Adamstown: To buy or not to buy

dublin24guy

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this site and am hoping you can help.

I've recently been given mortgage approval and am considering buying in Adamstown. I've seen a place I really like in Stratton and I'm wondering if anyone is living there now and can tell me what the area is like.

It seems very quiet whenever I've been down there and having seen some older posts on Adamstown here which talk about it being a ghost town and the developer not finishing it I can't help but think am I making the wrong decision to buy here.

Also, is the rental potential good in the area? I would think so with the train station making the city centre so accessible but it is a bit far out from town.

Any advice at all would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

Piriz

hi dublin24guy

Personally id stay away from it,
Adamstown is one of the final developments of the boom...meaning its projections were ambitious to say the least i.e. cramming as much property in to the space as perceived sell-able, the properties themselves are probably not the best interior proportion wise, if the area is unfinished this is a big warning sign! commercial units will probably lie vacant for a long time, the community element will not develop if majority of units are unsold and also if there are still loads of units unsold they will continue to drop the price in stages...market skimming effect..each time price drops some people will buy as they see it as suitable/affordable, then when sales cease another marketing plan is devised to launch whats left at a lower price...etc. etc.
I would imagine rental yields would be terrible, Adamstown is miles away from Dublin, train or no train, nobody will rent in a ghost town when there are better areas available.
i'd clue myself in on the property economy before i'd make any moves...
be aware of what affect unemployment, negative equity, emigration, increase of interest rates, restricted lending criteria, reduced liquidity in the banks, property taxes, management fees, etc have on supply and demand i.e. demand is hugely restricted and supply is enormous..plenty or room to save ~20-50% over time depending on where you buy.
Plenty of threads on this forum to clue yourself into the market...

amdublin

Piriz wrote: »

I would imagine rental yields would be terrible, Adamstown is miles away from Dublin, train or no train, nobody will rent in a ghost town when there are better areas available.

10 miles/15-20 minutes on the train. Doesn't seem bad to me atall?

I'm near enough to it. Doesn't seem to be a ghost town to me. I'd leave there over Lucan (with their traffic!) any day. Seems to have alot of community events going on according to this:
http://www.adamstown.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=379&Itemid=339

I'd say it is worth viewing. And at the Right Price could be worth buying/living there.

Happy house hunting dude!

the_syco

amdublin wrote: »

Seems to have alot of community events going on according to this:
http://www.adamstown.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=379&Itemid=339

...with all of them happening in Lucan.

Oh, and the train goes to Heuston, so if you work in the city centre, you'll probably have to get the Luas from there to the city centre.

My advice: rent there for a while if you can. If you don't like it, you can move out after a year. If you buy a house there, you're there for life. Also, as the price of houses is still dropping, buying one there now isn't a good idea.

Mr Amazing 2

One of the lads in work used to live in Adamstown and he had to move due to repeated burgularies. Definitely have a chat with the local garda's on the beat and see if they think there's a problem.

+1 on the renting for 6 months and at the moment there's no real rush .

Best of luck, hope you find a home soon.

the_syco

Mr Amazing 2 wrote: »

One of the lads in work used to live in Adamstown and he had to move due to repeated burgularies. Definitely have a chat with the local garda's on the beat and see if they think there's a problem.

Ever hear of neighbourhood watch? You see your neighbours house getting burgled, you ring the police. Well, in Adamstown, some of the places would have one house occupied out of maybe thirty empty houses.

So if you want a free TV, break the door down when they're in the pub, and take whatever you want, and see how fast the Gardai get there from Lucan... if anyone even rings them.

So yeah, I can see why there's a high rate of burglaries there...

Dr_Phil

dublin24guy wrote: »

I've recently been given mortgage approval and am considering buying in Adamstown.

Lucky you, just bought a couple of months ago myself, good luck to you..

Anyway, everything that ends with "town" (Blanch, Adam, Tyrrels, etc) is sh1te IMO. I wouldn't buy there.

MaceFace

Dr_Phil wrote: »

Lucky you, just bought a couple of months ago myself, good luck to you..

Anyway, everything that ends with "town" (Blanch, Adam, Tyrrels, etc) is sh1te IMO. I wouldn't buy there.

Booters.....
Leopards....

Don't ya know we operate to different rules on the Southside

Seriously OP: Keep well away. There is only one place the prices in this ghost town are going, and considering the high level of empties, it will take a lot of discounting to fill it up.

silverharp

all things being equal pick a more mature area. The worst places to live in type of environment are areas not completed, not 100% occupied or where the owners all have negetive equity.

forget the "getting on a ladder" nonsense. Whatever you buy assume it will drop another quarter and or that you will have to hold it for a 10 year period.

AARRRGH

I drove through Adamstown last week. It was weird. Completely deserted. Never seen anything like it before.

I would avoid and wait for prices to drop further.

Zamboni

Future ghetto

Treehouse72

dublin24guy wrote: »

I can't help but think am I making the wrong decision to buy here.

Go with your gut. In this instance, my opinion is that your gut is correct and buying now in Adamstown would be an enormous mistake. Enormous.

dublin24guy wrote: »

Also, is the rental potential good in the area?

No. Too much oversupply. Adamstown will be an atrocious place to try to let out a property in years to come.

Idbatterim

Op what age are you, what are the asking prices?

okeydoke1

AARRRGH wrote: »

I drove through Adamstown last week. It was weird. Completely deserted. Never seen anything like it before.

I would avoid and wait for prices to drop further.

+ 1 drove through a month ago on a sunny Sunday, to have a gawk around on my way to Lucan, place was like a ghost town.
Avoid like the plague I'd say

bogmanfan

I would definitely stay away. If you like the general area, then buy in Lucan.

Tigger

op the best advice anyone can give youis rent an acual building that you may buy later on

then you will know if you like it

dublin24guy

Idbatterim wrote: »

Op what age are you, what are the asking prices?

I'm 25 and asking price is 210.

sodaev

Rent a nice apartment in an area that suits you and your lifestyle.

I would steer clear of any developments which have come on stream in the last few years, most of them were built of cardboard or dodgy concrete, few will be finished amenitiy wise to any degree, bar a Spar or two and a boarded up shop beside with a "reserved for" sign which means nothing and most will be half-vacant residentially which doesn't bode well for the future.

And that's without even talking about the decreasing prices, increasing interest rates and god knows what state this country will be in a year from now.

One year lease, relax and save yourself from a 25-30 year millstone.

l5auim2pjnt8qx

I have been here from the start and I can assure you Adamstown is not a Ghost town or anywhere close ,do not listen to some of these people who know little or nothing of the area.Alot of people have been putting Adamstown down before they started building and now that its doing well in the current climate the jealousy continues as Adamstown transport system is better than any in Lucan and the units rent out far more quicker (Ask any Estate Agent in the vicinity)

Facts: 1381 units built ,1155 lived in hardly anywhere close to the 75 % empty units some people are claiming.
3 Developments Adamstowncastle ,Adamstownsquare southern end of Adamstown and the Paddocks which is the Northern End The Paddocks which is currently independent from the other 2 developments .

Transport and Amenties :
Train Station to Heuston (20 mins )
151 Bus Service (50 min to the City Centre) soon to be replaced by the new 25b service.
1 X Secondary School
2 X Primary Schools
1 X Creche
1 X Mini - Market & Off-License (Londis)
1 X Pizzeria Restaurant & Take-Awayh

All in operation and all doing well by all accounts!

Prices have dropped 150,000 Euro from Peak 2006 Levels and the developers will only build more units if the supply will come (Pretty much the same situation everywhere in the country)

Close too: Finnstown House Hotel with beautiful grounds to walk around.

From the Adamstown developments Finnstown Shopping Centre is a 5 -15 walk depending on which end you live in.

Shops : Pharmacy,Newsagent ,Hairdressers,Building Sociey , Medical Centre,Chinese Restaurant & Takeaway, Lord Lucan Pub & Restaurant.

Superquinn Shopping Centre 15 min walk from The Paddocks Developement and a 20-30 min walk from the Adamstown development or a 5min drive.


Building work is off a high quality and all developments are well landscaped all units are a good size and bigger than the average which most 3 bed units averaging 1300 sq feet


Hope this helps people looking for a more honest and knowledgeable information on Adamstown and for more information
Log onto www.adamstown.ie

OMD

Meredith Sharp Fax wrote: »

I have been here from the start and I can assure you Adamstown is not a Ghost town or anywhere close ,do not listen to some of these people who know little or nothing of the area.Alot of people have been putting Adamstown down before they started building and now that its doing well in the current climate the jealousy continues as Adamstown transport system is better than any in Lucan and the units rent out far more quicker (Ask any Estate Agent in the vicinity)

Facts: 1381 units built ,1155 lived in hardly anywhere close to the 75 % empty units some people are claiming.
3 Developments Adamstowncastle ,Adamstownsquare southern end of Adamstown and the Paddocks which is the Northern End The Paddocks which is currently independent from the other 2 developments .

Transport and Amenties :
Train Station to Heuston (20 mins )
151 Bus Service (50 min to the City Centre) soon to be replaced by the new 25b service.
1 X Secondary School
2 X Primary Schools
1 X Creche
1 X Mini - Market & Off-License (Londis)
1 X Pizzeria Restaurant & Take-Awayh

All in operation and all doing well by all accounts!

Prices have dropped 150,000 Euro from Peak 2006 Levels and the developers will only build more units if the supply will come (Pretty much the same situation everywhere in the country)

Close too: Finnstown House Hotel with beautiful grounds to walk around.

From the Adamstown developments Finnstown Shopping Centre is a 5 -15 walk depending on which end you live in.

Shops : Pharmacy,Newsagent ,Hairdressers,Building Sociey , Medical Centre,Chinese Restaurant & Takeaway, Lord Lucan Pub & Restaurant.

Superquinn Shopping Centre 15 min walk from The Paddocks Developement and a 20-30 min walk from the Adamstown development or a 5min drive.


Building work is off a high quality and all developments are well landscaped all units are a good size and bigger than the average which most 3 bed units averaging 1300 sq feet


Hope this helps people looking for a more honest and knowledgeable information on Adamstown and for more information
Log onto www.adamstown.ie

I love this. 1155 properties occupied, say 2 people per property thats 2300 people approx. A reasonable size town by Irish standards. Yet only has 1 shop and 1 take away. No pub, and 1 bus. Yeah sounds like a real happening place. No wonder people are jealous.

By the way Finnstown does not have a "shopping centre" by any understanding of that term.

l5auim2pjnt8qx

OMD wrote: »

I love this. 1155 properties occupied, say 2 people per property thats 2300 people approx. A reasonable size town by Irish standards. Yet only has 1 shop and 1 take away. No pub, and 1 bus. Yeah sounds like a real happening place. No wonder people are jealous.

By the way Finnstown does not have a "shopping centre" by any understanding of that term.

Adamstown is in it's infancy stages of development and if it was miles from anywhere else it would struggle but its not 200 yards from my unit and I'm in Lucan where Adamstown lies on the Perimeter of Finnstown and Superquinn Shopping Centre alot closer than most estates in Lucan so it has the best of both worlds.
I'll second the sour grapes remark as it now appears some people know as little about Lucan as Adamstown.
According to the Commercial units in Finnstown the address does say Shopping Centre ,Hint (Google China House Lucan ).

OMD

Meredith Sharp Fax wrote: »

Adamstown is in it's infancy stages of development and if it was miles from anywhere else it would struggle but its not 200 yards from my unit and I'm in Lucan where Adamstown lies on the Perimeter of Finnstown and Superquinn Shopping Centre alot closer than most estates in Lucan so it has the best of both worlds.
I'll second the sour grapes remark as it now appears some people know as little about Lucan as Adamstown.
According to the Commercial units in Finnstown the address does say Shopping Centre ,Hint (Google China House Lucan ).

OK you got me. I am jealous. Finnstown has a shopping centre albeit a shopping centre that has only one shop:rolleyes:.

Within a mile walk of the centre of Adamstown there is damm all. To pretend otherwise is stupid. Within 2 miles of the centre of Adamstown there isn't much more.

Comparing Adamstown to Lucan is not great either. The area of Lucan South of the N4 is a hole, that very few in there right mind actually want to live in. It just happens that Adamstown is far worse. Oh no I forgot. Adamstown has a bus. Great:rolleyes:

l5auim2pjnt8qx

OMD wrote: »

OK you got me. I am jealous. Finnstown has a shopping centre albeit a shopping centre that has only one shop:rolleyes:.

Within a mile walk of the centre of Adamstown there is damm all. To pretend otherwise is stupid. Within 2 miles of the centre of Adamstown there isn't much more.

Comparing Adamstown to Lucan is not great either. The area of Lucan South of the N4 is a hole, that very few in there right mind actually want to live in. It just happens that Adamstown is far worse. Oh no I forgot. Adamstown has a bus. Great:rolleyes:

Within 1 KM from Adamstown is Superquinn Shopping Centre,including Dunnes Stores,Florist,Pharmacy,Coffe Shop,Jewellery,Macdonalds,Video Store,Newsagent,Medical Centre,Library,Barbers,Shoe repairer
within
half a kilometer is Finnstown House Hotel with many people coming from afar to withness the beautiful grounds and drink in one of its bars across the road is The Lord Lucan Pub.
2km run down past the Newcastle Road is Lucan Village with many bars ,banks & restaurants.

Lucan Pitch & Putt and Gaa Club 500 metres.

Hmmmmm Not much at all. It appears your knowledge appears to be somewhat clouded.And where did you say you where from?

It's quite amusing educating know all know little brigade.?

RasTa

lol how much have Castlethorn Construction paid you? I have never heard anyone going on like that about their area. Unless you are just trying to fool yourself.

Oh just so you know I've being driving around Adamstown the past 3 weeks with my driving instructor, I'm no expert on the area but every evening the car park is deserted, which for me is enough reason to believe that it's a ghost town. That and the fact there is nobody about!

l5auim2pjnt8qx

RasTa wrote: »

lol how much have Castlethorn Construction paid you? I have never heard anyone going on like that about their area. Unless you are just trying to fool yourself.

Oh just so you know I've being driving around Adamstown the past 3 weeks with my driving instructor, I'm no expert on the area but every evening the car park is deserted, which for me is enough reason to believe that it's a ghost town. That and the fact there is nobody about!

The carpark your referring to is the Park and ride down beside the Train Station ,your right your no expert of the area ask your instructor to bring you into Castle Way the main road in Adamstown and without your blinkers you may even see people.Sounds like all the instructor is bringing you is along the Adamstown Link Road and up beside the Train Station.
I have alot of Criticism of Castlethorn ,the only reason I'm pushing Adamstown is the lack of knowledge people have on here have about the area calling it a Ghost town when I have already pointed out the population and amenties brings arrogance to a blinding new level.
If yourself and others have a chip on your shoulder regarding poor building regulations over the Celtic tiger years do your homework before slagging an area you are pigeon holing and obviously know nothing about.

iguana

Meredith Sharp Fax wrote: »

It's quite amusing educating know all know little brigade.?

Why would you think people are jealous of Adamstown? I suspect a lot of people who advised the OP not to buy could live in Adamstown just as easily as the OP could. What have they to be jealous of? If I had seen this thread back in April I would have advised the OP to avoid the place like the plague too. At best Adamstown will continue on as a ghost town and the unoccupied and unfinished units will start to rot. Or worse it could become pretty much a ghetto. Or worst of all, and most likely, it will be a mix of both.

Even now it's horrible out there. I don't have the vocabulary to express how disturbing I find so many empty units. The amenities you describe sound very basic and not at all a good reason to move somewhere. Where in Dublin doesn't have a few shops? I live in Templeogue village, which is a bit crap for amenities imho, but it has more than you have described in Adamstown. And I can walk to Rathfarnham shopping centre in under 5 minutes and Rathfarnham and Terenure villages in 10 and 15. I could live in Adamstown if I wanted, I could rent or buy one of the bigger houses for sale out there. It's not jealousy that motivates me to advise someone to avoid the place, it's human decency.

mikegus

same distance to town same prices & new luas line, try citywest or saggart

the_syco

Meredith Sharp Fax wrote: »

Ask any Estate Agent in the vicinity

You do talk like an EA...

OMD wrote: »

Within a mile walk of the centre of Adamstown there is damm all. To pretend otherwise is stupid. Within 2 miles of the centre of Adamstown there isn't much more.

Meredith Sharp Fax wrote: »

Within 1 KM

OMD stated from the centre of Adamstown, not a KM from it's outskirts.

Meredith Sharp Fax wrote: »

1381 units built ,1155 lived in

Would love to see where you got these figures from.

Meredith Sharp Fax wrote: »

I have been here from the start and I can assure you Adamstown is not a Ghost town or anywhere close

You have been where from the start? In Adamstown, or down the road in

Meredith Sharp Fax wrote: »

Lucan

?

l5auim2pjnt8qx

iguana wrote: »

Why would you think people are jealous of Adamstown? I suspect a lot of people who advised the OP not to buy could live in Adamstown just as easily as the OP could. What have they to be jealous of? If I had seen this thread back in April I would have advised the OP to avoid the place like the plague too. At best Adamstown will continue on as a ghost town and the unoccupied and unfinished units will start to rot. Or worse it could become pretty much a ghetto. Or worst of all, and most likely, it will be a mix of both.

Even now it's horrible out there. I don't have the vocabulary to express how disturbing I find so many empty units. The amenities you describe sound very basic and not at all a good reason to move somewhere. Where in Dublin doesn't have a few shops? I live in Templeogue village, which is a bit crap for amenities imho, but it has more than you have described in Adamstown. And I can walk to Rathfarnham shopping centre in under 5 minutes and Rathfarnham and Terenure villages in 10 and 15. I could live in Adamstown if I wanted, I could rent or buy one of the bigger houses for sale out there. It's not jealousy that motivates me to advise someone to avoid the place, it's human decency.

You need to read the postings carefully I said alot of people in Lucan where jealous of Adamstown from the start different argument, Adamstown is four year old different argument.In an ideal world we would all love to live in Templeogue but for obvious reasons can't.
There is 150 -160 units not occupied between 3 massive developements,on average 5 or 6 units are being occupied per month even in this recession .
Read the stats come out and visit Adamstown show homes are open several times a week ,at least have a formulated educated guess instead of a snobish opinion.It's the people like yourself with elevating yourself to an arrogant level with no knowledge of what your waffling on about.
Maybe its best for Adamstown if someone like yourself doesn't move here.

l5auim2pjnt8qx

the_syco wrote: »

You do talk like an EA...



OMD stated from the centre of Adamstown, not a KM from it's outskirts.


Would love to see where you got these figures from.

You have been where from the start? In Adamstown, or down the road in

?

If I talk like an estate agent we all have our crosses to bear.
Adamstown has 3 developements so far built around Finnstown grounds
not sure where the middle would be but I've best written how long it would take from personal experience to get there.
Check www.adamstown.ie for figures if still unsure pen and paper and a lengthy stroll would suffice.

iguana

Meredith Sharp Fax wrote: »

In an ideal world we would all love to live in Templeogue but for obvious reasons can't.

You'd be surprised what the monthly mortgage payment on a place in Adamstown would get you if you were renting.