By Connla Young
Wednesday Aug 3 2011

How do you fancy living in a seven-bedroom Northern Ireland mansion with three
acres of land to roam in?

Not long ago you would have had to be a millionaire to afford such luxury.

But the property crash has brought prices tumbling.

A number of luxury homes across Co Down have now been placed on the property
market at knock-down prices.

The spectacular sell-off was forced after the Irish government’s toxic debt
bank Nama took control of a number of properties formerly owned by bankrupt
property developer Sam Thompson.

The sale of several luxury homes and apartments in Dromore has sparked a
frenzy of interest from hundreds of people in search of the deal of a
lifetime.

And the sale of one house in particular has captured the imagination of
potential buyers.

A seven-bedroom, stone-fronted property, Brooke Hall, sits close to the main
Belfast to Dublin A1 route outside Loughbrickland on three acres of land.

Originally listed at £975,000, the 7,750 sq ft home is now on the market for a
snip at just £400,000.

And while Brooke Hall may be on the market at a bargain price, the huge family
home has everything you would expect from a house which once had a cool £1m
price tag.

Built from granite, Brooke Hall features a detached triple garage
incorporating a loft and its own clock tower.

The stone driveway divides the perfectly manicured lawn and is bordered by a
stream.

With seven bedrooms including a master suite with en suite, a dressing room
and study, the house has a further two bedrooms with en suite facilities.

A glazed atrium over the stairway ensures the house is bathed in light while
internal hardwood doors and decorative period-style deep skirting boards are
in keeping with the building’s Georgian design.

A handmade staircase combined with hardwood sliding sash windows throughout
add to Brooke Hall’s regal feel.

Despite its still hefty price tag it is understood the house has already
attracted interest from dozens of potential buyers lured by its old world
charm.

But if £400,000 is still out of your reach, there are still huge savings to be
had in the Dromore area.

One spacious property at Cambric Court has been slashed from an opening price
of £195,000 to £155,000 in a bid to force a quick sale.

Sold as seen, the property, which is just yards from the A1 Dublin to Belfast
Road, includes three bedrooms, a sun room and a decent-sized rear garden.

Just a short walk around the corner another three-bedroom property is being
offered at £155,000, down from £182,000 when it was first placed on the
market.

But the really keen home hunters are holding out for what might prove to be
the biggest bargain of them all.

Also in Cambric Court, seven luxury shell apartments are being offered for a
bargain price of £40,000.

Originally priced at just under £105,000, the empty shells will have to be
fitted out by the buyer. Four show apartments on the same site have been
listed at £85,000 each.

Meanwhile, speculators in Lisburn are also keeping their eyes peeled after
seven shell apartments there were placed on the market at just £40,000 each.

Situated on the Moira Road, the high-spec apartments are expected to attract
considerable interest from potential buyers.