A newly installed window shows off one of the city’s most famous landmarks

14:09, 23 Feb 2026Updated 14:57, 23 Feb 2026

Inside ‘AI house’ for sale in Cork that hit national headlines

This is the lovely little Lough-side home that made national news over an interesting way to catch buyers’ attention. Agents Auctioneera used ‘digitally enhanced images’ as part of the online listing, using AI to fill the home with digital furniture and, most eye-catchingly, a hallucinated new landscaped garden full of flowers.

The Advertising Regulator ruled last week that AI images are ‘not likely to mislead’ househunters as long as they are properly marked as what they are – artificially generated images. And indeed, Auctioneera did just that in its online advertisement for 258 Pearse Road in Ballyphehane. It was the first time the Cork-based estate agents had used AI to ‘digitally stage’ a home for sale.

The AI potential (left) and the home in real life (right)

There are 51 photos on the listing, and about 16 of them use AI-generated imagery showing off the ‘what could be’ potential of the home. They all feature the disclaimer: “AI-generated image to show property potential.” It’s like physically staging a home using real furniture – a practice which is very common in the property industry – except far more accessible for both agent and seller, Helen O’Keefe, Director of Auctioneera, told CorkBeo.

“We’re certainly not trying to dress it up as something it’s not,” she said as she showed us around the beautifully retrofitted 1950s semi-d. While the AI imagery is far from perfect, including removing windows and blocking off doors, Helen said: “It’s purely to give people an idea of what could be done with the home. We have the original photos there too, next to the enhanced ones, so it is purely showing its potential. And of course, it was all done in agreement with the vendor.”

“Some people were annoyed, yes,” she said, “but this is simply digital staging. We have it clearly labelled, we show the floor plans, and buyers cannot make an offer without seeing the home. Nothing is hidden here, and why would we when it’s been retrofitted to this standard?”

The house on Pearse Road overlooks the Lough and has been completely retrofitted(Image: Sara Rountree)

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The perfectly manicured shrubbery and plants digitally imposed in the garden were of particular interest, given the contrast with the bare gardens in reality. According to the Journal, transforming the gardens to the standard shown in the spruced-up images could cost tens of thousands of euros. Helen said, “We don’t know what kind of budget the buyer could have, so we show it at its best.”

‘Digital staging’ has actually been around for far longer than any easy AI home-enhancing tool. There are design companies that specialise in digitally filling photos of homes for sale with furniture to show what the spaces look like when lived in. In recent years, estate agents have begun experimenting with adding blue skies and roaring flames in fireplaces when listing homes. (Keep an eye out next time you’re scrolling Daft!)

With the power of AI now, it’s far more accessible (and affordable) for both property sellers and agents to showcase a digitally staged home, Helen said, adding that it’s likely to see a boom in popularity among estate agents thanks to the favourable advertising regulator ruling.

An AI design for a cosy living room (left) blank canvas for a new buyer (right)

And with a house as beautifully converted as this, it’s understandable as to why they would want to show it off at its peak potential. The home may be nearly 80 years old, but it has been renovated to the standard of BER A1 – an incredibly rare find for properties like this, Helen explained.

The 69 sqm two-bed, two-bath is up for sale for €420,000 with loads of potential in a very sought-after suburban neighbourhood. On the site adjacent, five new properties are being developed. Interested buyers can keep an eye out for updates on offers and viewing times on the Auctioneera website here.

When we went to visit, work was underway on new outdoor steps to the home. While the exterior and gardens could do with some TLC, walking into the cosy home is like stepping into a fresh new-build (with a touch more character). They’ve even added a new window to overlook the Lough, a view of one of the most famous landmarks of Cork. The current homeowner took it on as a project dedicated to her passion for environmental sustainability.

“Once moving to Ireland over three years ago, I purchased a house and modified it to be a net-zero energy house. I was surprised at how much pushback there was here in my adopted country to taking these actions. I wanted this project to be a demonstration of how you can have a comfortable and healthy home that is also a net-zero home,” the US native said.

“There are really only a few things that need to be done: reduce energy use and leakage, and install solar panels that make enough electricity to power your home. We did this all at once for this house at Pearse Road, but many of the tasks can be done a bit at a time, and even as DIY projects.”

The AI potential (left) and the home in real life (right)

Considerable controversy over the AI images and national news outlets covering the story means the Pearse Road home has had eyes across Ireland on it – including attracting huge interest from swathes of hopeful first-time buyers hoping to get on the property ladder in Cork. And what a grand home to start with – an ideal city home, with most of the leg work done and a project garden to play with.

Upgrades to the air-tight home, including removing the chimney, completely wrapping the living space with insulation, new double-pane windows and doors, heat pumps and energy-efficient appliances. Helen explained: “You’ll have practically no bills, which is always welcome news for buyers.”

A solar energy system provides more than enough electricity to power the house throughout the year, and the owner said she hopes a home like hers will “help educate and inspire others all over Ireland to make their own homes healthier, more affordable and more environmentally sustainable.”