I bought duplex apartment last May and was told we could move in by end of November. The reality was that snag etc was ready to be carried out until February and we moved in earlier this month.
I wish I had had the foresight to take noise into account before purchasing, but like I said it is becoming less of a problem each day.
I love the duplex idea and to be honest, the place feels far more spacious than what I thought it would be. When we first viewed before Christmas, when it was near completion, our hearts sank because all the rooms felt so small.
The reality is quite different and compared with other 2-bed apts I've rented around Dublin, this feels so much bigger and the idea of having two floors allows for even more space.
I have to say I am starting to love the place now that we have the worse of moving, unpacking and the rest, over us now.
And you're right about prices, the builders told me that in six months, when two more phases are complete, the value will have gone up by an estimated 50k.