Keyfield, Ballinlough, Castlerea, RoscommonF45AE19
€150,000
3 Bed~1 Bath~105218 m²~BER G
What you'll like:
- Attractive Asking Price: The highly accessible asking price of €150,000 represents an affordable entry point for buyers looking to acquire a rural home paired with substantial agricultural acreage.
- Generous Land Holding: Spanning approximately 26 acres in total, the property offers vast potential for hobby farming, livestock grazing, or expanding an existing local agricultural enterprise.
- Flexible Lot Options: Available in its entirety or across six distinct individual lots, this layout accommodates diverse buyer requirements from residential purchasers to local farmers.
- Substantial Main Agricultural Block: Lot 10 provides a standalone 12.70-acre block featuring independent lane access, making it highly practical for independent farming operations and machinery movement.
- Renovation Grant Potential: The vacant detached residence should qualify for the lucrative Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, significantly reducing out-of-pocket modernization expenses for the incoming owner.
- SEAI Energy Upgrades: The property offers eligibility for SEAI energy upgrade schemes, enabling buyers to improve thermal efficiency and lower long-term heating costs effectively.
- Peaceful Rural Setting: Situated in a scenic rural townland, the location guarantees exceptional privacy, quiet surroundings, and authentic countryside living without heavy urban congestion.
- Proximity to Towns: Conveniently located within easy reach of Ballinlough Village as well as Ballyhaunis and Castlerea, ensuring daily conveniences and services remain easily accessible.
- Manageable House Parcel: Lot 7 includes the house and an adjoining field totaling 4.49 acres, providing a balanced homestead footprint that is easy to maintain around the dwelling.
- Roadside Plot Flexibility: Lot 7D offers a compact 0.32-acre roadside plot which could serve various ancillary uses or improve local access configurations for the owner.
- Adjacent Forestry Appeal: Lot 7E provides a generous 6.20-acre parcel nested beside mature forestry, creating a picturesque natural backdrop and potential amenity value for buyers.
- Good Road Frontage: Lot 7A offers approximately 1.08 acres with excellent frontage and privacy, enhancing the potential aesthetic appeal and accessibility of the homestead approach.
- Established Rural Community: Located in an established rural farming district, buyers will find supportive neighbors and an active local agricultural and community network.
- Investment Versatility: Investors can capture multiple revenue streams by renting out separate land lots while simultaneously renovating the main residential cottage for resale.
- Traditional Architectural Character: The traditional country cottage footprint allows renovation enthusiasts to preserve charming historic architectural features while upgrading modern internal layouts.
- Independent Lane Access: Selected lots feature dedicated access routes, preventing landlocked boundaries and ensuring smooth logistical management for agricultural machinery and livestock transport.
- Immediate Market Availability: Offered for immediate sale with flexible bidding structures, allowing motivated buyers to secure parcels quickly without protracted negotiations.
- Local Commercial Hubs: Proximity to multiple commercial towns ensures reliable access to livestock marts, agricultural suppliers, and regional employment opportunities.
- Manageable Floor Plan: The three-bedroom layout provides a compact and straightforward footprint for a renovation project, minimizing structural complexity during the construction phase.
- Scenic Country Views: Elevated rural positioning allows for lovely pastoral views across the surrounding Roscommon countryside, enhancing the overall quality of daily residential life.
But keep in mind:
- Extremely Poor Energy Rating: The property carries a disastrous G BER rating, indicating severe thermal inefficiency that will require major insulation and heating overhauls.
- Extensive Modernization Required: The residence is sold requiring complete refurbishment, meaning buyers must budget significant capital and time to make the dwelling habitable.
- Grant Conditions and Claws: Qualification for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is subject to strict residency and timeline conditions that buyers must carefully verify with local authorities.
- Single Bathroom Limitation: Featuring only one bathroom for a three-bedroom footprint, the house requires an internal reconfiguration to meet modern family living standards.
- Agricultural Access Logistics: Buyers should verify rights of way and legal boundaries for all separate lots to prevent potential boundary disputes with neighboring landowners.
- Well and Septic Uncertainty: Private water and wastewater arrangements must be thoroughly inspected by specialists to ensure compliance with modern environmental and health standards.
- Structural Condition Unknown: Hidden defects such as damp, roof degradation, or structural settling could significantly inflate projected renovation costs beyond initial budgetary estimates.
- Utility Connection Costs: Reconnecting or upgrading electricity and telecommunications supplies to a long-vacant rural cottage can involve unexpected delays and connection fees.
- Planning Permission Restrictions: Local rural housing planning controls may restrict future extensions or commercial developments on the agricultural land lots without prior authorization.
- Fencing and Boundary Maintenance: Existing boundaries across the 26 acres may require substantial fencing repairs to securely contain livestock or clearly demarcate separate lot lines.
- Soil Quality Verification: Agricultural buyers should commission an independent agronomic survey to confirm soil fertility, drainage capacity, and grazing suitability across the acreage.
- Fragmented Land Layout: The division into multiple lots means acquiring the entire holding requires competing against specialized local bidders for individual parcels.
- Isolation and Winter Weather: Rural roads leading to Keyfield can be prone to difficult driving conditions during severe winter weather, impacting daily commuting reliability.
- Wastewater Compliance Risks: Existing septic tanks may fail modern percolation tests, requiring the expensive installation of a brand-new proprietary treatment system.
- Asbestos and Hazardous Materials: Older rural cottages frequently contain hazardous materials like asbestos in old roofs or insulation, requiring specialist removal contractors.
- Local Market Liquidity: Reselling individual small agricultural plots in rural Roscommon can sometimes involve extended marketing timelines compared to urban property.
- Financing Complexities: Securing a standard residential mortgage on a G-rated derelict property can be challenging, often requiring specialist renovation loan products or cash funds.
- Drainage and Waterlogging: Certain low-lying land parcels may suffer from seasonal waterlogging, requiring capital investment in land drainage channels to maximize productivity.
- Title and Folio Verification: Legal advisors must meticulously examine the property folios to ensure clear title transfer across all six distinct subdivided lots without encumbrances.
- Ongoing Maintenance Burden: Managing a residential cottage alongside 26 acres demands continuous physical labor and equipment investment to prevent land overgrowth and property deterioration.
Price positioning
?
Not enough reliable market evidence is available to position this asking price.
Build Analysis
What we know from similar construction types
- The property is described as a traditional country cottage requiring substantial refurbishment, which means a buyer should thoroughly investigate the structural integrity of the walls, roof, and foundations.
- Given the rural location and age typical of such traditional cottages, a buyer should verify the condition of private services such as the septic tank and water supply to ensure they meet current environmental and regulatory standards.
- Potential buyers should investigate compliance and planning permissions regarding any historical extensions, alterations, or outbuildings on the holding.
- The listing notes the property should qualify for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, so a buyer should verify their eligibility directly with the local authority.
Retrofit Cost*
Possible renovating / insulating expenditure
- The property has a poor BER rating of G, indicating a severe lack of insulation, inefficient heating, and likely poor airtightness.
- A comprehensive deep retrofit to bring this home to a modern energy-efficient standard (such as a BER rating of B2 or higher) is estimated to cost between EUR 50,000 and EUR 80,000.
- This cost estimate encompasses external wall insulation or internal drylining, roof insulation, window and door replacements, installation of a heat pump or modern efficient heating system, and ventilation upgrades.
- A buyer should factor in potential grants available through the SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) which can significantly offset a portion of these deep-retrofit capital costs.
Heating cost*
Estimated expense to heat this property every year
- Estimated annual heating cost: €2,500 to €3,500.
- Explanation: Given the very poor G BER rating and the need for significant refurbishment, thermal efficiency is likely extremely low, resulting in high energy consumption for heating until substantial upgrades under SEAI energy schemes are completed.
Pollution Safe
9/10Environmental situation to investigate
Flood Safe
8/10Water overflow reports to follow up
Recent Local Sales
Verified residential transactions published in the previous five years
Sales on the same street or estate
CLOONCRIM, BALLINLOUGH, CASTLEREA
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €151,000.00
WILLSBOROUGH, BALLINLOUGH, CASTLEREA
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €295,000.00
CLOONCAN, BALLINLOUGH, CASTLEREA
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €38,000.00
CLOONCAN, BALLINLOUGH, CASTLEREA
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €135,000.00
CASTLEQUARTER, BALLINLOUGH, CASTLEREA
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €109,000.00
Recent sales in the wider Castlerea area
CLOONSHANVILLE RD, FRENCHPARK, CASTLEREA
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €250,000.00
BALLINGARE, CASTLEREA, CO ROSCOMMON
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €75,000.00
Cloonbonniff, Castlerea, County Roscommon
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €85,000.00
TARMON, CASTLEREA, ROSCOMMON
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €185,000.00
TULLY, CASTLEREA, COUNTY ROSCOMMON
- Sale date
- Declared sale price
- €32,000.00
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
No confidently matched previous sale was found in the Property Price Register.
Buyer fees*
Associated expenses guide
- Stamp duty: Approximately 1% of the purchase price, amounting to €1,500 based on the asking price of €150,000.
- Solicitor legal fees: Generally range from €1,500 to €3,000 excluding outlay and VAT.
- Land registration fees: Typically around €400 to €800 depending on the property type and mapping requirements.
- Property valuation fees: Usually between €150 and €300 for a standard mortgage valuation.
- Surveyor fees: Ranging from €500 to €1,200 depending on the depth of the survey required.
- Annual home insurance: Estimated between €400 and €800 per year, though this may vary significantly due to the G BER rating and vacant status requiring specialized vacant property coverage.
Forum Talk
What people are saying about this area
- Local residents in rural Roscommon frequently discuss the benefits and challenges of rural resettlement and renovation grants for traditional cottages.
- Community forums highlight interest in land division and agricultural holdings coming to market in the Castlerea and Ballinlough areas.
- Discussions often center on the availability of local services and connectivity in rural townlands near Ballyhaunis.
- Prospective buyers in the region frequently share advice on navigating the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and SEAI energy upgrades.
LifeFit Assessment
How well this property may suit your lifestyle
Family
7 areas- Young Children4/10
The property requires extensive refurbishment, which poses safety hazards for young children until works are completed. However, the rural setting offers plenty of outdoor space once renovated.
- Teenagers4/10
The isolated rural location offers limited independent transport options or local amenities for teenagers, though the surrounding land provides room for outdoor activities.
- Multi-generational Living3/10
With only 3 bedrooms and 1 bathroom in a traditional cottage requiring complete renovation, space is limited for multi-generational living without substantial extension.
- Single Buyers5/10
An affordable entry price point of €150,000 makes this an interesting project for single buyers with a budget for renovation, though the remote location requires a car.
- Couples6/10
Well-suited for couples looking for a countryside renovation project, provided they are willing to take on significant building work.
- Empty Nesters5/10
Offers a quiet rural lifestyle and single-story style living potential, but the poor BER rating (G) and heavy maintenance requirements must be considered.
- Retirees4/10
The rural isolation and lack of nearby immediate healthcare infrastructure mean retirees should carefully verify how easily they can access essential services.
Work
3 areas- Remote Working6/10
Provides a quiet environment for a home office, but buyers should investigate local broadband speeds and connectivity before relying on it for remote work.
- Hybrid Commuting3/10
The rural location far from major cities makes regular hybrid commuting impractical for most standard office locations.
- Retired5/10
Ideal for a quiet retirement project, provided health and mobility needs do not require close proximity to major medical centers.
Practical
8 areas- Ageing in Place3/10
The property requires extensive modernization and currently has a G BER rating, meaning significant adaptations would be needed to comfortably age in place.
- Low Maintenance2/10
As a traditional cottage requiring complete renovation and set within extensive grounds, maintenance demands will be exceptionally high.
- Secure Gated Entry4/10
The property is rural and private, but lacks pre-existing secure automated gated entry systems.
- Minimalist Design3/10
The structure is a traditional country cottage rather than a modern minimalist architectural build.
- Flexible Floor Plans4/10
The layout is traditional with 3 bedrooms, central sitting room, and kitchen, offering limited flexibility without structural reconfiguration.
- Heritage Home8/10
Retains the charm of a traditional country cottage, making it appealing for those interested in historical or vernacular style properties.
- Ecological Setup6/10
Offers great potential for eco-friendly upgrades, and the listing notes eligibility for SEAI energy upgrade schemes and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
- Outdoor areas10/10
Features expansive outdoor space with options ranging from the immediate house plot up to 26 acres of mixed land and forestry.
Interests
9 areas- Gardening9/10
With extensive land options available including up to 26 acres, there is immense scope for landscaping, vegetable gardens, and outdoor projects.
- Walking8/10
The scenic rural roads and surrounding countryside provide wonderful opportunities for country walks.
- Gym2/10
There are no commercial gym facilities nearby, requiring a drive to larger neighboring towns.
- Cycling7/10
Quiet rural roads offer good cycling routes, though caution is required on narrow country lanes.
- Golf4/10
Golf enthusiasts will need to travel to nearby towns to access course facilities.
- Fishing6/10
The rural Roscommon region is known for its lakes and rivers, though buyers should verify local angling rights and proximity.
- Horse Riding7/10
The substantial landholding and rural tracks make this a viable location for keeping horses, subject to setting up appropriate stabling.
- Water Sports2/10
Not located near major water sports hubs, though inland lakes in the wider county offer some recreational opportunities.
- Entertaining4/10
The current layout requires complete renovation before it is suitable for hosting guests, but large grounds offer long-term potential for outdoor entertaining.
Lifestyle
5 areas- Quiet Living10/10
Located in a peaceful, highly scenic rural setting in County Roscommon, offering exceptional peace and quiet away from urban centers.
- Rural Living10/10
Surrounded by approximately 26 acres of land and mature forestry, this property represents the quintessential rural Irish country holding.
- Village Living6/10
While rural, the property is within easy reach of Ballinlough Village for basic community amenities.
- Coastal Living1/10
The property is located inland in County Roscommon, far from any coastal areas.
- Urban Living1/10
Completely disconnected from urban centers, relying instead on nearby small towns like Castlerea and Ballyhaunis for commercial needs.
Social
6 areas- Community Involvement6/10
Proximity to Ballinlough Village allows for integration into local rural community life and events.
- Café Culture2/10
Café culture is practically nonexistent directly on-site, requiring a trip into nearby commercial towns.
- Nightlife1/10
Zero nightlife options in the immediate vicinity due to the deeply rural setting.
- Health/Wellness groups3/10
Formal wellness groups and classes are scarce locally and would likely be found in larger surrounding towns.
- Networking Opportunities2/10
Professional networking opportunities are very limited in this rural agricultural area.
- Tech-Hub Connectivity1/10
Not connected to any major technological or startup hubs.
Listing information
- Agent
- REA Seamus Carthy
- Phone
- 090 663 0001
- Published on HouseDelve
- 5 September 2026
- Correction
- Report an issue
HD-74A0CCHouseDelve · Republic of Ireland* Estimate — not advice. Actual costs and outcomes can vary materially. Obtain current quotations and professional advice before making financial or property decisions.