MORE than £3.37 million-worth of property and land, mostly in York and North Yorkshire goes under the hammer on Thursday.

John Waterhouse, of Hunters property group of York, will be wielding the gavel on 14 lots, from 6pm, at The Gimcrack Suite at York Racecourse.

Already would-be purchasers are getting excited about one lot in particular - Ivy Cottage in Fishergate, a Grade II listed property, which has a guide price of between £400,000 and £450,000, The ivy-clad student accommodation with ten letting bedrooms - five of them en-suite - used to be a bed and breakfast, but is now licensed as a house of multiple occupation, and will be sold with existing tenancies which yield an annual income of £32,240.

The house has proved particularly popular with students who are attracted not only by its sunroom, communal lounge and relatively close proximity to the University of York, but also by a barbecue area in the back garden.

Bargain-hunters are also likely to beam in on a vacant three-bedroom semi in Fulford described as "being in need of complete modernisation" but also close to the university. Guide price is between £140,000 and £150,000.

A period house in Main Street, Wheldrake, could go for between £300,000 and £320,000.

Until recently, the ground floor of the two-storey Grade II listed house, which was built between 1720 and 1740, was used as a day nursery and there is a broad planning consent for its future use.

The ground-floor can therefore be used commercially, or the entire building can be converted back into a residential home.

Another potential bargain is a two-bedroom Victorian terrace house in The Old Village, Huntington - well presented with pine-clad kitchen, large bathroom and parking - for a guide price of £140,000 to £150,000.