investigate Sicily’s hill towns. What he found there was incredible. Read his scouting report here.
You’ll find homes on the market here for as little as €10,000 to €15,000. Those homes are in better condition than you might imagine, but often require significant renovation work.
If you’re willing to send a bit more, you can find homes that are in livable condition, and require updating and modernization rather than wholesale renovation work. You can pick one up for under €25,000. For example, this detached house is for sale in Mussomeli for €20,000 ($21,750).
Turning to France, you’ll find lots of options. For instance, this four-bed house in Toulouse, spanning 1,292 square feet and dating from 1800, is currently on the market. It comes with 1.7 acres of land. There are homes on the market like this across the country.
The dysfunctional Irish property market is trickier, with bargains in short supply here. But as you’ve just read, if you look to more rural locations and away from the tourist hotspots, you may find something that fits your requirements.
Best of luck with your fixer uppers, Celia.