Buying in North Kildare - struggling to choose the best option

pazzesco

I am currently looking to buy a second-hand house in Leixlip, Celbridge, or Maynooth. I'm a first time buyer. I am from Lucan (which I do not like and don't want to stay in) so I am familiar with all three towns. I have family and friends in Leixlip and Celbridge and spent a lot of my teens in these areas, I went to college in Maynooth. But I find myself unable to choose. I have one house in each town in mind right now, but will keep looking at options too. I'm paralysed with indecision and cannot discuss this with anyone in real life so I hope to clarify my thoughts here and any advice is welcome.

Leixlip

This is the best location for me for commuting because of the L54 bus, which brings me directly to where I work most of the time (though I move around a fair bit). The recent introduction of this bus route has really affected my choices because I have never liked Leixlip much (no offence intended, it's a perfectly nice town, I just never warmed to it) and so had not considered buying there - but this bus route has forced me to reconsider. I would be looking at the Confey area, and have been happy enough with the feel of it when viewing recently. The train station is an added bonus for transport to the city and getting to Maynooth would be easy enough.

The house here is lovely, in great condition, nicest garden, but only has one bathroom (its only negative really). I'm just not sure about spending my free time in Leixlip.

Maynooth

This my favourite location - I love Maynooth. Great transport links overall, but for my commute I would basically need to choose an option (bus or train) to link up with the L54, either in Leixlip or Lucan.

I had previously accepted that Maynooth was out of my price range, but am now in a slightly better position so have to reconsider. The house I'm looking at here is in good condition and I have a nice feeling about it, it's walking distance to train and the town, garden is ok. But estate is a student estate and is quite run down looking - worse than expected. Students and their noise actually don't bother me much - I'm mostly concerned about avoiding real anti-social behaviour, intimidation etc than drunk parties. But the condition of the estate and houses put me off slightly.

Celbridge

This is where I have always focused because I assumed I couldn't afford Maynooth, and I like the town a lot. Train not as useful as the Maynooth line for getting to Dublin city centre. Again for my own commute I would be looking at needing to link up with the L54 either in Lucan or perhaps using L59 to Riverforest.

The house I'm looking at here is in need of decoration (new floors) but probably offers the best value, the garden is nice and I have a nice feeling about it.

I just cannot decide. I keep flip flopping. Leixlip is the most sensible I think, house needs no work and my commute would be as straightforward as possible. But I prefer Maynooth town and love the house but not the estate - and I can't see myself being able to afford any other area in Maynooth. I really like the Celbridge house and I like the town. Maynooth better transport overall than Celbridge, but not much difference for my commute between the two. I am not one for pubs or nights out, I want to be able to walk the dog in a nice park, I want a decent selection of shops, and I want to be able to go to Dublin city centre easily enough.

Any advice or observations welcome.

SMdPP87

Maynooth all day long. Location, location, location. Older estates are increasingly being bought into by new young families and an active resident associations can really improve an estate, that’s my experience. Basically if you can afford and are happy to if choose it

pazzesco

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119956736#Comment_119956736

Maynooth is theoretically my first choice, but realistically I can only afford a student estate. I had heard that most of the old Maynooth student estates were improving in recent years with more families moving in. But I was taken aback by how poorly kept the houses were (except the one on sale) and the estate is in much worse condition than the Google Street View images - so it has gone downhill rather than improve. The house is lovely, the location is perfect, but the estate is run down.

I don't know if that's a deal breaker!

SMdPP87

Tough one. We bought last year and it’s tough in the current climate. There’s always a compromise in some category I suppose. What you’ve said wouldn’t be enough to put me off and on the balance of everything I think Maynooth and the house you describe wins out. Could give you an essay on why it’s the better option overall but one example: stick your head in any pub, cafe, restaurant around the town - you’ll find people who live in leixlip and celbridge.

2011abc

Leixlip all day long ,certainly if youre a motorist .Socialise in Maynooth (great (but getting dear) restaurants,Tesco etc ) .The central crossroads in Maynooth is hell on earth !!!Celbridge only has Castletown going for it ,which can be reached on foot from Leixlip too.Mind you Im assuming you mean proper Leixlip and not up Captains Hill ie Confey .EDIT Just reread and see youre thinking of Confey ....Unless youre an ardent non motorist Id be looking at a house that has direct access to N4 without having to endure Captains Hill/Celbridge 'Bridge ' or GOD FORBID , Maynooth crossroads .

Sean Seoighe

Just my tuppence worth but if you can I'd go Maynooth all day long. I wouldn't choose where to live based on where you're working and is it that much more of an inconvenience to where you work if travelling to work from Maynooth. Also worth thinking about down the line, I can't comment on schools in Leixlip or Celbridge but schools in Maynooth are very good and if all Irish schools are your thing there's primary and secondary schools in Maynooth. I think there's everything in Maynooth for kids to grow up with loads to do and similarly for adults. Also it's really safe - I've never seen any issues here.

social butterfly 2020

What's the estate? I'm a local so can help with regards to if it's avoid or not.

Gusser09

There are very few student estates anymore. Maybe a few houses dotted in places but thats it. Covid killed a lot of that.

There arent really any estates to avoid.

You could buy in one of the dearer estates and end up with students beside you. Parklands, silken vale, newtown all have as many student houses as kingsbry or meadowbrook these days.

pazzesco

Thanks everyone for your comments and advice.

It's Cluain Aoibhinn in Maynooth - lovely house, great location, but concerned by the poor state of the estate itself and a few neighbouring houses. I don't mind students in general - as you say, you could get students anywhere in a town like Maynooth. Beaufield also has a few houses for sale recently and houses look a little better cared for, but I have specific (personal) issues with the couple I've viewed so far.

I am an ardent non-motorist @2011abc ! So traffic isn't really a concern, so much as good public transport options. I think I have ruled out Leixlip now as I know it well and have never really liked it so that's not going to change.

Schools and suitability for children is not a concern either.

I just need to decide whether to go with a nicer house in Celbridge (a town I know and like) or an OK house in Maynooth (a town I know and love). Neither are ideal for my commute, Maynooth better transport generally.

Gusser09

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119985695#Comment_119985695

Cluainn aobhin is grand. I know a couple after buying there recently and they are delighted. Granted they have put a few quid into some upgrades but those upgrades wouldnt have beem possible buying in another estate.

Check out kingsbry too. That'll be in your price range. Although a bungalow recently sold there for 510k. What that shows you is the potential of the properties.

social butterfly 2020

Cluain Aoibhinn is fine. A few houses not in the best of shape because of landlords etc. However still a lot of the original reisdneta living there and never any trouble whatsoever. I was raised in cluain aoibhinn. There is a great residents association and the place is well maintained. In the summer time the place comes into its own.

seamusk84

I’ve lived in Celbridge my whole life. Parents still live here and I bought here about 10 years ago.

I mean it depends what works for you between the three towns. They all have their benefits. I love Celbridge Main Street and the walk up in Castletown….It really is a big deal.

Great bus service and that includes the 120 bus Éireann not just Dublin bus. Plenty of buses to the train station which has come a long way in the past few years.

Great pubs and food options.

Wouldn’t say a bad word about Leixlip and Maynooth either mind you. Go for whatever house suits you in terms of location, personal circumstances and state of house.

SMdPP87

Cluain Aoibhinn is a nice estate I’ve a family friend who lives just inside the estate. Lots of neighbours and friendly. It’s a nice and short walk down to the village and university.

SMdPP87

Where did you end up purchasing in the end?

Tornaedo

Celbridge and Leixlip benefit from being closer to Dublin from a commuting POV but also suffer in that they don't have restaurant/cafe/pub scenes commensurate with their populations. Celbridge is probably a little bit better than Leixlip in that respect but Leixlip is a more beautiful location being at the confluence of the Liffey and the Rye and being built on the valleys of those two rivers.

AFAIAC, Maynooth is the best choice, far more shops, pubs, restaurants, everything and the locals tend to socialise in Maynooth rather than automatically taking the bus to Dublin for a night out. Nice walks around the South Campus and Carton estate.