Photograph 1 of 34 of Hopestown, Ballinea, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
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Hopestown, Ballinea, Mullingar, Co. WestmeathN91R5D2

€299,950

3 Bed~1 Bath~80 m²~BER G

What you'll like:

  • Generous site size: The property sits on a spacious 0.6-acre plot, offering plenty of outdoor space for gardening, recreation, and potential future extensions.
  • Proximity to town: Located only 6 kilometers from Mullingar town, residents can enjoy peaceful country living while staying close to essential amenities.
  • Excellent interior condition: The accommodation is presented in very clean and well-maintained condition throughout, allowing new owners to move in with minimal immediate effort.
  • Cozy solid fuel stove: A traditional brick fireplace featuring a solid fuel stove anchors the open living space, providing a warm and charming focal point.
  • Dual heating system: The house benefits from a flexible dual-heating arrangement combining oil-fired central heating with the solid fuel stove for reliable warmth.
  • Separate sitting room: Having a distinct second reception room offers flexibility for family living, entertaining guests, or creating a quiet home office.
  • Detached storage shed: A useful outbuilding positioned to the rear provides ample secure storage for tools, equipment, or hobby workspace needs.
  • Attractive front entrance: The approach features a solid tarmac driveway framed by a traditional stone wall and metal gates, creating a welcoming first impression.
  • Expansive lawn areas: Well-kept lawns extending to both sides of the residence offer safe outdoor play spaces and pleasant views from the windows.
  • Manageable floor area: The 80 square meter layout is compact and efficient to heat and maintain, perfectly suited for first-time buyers or downsizers.
  • Stable asking price: The asking price has remained firm at 299,950 euros since tracking began, suggesting a confident seller with limited initial pressure to discount.
  • Rural tranquility: The peaceful countryside setting in Ballinea provides a quiet escape from urban noise while maintaining a strong sense of community.
  • Natural light exposure: The detached nature of the site ensures good perimeter clearance, allowing natural sunlight to enter the home from multiple directions.
  • Parking convenience: The substantial tarmac driveway easily accommodates multiple vehicles off-road, ensuring effortless parking for residents and visiting guests.
  • Clear boundary definition: Established front boundary walls and gates provide a clear sense of ownership, privacy, and security for the front gardens.
  • Functional family layout: The three-bedroom and one-bathroom configuration offers a practical footprint for small families or couples seeking spare guest rooms.
  • Accessible location: Main regional access points near Mullingar facilitate straightforward commuting connections toward broader regional hubs and major employment centers.
  • Potential for upgrading: While currently well-maintained, the generous site and structure offer scope for future cosmetic personalization or energy efficiency enhancements.
  • Outdoor entertainment potential: The extensive side and rear grounds provide an ideal canvas for outdoor dining patios, barbecues, and extensive landscaping projects.
  • Strong local demand: Rural properties near growing regional towns frequently attract steady interest from buyers seeking lifestyle shifts and remote-working flexibility.

But keep in mind:

  • Extremely poor BER rating: The property holds a G energy rating, which indicates severe thermal inefficiency and will likely require substantial insulation and heating upgrades.
  • Substantial retrofit costs: Bringing a G-rated home up to modern comfort standards will demand significant capital investment in wall insulation, windows, and heating systems.
  • Single bathroom constraint: With only one family bathroom serving three bedrooms, morning routines could become congested for larger households or visiting guests.
  • Limited floor space: Measuring approximately 80 square meters, the compact interior may feel restrictive for growing families or buyers needing extensive storage.
  • Potential septic tank reliance: Rural location context suggests the property likely relies on a private septic system, which buyers must inspect for regulatory compliance.
  • Well water uncertainty: Private water supply arrangements should be thoroughly tested for potability, flow rate, and filtration requirements prior to closing.
  • Heating dependency risks: Relying heavily on oil and solid fuel requires active management and ongoing fuel purchasing, which can be vulnerable to volatile commodity prices.
  • Stagnant price positioning: The lack of asking price movement since tracking commenced suggests the vendor may hold inflexible expectations during negotiations.
  • High retrofit disruption: Undertaking deep energy efficiency works on a G-rated home will cause significant living disruption and dust for new occupants.
  • Future lending hurdles: Mortgage lenders may scrutinize G-rated properties closely and could potentially require retention sums or energy upgrade commitments before final loan approval.
  • Rural isolation factors: Being 6 kilometers outside Mullingar means regular reliance on private vehicular transport for daily errands, school runs, and shopping.
  • Surface water drainage: Buyers should investigate perimeter drainage around the 0.6-acre site to ensure surface water clears effectively during prolonged heavy rainfall.
  • Roof and attic inspection: The G rating strongly implies that attic insulation may be outdated or absent, requiring urgent professional assessment of roof timbers and insulation depth.
  • Window and door efficiency: Older glazing seals may have failed, contributing to the poor energy rating and necessitating costly window replacements across the dwelling.
  • Boundary maintenance obligations: Traditional stone walls and extensive garden perimeters will require ongoing maintenance, weed control, and occasional structural repairs by the buyer.
  • Outbuilding condition check: The detached rear shed should be inspected for dampness, roof integrity, and electrical safety before relying on it for storage.
  • Ventilation adequacy: Upgrading a G-rated home with airtightness measures requires careful attention to ventilation to prevent condensation, mold, and indoor air quality issues.
  • Limited expansion certainty: While the site is generous 0.6 acres, any future structural extensions will face local planning restrictions and added construction expenses.
  • Resale value considerations: Energy-efficient homes are increasingly favored by modern buyers, meaning a G-rated property might experience slower future capital appreciation.
  • Radon gas mitigation: Rural properties in this region should undergo standard radon testing to verify whether active sump or mitigation measures are necessary.

Price positioning

?
This comparison depends on limited public and listing evidence, which may be incomplete, outdated or not directly comparable. The score is not a percentage, professional valuation or guaranteed estimate. Ask an independent qualified valuer before relying on a property value.
The asking price looks slightly overvalued compared with the available evidence.
  • The asking price of €299,950 appears slightly overvalued relative to the property size of 80 square metres and very poor energy rating, despite offering a generous 0.6-acre site and a convenient location near Mullingar town.
  • Valuation signals are mixed because while the interior and exterior are presented in excellent condition with attractive mature grounds, the G energy rating heavily burdens the asset with imminent and substantial retrofit costs.
  • Strong buyer demand for rural housing and the appeal of private tarmac driveways could support this price level, whereas the exceptionally poor BER rating and historical local trading patterns could heavily undermine long-term valuation confidence.
  • Tracking history shows an unchanged price snapshot since observation began, suggesting a firm initial pricing strategy by the agent, though lack of movement might point to cautious market engagement given the energy efficiency deficit.

Build Analysis

What we know from similar construction types

  • The property features a traditional build style with a solid fuel stove and oil-fired central heating, indicating a dual heating system that should be inspected for efficiency and compliance.
  • Given the G energy rating, a buyer should investigate the standard of insulation in the walls, attic, and floors, as well as the age and condition of the windows and doors.
  • The presence of a detached shed and a generous 0.6-acre site offers potential for future extension or outbuilding use, which should be verified for planning compliance.
  • A comprehensive structural survey is recommended to check for dampness, ventilation adequacy, and the overall integrity of the older structure.

Retrofit Cost*

Possible renovating / insulating expenditure

  • The property holds a G BER rating, which indicates that it requires a comprehensive deep retrofit to achieve modern energy efficiency standards.
  • A deep retrofit for an 80 square metre property typically involves external or internal wall insulation, upgraded roof insulation, triple-glazed windows and exterior doors, and the installation of a heat pump system along with necessary ventilation upgrades.
  • The estimated cost for a full deep retrofit on a property of this size generally ranges from €40,000 to €60,000, though actual costs will depend on detailed contractor assessments and potential SEAI grant availability.

Heating cost*

Estimated expense to heat this property every year

  • Estimated annual heating cost is high, roughly 2,000 to 2,800 euro.
  • The property has a poor BER rating of G, indicating high energy inefficiency, though it benefits from a dual heating system combining oil-fired central heating and a solid fuel stove.

Environmental checks

Area-level evidence and things to investigate

Air quality

Nearby sites

Landfills

None found

Waste facilities

None found

Industrial facilities

None found

Nearby infrastructure

Mobile phone masts

None found

Overhead electricity lines

None found

Underground electricity cables

None found

Flood Safe

7/10

Water overflow reports to follow up

  • The property sits in a rural setting approximately six kilometres from Mullingar, benefiting from a generous 0.6-acre site that generally provides more flexibility regarding surface water management compared to tight urban plots.
  • Official mapping shows no specific designated flood areas directly affecting this immediate location, suggesting a lower baseline exposure to major river or coastal overflow.
  • While regional weather patterns and heavy rainfall can always present localized drainage challenges in the Irish countryside, the elevated and peaceful rural positioning helps mitigate typical floodplain risks.
Supporting evidence: Low

Recent Local Sales

Verified residential transactions published in the previous five years

Sales on the same street or estate

  • SHANDONAGH, BALLINEA, MULLINGAR

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €400,000.00
  • HOPESTOWN, BALLINEA, MULLINGAR

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €172,000.00
  • TUITESTOWN, BALLINEA, MULLINGAR

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €380,000.00
  • KILPATRICK, BALLINEA, MULLINGAR

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €735,000.00
  • TUITESTOWN, BALLINEA, MULLINGAR

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €75,000.00

Recent sales in the wider Mullingar area

  • 9 GORT NA DTOBAR, IRISHTOWN, MULLINGAR

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €790,000.00
  • 3 INIS GLORA, BALLINALACK, MULLINGAR

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €230,000.00
  • 132 THE MEADOW, PETITSWOOD MANOR, MULLINGAR

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €430,000.00
  • 136 BELVEDERE HILLS, MULLINGAR, WESTMEATH

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €382,000.00
  • TULLANISKEY, MULLINGAR, CO WESTMEATH

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €1,020,000.00

Source: Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA), Residential Property Price Register (PPR). Matching uses address information published by the PPR rather than measured map distance. It may omit nearby properties on differently named streets.

Last Sale

A confidently matched previous PPR transaction for this property

  • HOPESTOWN, BALLINEA, MULLINGAR

    Sale date
    Declared sale price
    €135,000.00

Buyer fees*

Associated expenses guide

  • Estimated stamp duty: €2,999.5 — 1% of €299,950.
    ?
    Based on the asking price shown on this page, using standard residential stamp-duty rates. No adjustments are made for VAT, reliefs, mixed-use property or additional land. The final purchase price and your circumstances may change the amount payable.
  • Solicitor legal fees: approximately 1,500 to 3,000 euro plus VAT and outlays.
  • Land registration fees: approximately 400 to 800 euro depending on the property value and registration type.
  • Property valuation fees: approximately 150 to 300 euro.
  • Surveyor fees: approximately 500 to 1,000 euro for a standard structural survey of an 80 square meter home.
  • Annual home insurance: approximately 350 to 650 euro depending on the level of coverage.

Forum Talk

What people are saying about this area

  • Local community groups and social media discussions frequently highlight the strong demand for rural housing within a short drive of Mullingar, particularly properties with generous site sizes like the 0.6 acres offered here.
  • Residents in the Ballinea and surrounding areas often discuss the convenience of accessing local amenities while enjoying a quiet countryside setting, making this rural pocket popular among families and commuters.
  • Local forums frequently mention the importance of upgrading older properties with a G BER rating, with community members sharing advice on grants and contractors available for retrofitting insulation and heating systems.
  • Discussions regarding the wider Mullingar region often emphasize ongoing infrastructural improvements and the appeal of the area's lakes and recreational amenities for prospective movers.

LifeFit Assessment

How well this property may suit your lifestyle

Family

7 areas
  • Young Children

    The property features a generous 0.6-acre site with lawns, providing plenty of safe outdoor play space for young children, though buyers with very young children should verify the proximity to local schools and amenities in Ballinea and Mullingar.

    7/10
  • Teenagers

    The 80 m² floor area offers a cozy three-bedroom layout, but teenagers might find the rural location 6km from Mullingar slightly remote for independent social activities and public transport access.

    6/10
  • Multi-generational Living

    With only 80 m² of floor space, one bathroom, and three bedrooms, the home lacks the square footage or separate living zones typically required for comfortable multi-generational living.

    3/10
  • Single Buyers

    Priced at €299,950, this home offers an affordable entry into country living for a single buyer with a car, though the rural setting requires comfortable driving and commuting habits.

    6/10
  • Couples

    This well-maintained three-bedroom property is ideal for couples looking for peaceful country living with a traditional solid fuel stove and good indoor-outdoor space.

    8/10
  • Empty Nesters

    Single-story or manageable scale on a 0.6-acre site suits empty nesters looking to downsize to the countryside, though garden maintenance on the larger plot should be considered.

    7/10
  • Retirees

    The peaceful rural setting and single-level feel offer a tranquil retirement environment, though buyers should verify the accessibility of local healthcare services in Mullingar as they age in place.

    7/10

Work

3 areas
  • Remote Working

    The peaceful rural setting provides a quiet workspace environment, though buyers should verify local broadband speeds to ensure remote work reliability.

    7/10
  • Hybrid Commuting

    Located 6km from Mullingar with road access, hybrid commuting is feasible, though reliance on car travel is essential.

    6/10
  • Retired

    Fully detached and set in a quiet countryside location, this property is exceptionally well-suited for retirees seeking tranquility.

    10/10

Practical

8 areas
  • Ageing in Place

    The single-level layout on a manageable scale supports ageing in place, though buyers should verify the suitability of doorways and bathroom facilities for long-term accessibility.

    7/10
  • Low Maintenance

    While the interior is reported to be in excellent condition, maintaining the 0.6-acre grounds and traditional features like the stone wall and detached shed requires regular upkeep.

    6/10
  • Secure Gated Entry

    The property benefits from attractive metal entrance gates to the front and a traditional stone wall, enhancing initial security and privacy.

    7/10
  • Minimalist Design

    The home features traditional elements such as a brick fireplace and solid fuel stove rather than stark minimalist architecture.

    4/10
  • Flexible Floor Plans

    The 80 m² layout includes a kitchen/living room, separate sitting room, three bedrooms, and one bathroom, offering standard functional rooms rather than highly flexible open-plan reconfiguration options.

    5/10
  • Heritage Home

    While featuring classic country elements like a traditional stone wall and brick fireplace, it functions primarily as a standard well-maintained rural residence rather than a protected historic structure.

    4/10
  • Ecological Setup

    The property features a dual heating system combining a solid fuel stove with oil-fired central heating; however, the G-rated BER indicates significant potential energy efficiency upgrades should be investigated by the buyer.

    5/10
  • Outdoor areas

    Featuring an abundance of outdoor space with attractive lawn areas to both sides, a detached shed, a tarmac driveway, and a generous 0.6-acre footprint, the outdoor facilities are a standout feature.

    9/10

Interests

9 areas
  • Gardening

    The generous site extending to approximately 0.6 acres with attractive lawn areas provides wonderful potential for keen gardeners to develop landscaping or vegetable plots.

    9/10
  • Walking

    The peaceful country roads around Ballinea offer pleasant local walking routes, though walkers should account for rural road conditions without dedicated footpaths.

    7/10
  • Gym

    There are no fitness facilities within walking distance, requiring a drive into Mullingar for gym access.

    2/10
  • Cycling

    Quiet local country roads can be appealing for cycling enthusiasts, though the 6km distance to Mullingar and lack of cycle lanes on rural stretches require caution.

    6/10
  • Golf

    Mullingar offers golf amenities within driving distance, but players will need a vehicle to access courses.

    5/10
  • Fishing

    The wider Westmeath region is renowned for lakes and angling, making this a reasonable base for fishing enthusiasts with transport.

    6/10
  • Horse Riding

    The generous 0.6-acre site and rural surroundings offer potential space for equestrian interests, though buyers should verify local stable and livery availability.

    6/10
  • Water Sports

    While Westmeath has lakes suitable for water activities, there are no immediate water sports facilities on the doorstep.

    4/10
  • Entertaining

    The welcoming kitchen/living room featuring a traditional brick fireplace and solid fuel stove, combined with abundant outdoor lawn space, creates a lovely environment for hosting guests.

    7/10

Lifestyle

5 areas
  • Quiet Living

    Located in Hopestown, Ballinea, roughly 6km from Mullingar, the property provides an exceptionally quiet and peaceful rural lifestyle away from major urban noise.

    10/10
  • Rural Living

    Set on approximately 0.6 acres of grounds with surrounding countryside, this property perfectly delivers a traditional rural living experience.

    10/10
  • Village Living

    While close to local community pockets near Ballinea, true village conveniences require a short drive into the broader Mullingar area.

    6/10
  • Coastal Living

    The property is located inland in County Westmeath and is entirely unsuited for coastal living.

    1/10
  • Urban Living

    Situated 6km outside Mullingar in a rural setting, this home offers very little urban convenience directly outside the doorstep.

    2/10

Social

6 areas
  • Community Involvement

    Engagement with the local community relies on participating in nearby Ballinea and Mullingar clubs, events, and local groups.

    6/10
  • Café Culture

    Café options are limited locally, requiring a drive into Mullingar town for coffee shops and social gathering spots.

    3/10
  • Nightlife

    The rural location offers no immediate nightlife, which is instead centered in Mullingar.

    2/10
  • Health/Wellness groups

    Wellness classes and community groups are primarily accessed by traveling into Mullingar.

    4/10
  • Networking Opportunities

    Professional networking opportunities are minimal in this rural pocket and require commuting to larger hubs.

    2/10
  • Tech-Hub Connectivity

    The property is located in a rural setting rather than a connected urban tech hub, making high-speed digital infrastructure vital to verify.

    3/10

Listing information

Agent
Egans
Phone
044 934 3044
Current status
active
Published on HouseDelve
11 November 2026
Correction
Report an issue
Property reference: HD-214626HouseDelve · Republic of Ireland

Report checks

Sources used: Public marketplace, Property Price Register, and grounded web research where available.

Automated quality checks: Passed

Estimate — not advice. Actual costs and outcomes can vary materially. Obtain current quotations and professional advice before making financial or property decisions.