Anyone from Glasgow? Wondering where to move to

[CuppaSarah]

DH has had a job offer, which is great news for us. But it's in Glasgow and we've never been to Scotland, let alone Glasgow. We're all really excited about the move, for so many reasons. We've been desperate to get out of our overpriced, overcrowded area, but we're only going to have one weekend to look at rental properties before we go. The plan is rent for a bit, then buy a house once we're settled into the area.

Of course one weekend isn't enough time to choose where to settle, since DD will have to start school when we move, I don't want to rent in Paisley, but end up buying in Clydebank and have to move her school.

So if any of you live in or know the area, whereabouts up to an hour's commute from central Glasgow would you recommend looking at for a young family? DS and I like rural, DH and DD like towns and cities. So something with the best of both worlds is perfect.

Ayrshire is lovely (I grew up there) but the commute by train is costly. There is a new estate next to Bishopton, 20 minutes by train and rural but benefits from being close to Braehead etc, avoid Clydebank unless you know the area. Milngavie (milguy) is nice, Bearsden is good too.

@CuppaSarah

We live in the east end of Glasgow which has a bit of a rough reputation. I think it used to be a total shithole but I moved here six years ago from Edinburgh and for the most part it's absolutely fine. They have put a lot of money into the area and places like Dennistoun even have wanky and delicious brunch places Dirt cheap rent, lots of local schools, shops and supermarkets, 8 minute train journey from the centre of Glasgow.

You need to find out where the office is really and then work out whether he will be driving or getting the train ( we have a great train expansive system).

Sw of the river - it could be Govan or as far out as Hillington/ the airport.

Your budget is quite low and won't reach most of the areas named upthread - for comparison a 3 bed in Bearsden is about £280-350k. The South side is generally cheaper with 3 beds in Clarkston £180-280k.

With a smaller budget you will need to do a lot of research to find the good pockets in the cheaper areas iyswi. So the nice but cheap areas in Ayrshire/ South Lanarkshire etc. If you ask where is good to live you will get Bearsden/ Milngavie/Giffnock et al which won't really help you. These areas not achievable do you need to find where is good to live for a family to commute to Glasgow for £120/30k. You need to draw on local knowledge for this.

A rightmove map search in your budget is your best first step to getting a feel for what areas are affordable. You can then research the specific areas and schools.

Children are not guaranteed a place at their catchment school at all. If a school is full then it's full and a lot of schools are full.

Op your budget narrows down your areas for sure.

Perhaps post on Scotsnet topic for more detailed replies.

Stressedmummyof4* just had a peek on rightmove and that area does seem to tick all the boxes! Definitely worth looking there.

Can I ask, what is with all the rendered houses in the small towns around Glasgow? And why are so many houses called Villa's?

@amusedbush I'd agree about the East / Dennistoun. Op could get a nice rental for her budget, decent schools, regenerating area.

If it is Govan or Hillington then Bishopton really is your friend here, near airport and has a new motorway slip road.

Zoowolla has given you good advise on where to look. If driving, try and live in the South if that's where the job is. Crossing the river at rush hour takes ages.

Or Erskine.

a 3 bed in Bearsden is about £280-350k. The South side is generally cheaper with 3 beds in Clarkston £180-280k

And we've just bought a 3 bed in the east end for £70k okay, it didn't have central heating and the ceiling is bleeding nicotine every time we steam wallpaper off but still

You saying south west side of Clyde made me wonder if your husbands job is across the water from Ayrshire/Greenock side? If it is, it could be a real pain having to get the ferry across every day or driving up to the Erskine bridge every day. Where is he needing to commute to?
If it is that side, Helensburgh is very nice and Arrochar. I wouldn’t recommend Paisley or Port Glasgow for Scotland new arrivals. Especially when you could be somewhere more rural if that’s what you like!
Not sure what you mean by rendered, but yes architecture is different in Scotland to England, just as housing looks different in Grimsby and a Bath! Historical reasons I guess. Lots of sandstone on west coast- and in Northern Ireland- never see it in southern England!
Villa- just a nice word for house? Upper villa- top half of a house, lower villa, bottom half!

Likethebattle, what's with the new slip road? What route are people currently using to access the M8 from Bishopton? I wasn't sure if some new huge development, housing or industrial was planned. It's a very long slip.

I'm going through everyone's suggestions at the moment. I've found loads of lovely places in budget. It's mind boggling to me still that we'll be able to buy a house once we've moved, a three bed in the worst part of my area, which has pretty bad crime, gangs and issues with drugs would be more than 300k.

The Scottish school system sounds more relaxed too. I'm so excited about moving

Although it is one of many factors to what makes an area a good area, and hence somewhere to invest money and your family in, the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) simd.scot/2016/#/simd2016/BTTTFTT/11/-4.3119/55.8826/ is a useful guide to help inform you. It ranks areas based on a number of factors (with blue least deprived and red most deprived).

The ranking doesn't mean an area is inherently bad, factors for deprivation include things like access to GPs, and can also mean that more money is being injected into the area and schools have access to more money to raise attainment, however it is important to know the data exists for you to make use of.

Lots of sandstone on west coast

Traditionally houses were built using sandstone, trends moved towards render and rough casting because it’s much cheaper than sandstone and it’s stsyed basically. You’ll find houses and architecture quite different north of the border. I have a friend who travels from Manchester and says he cal tell he’s crossed the border because the houses look so different. I e not asked him what he means but it makes sense I suppose that different countries would build differently.

Do you mean south west side of the clyde I Glasgow or further down the clyde?

You could put his works postcode in zoopla and how many miles he's prepared to travel. The 34 bus route covers most of the south side Cambuslang to Govan. There are loads of large parks.

I've just had a look on Rightmove. Have you considered East Kilbride? The 'village' is lovely and loads of families. Plenty within your budget.

Re Clydebank - don't know why people are saying avoid. There's some cracking sandstone terraces near the Drumry end that you might get for your money.

@amusedbush going to pm you

You’ll be able to find somewhere nice with the budget you’ve got - if you can say whereabout your DH will be working folk can make good suggestions. South west Glasgow might mean good underground links or a local bus service which would give you different options for location.

It’s lovely to see you so excited about moving, Glasgow is a fabulous place to live.

His job is in Glasgow itself, but the South West side of the Clyde I believe. I know it's that's side of the river for definite.

Zoowalla thank you so much for that. I'll be checking that against the areas previously suggested.

I was surprised just how different the house styles are, not bad just different. Thinking logically it's a daft thing to be surprised about, of course they're different.

You'll love it here op. Glasgow is a cracking, friendly city with so much to do and you'll get so much more for your money.

aquamarine1 that's the main place I've been looking so far. It looks like a lovely little town.

Grew up in Ayrshire. I don’t recommend my hometown!

Troon and prestwick are nice, but quiet. The nick name of “gods waiting room” is what I remember!

The south side of Glasgow is more buzzy and cheaper, so look there.

Greenock, Paisley and Clydebank, no, no and no.

Some of the sink estates are also bit shit and although have had lots of money pumped into them are still rough. CastleMilk we used to call is Chateaux au Lait! However, friend lives in Drumchaple and likes it.

Places to look at outside of Glasgow-
Girdle Toll
Eat Kilbride
Eaglesham
Boswell
Uddingston
Cumbernauld

Glasgow is a great small city but look at your commute as it can be hideous if you pick the wrong part!

@Hopefullysmart slip links to the dargavel development in Bishopton and that end of Bishopton. Currently from there to enter the m8 going east you have to go west and on at west ferry or along via airport, or on at bridge. This gives option 4!