Address: 1 Boyer Walk, Castle Park Village: Mallow, Co.Cork
Type: 5 bedrooms, detached
Note: Superb finish
Contact: Peter Barry, 087-6609060
Price: €360,000

The old adage holds true as we see the first inkling of, if not a recovery, a semblance of normality returning to the property market. This came in the form of roughly a one per cent increase in the rental yield landlords are receiving. This week, however, the picture has become slightly clearer as to where this increase is being felt and, as always, those homes that can offer the most by way of location are the ones that are most in demand.

Address: 13 St Anthony's Road, Gurranabraher, Cork
Type: Two-bedroom semi-detached
Note: Gas fired central heating
Contact: Redfords, 021-4272000
Price: €165,000

Address: 13 Tivoli Woods, Tivoli, Cork
Type: Two-bedroom apartment
Note: Secure parking space
Contact: Mark Hornibrook, Redfords 021-4272000
Price: €239,000

Address: 61 Evergreen Street, Cork
Type: Two-bedroom terrace
Note: Central location
Contact: Donal Collins, Global Properties 087-9025628
Price: €170,000

Address: 65 Glenheights Park, Ballyvolane, Cork
Type: Three-bed end of terrace
Note: Gas fired central heating
Contact: Michael O’Donovan, Sherry FitzGerald Cork, 021-4273041 086-8205474
Price: €225,000

Address: Grange Cottage, Grange Cross, Ovens, Co. Cork
Type: One/two-bedroom cottage
Note: Expansion potential
Contact: Bowe Property, 021-4879007
Price: €80,000

A balancing act between good and bad news has been taking place this week on the property front. A report from the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) is showing that 9,000 jobs in the sector have been lost in 2009 and a further 3,600 related jobs are affected. This, according to the report, will put immense pressure on the exchequer in the form of a €162m annual social welfare payout. Competing with this grim reading is the news that the rent yield in the private rental market has increased for the first time in over two years.

Address: 25 Laurel Court, Midleton, Co. Cork
Type: Four-bedroom bungalow
Note: Oil fired central heating
Contact: Adrianna Hegarty, Hegarty Properties 021-4639411
Price: €289,000

Address: 22, Mount Sion Road, Greenmount, Cork
Type: Two-bed semi detached
Note: Gas fired central heating
Contact: Redfords, 021-4272000
Price: €249,950