Our sage columnist from County Clare, Cormac MacConnell, pointed out this week that “nearly 40 percent of all the houses purchased in the west by overseas buyers last year were completed for less than €100,000.”

Ready, set…go! Why wouldn’t our American readers be chomping at the bit to get their hands on a little slice of the Irish dream by owning their very own property in Ireland?

As MacConnell, a weekly columnist with our sister publication, pointed out this week, “The average house price in the U.S. last November was above $374,000 which is about €340,000.”

And more and more North Americans are “looking from behind a strong dollar at the possibilities of buying an Irish home either as an investment property or as a permanent base.”

Read more: Irish property fair for New York as US buyer numbers soar

Being curious, we searched online and found these gems for under $35,000. Although some of these are in need of some serious renovation, if you wanted to pay even less there are smaller properties on the market for as little as $16,000.

Here are our top picks, the five most attractive and cheapest homes on the market:

Sandy Row

Where? Castlefin, County Donegal

How much? $23,500 (€25,000)

What? Terraced house, two bedrooms and one bathroom

Features:

- Situated in the heart of the town on the main Lifford Road

- Accommodation comprises a sitting room, kitchen and shower room, two bedrooms

- Back yard including built in shed

About the town: Castlefin, meaning "castle of the (river) Finn," is a market town in the Finn Valley of County Donegal. As of 2006, the town had a population of 810. The small town is located between Ballybofey and Lifford.

For more information click here.

Cornamuckla

(Also see main photo in article)

Where? Ballymoe, County Galway

How much? $33,400 (€30,000)

What? Two-bedroom detached house

Features:

- Traditional style two story country farmhouse with garden and outbuilding

- Located on the Roscommon / Galway border about a mile from Ballymoe Village

- South-facing aspect

- Full planning permission approved for one two-story detached c. 1800 sq. ft. dwelling with domestic garage

- Accommodation includes entrance porch, living room, sitting room, rear porch, and two bedrooms

- Outdoors includes a cowbyre / fuel shed and garden area.

About the town:

Ballymoe, meaning "ford-mouth of Mó," is situated on the western side of the River Suck that separates counties Galway and Roscommon. The town is the center of a small rural area involved in scale mixed farming. Raised bogs, forts and a mass rock from penal times are features of Ballymoe today.

For more information click here.

Main Street

Where? Caherconlish, County Limerick

How much? $33,400 (€30,000)

What? Terraced house with two bedrooms and one bathroom

Features:

- Located in Caherconlish village

- Accommodation includes an entrance hallway, kitchen, two bedrooms and a rear garden.

- On street parking

About the town:

Located 16 kilometers southeast of Limerick City, the village’s population has grown over the years. Caherconlish is now a commuter town. Other villages nearby include Boher, Ballyneety, Herbertstown, Kilteely and Pallasgreen.

For more information click here.

Church Road

Where? Castlerea, County Roscommon

How much? $33,400 (€30,000)

What? Semi-detached house with two bedrooms and one bathroom

Features:

- Overall floor area 79 square meters (850 square feet)

- Located two minutes’ walk from the train station of the market town, Castlerea

- Finished to a good standard

- Oil-fired central heating.

About the town:

Castlerea is the second largest town in County Roscommon and is located in the west of the country. As of 2011 the town had a population of 3,055. The Castlerea is built on the banks of the River Suck and the River Francis, both of which are tributaries of the River Shannon.

For more information click here.

2 Church Street

Where? Edgeworthstown, County Longford

How much? $33,400 (€30,000)

What? Two-bedroom townhouse with one bathroom

Features:

- Located two minutes walking distance from Edgeworthstown's main street

- Property includes one large living room, a bathroom, kitchen, a hot press and two bedrooms on the first floor.

- Parking at rear of house.

About the town:

For more information click here.