RATHFARNHAM FROM €599,000: Ten of 14 houses in this development first launched two years ago are still for sale – and a receiver has now slashed prices to sell

HOUSES IN the small Butterfield development in Rathfarnham are being sold by a receiver with a price cut of over 50 per cent.

Prices now start at €599,000 for a four-bed family home down from a market high of €1.2 million. One of the houses, the largest detached house, has seen its price fall from €2.8 million to €995,000 – a 64.5 per cent drop.

From the beginning, Butterfield was always a difficult sell. Back in September 2007 when the up- market development of 14 houses went on the market only one sold.

Even though the houses are finished to a very high standard – outside, their old-style timber bay windows are topped with copper and inside there’s high end extras such as underfloor heating, porcelain and Travertine marble tiles in hallways, kitchens and bathrooms – they were perceived to be expensive for their Dublin 14 location.

The developer, Astondale, then relaunched the houses six months later with a price drop of up to 30 per cent but even that resulted in only two more sales and then things stalled.

Douglas Newman Good, now selling for the receiver, has slashed prices for the remaining eight semi-detached houses and two detached houses to a level that might just tempt buyers.

Butterfield is close to the Old Orchard pub and is built on the grounds of Lisheen, an arts and craft style period house that was bought by the developer in 2005. That distinctive and very large 300sq m (3,229sq ft) five-bedroom house has been renovated and it is for sale for €995,000.

The uPVC windows spoil its look somewhat but it is a fine and very spacious rambling family home with plenty of period features and with a good garden.

The other 193sq m (2,077sq ft)detached house currently for sale also fronts onto Butterfield Avenue and has four bedrooms, and is priced at €750,000.

Perhaps the reason this one was a difficult sell was that it has a very small back garden, something that tends to be off-putting for growing families. It does however have a very long front garden behind electric gates.

The remaining eight houses are accessed off Washington Lane and are semi-detached with four bedrooms, one en suite, a large eat-in kitchen and a good-sized livingroom. These range in size from 141.5–156sq m (1,523–1,679sq ft). The showhouse will be sold fully fitted out, down to the bedsheets for €635,000.

Butterfield was clearly aimed at the upper end of the market. Kitchens feature a Waterford Stanley range cooker, AEG appliances, and traditional-style painted kitchens from Nolan’s with marble worktops and breakfast bar.

Bedrooms have full height wardrobes with integrated shelving. The houses all have decent-sized utility rooms, central vacuum, higher than average ceilings and zone underfloor heating throughout. The houses were designed by Niall D Brennan Associates.

FACTFILE

NAME: Butterfield, Washington Lane, Butterfield Avenue, Rathfarnham, D14

NUMBER OF HOUSES: 10

PRICES: from €599,950-€635,000 for four-bedroom semis from 141.5-156sq m (1,523-1,679sq ft); €725,000 for one 193sq m (2,077sq ft) four-bedroom detached house; €995,000 for one 300sq m (3,229sq ft) five-bedroom house

FEATURES: reduced in price by over 50 per cent since being launched, kitchens come with Waterford Stanley cookers and marble worktops; there is central vacuuming and surround-sound

AGENT: Douglas Newman Good

WEBSITE: www.dng.ie