2 Oaklawn, Castleknock Road, Castleknock, D 15

Agent: DFM of Castleknock Village

This five-bedroom house in Castleknock Village has a living/dining room with a fireplace, a sitting room and kitchen with doors to the garden. Two bedrooms complete the ground floor, while there are three more upstairs along with a bathroom. BER F

Plus: Cleared of furniture so the space is easy to appreciate

Minus: Needs life injected into it: grey carpets and hardcore surrounds outside are dismal

Windward House, Ballina, Co Tipperary

Agent: Savills

This five-bed house laps up views of Lough Derg at the end of its garden. Sitting on three acres (1.21 hectares) of land including gardens and woods, the house centres on a livingroom with a wood-burning stove There are views of the lough from the kitchen and from the main bedroom, which has floor-to-ceiling windows. The games rooms also has floor- to-ceiling windows. There are two private pontoons. BER F

Plus: Lovely big windows, lakeside setting and heritage villages of Ballina and Killaloe are 1km away.

Minus: It's a bit sprawling but on the plus side it hugs the landscape