Homes in Ireland regularly sell for well above their asking price and buyers are frustrated by what they perceive as a lack of transparency and a suspicion of ‘phantom bids’ designed to push prices higher
‘Every bid should be logged’: Ciarán Mulqueen, creator of the popular Instagram account and podcast ‘Crazy House Prices’. Photo: Frank McGrath
In early October, a burnt-out house in the Finglas area of Dublin went on sale with an asking price of €225,000 following an arson attack. The estate agent’s promotional video went viral across the internet when the auctioneer described the house as a “fantastic opportunity for anyone looking for a project or investment”.
Auctioneers have always had a talent for florid and upbeat descriptions of their properties. Beware the “cosy residence with convenient transport links”. It’s likely to be a tiny wreck of a home next to a busy road.