lou, Girvan has some very fine old stone houses for not much money compared to other areas but, to my mind, it lacks a certain something. Maybole is similar. Of course I don't "belong to" either of those towns, which could be the reason I feel that way. My job is involved with social housing and a colleague observed that only people from Maybole want to move there and I think the same is more or less true of Girvan (it's an overgeneralisation but is not wholly untrue). That said, both have their plus points - a number of independent shops, for example (including a lovely deli in Maybole).
In the coastal villages like Maidens, the sunsets are very hard to beat - Arran and Ailsa Craig, viewed at sundown at the end of a clear day can lift the spirits and no mistake. All of these villages have a mix of private and social rented housing, including some newbuilds by a local housing association (interesting designs, suitability for physically disabled occupants worth checking).
There are some nice inland villages too. Crosshill, Kirkmichael and Straiton spring to mind. All are within 30 minutes of south Ayr, where the school is located.
I don't come from hereabouts originally. I came to work 13 years ago, commuted for an hour each way every day for a number of years and only moved here after I met dh. I like it a lot; we live in the Ayr/Prestwick/Troon conurbation and like the rurality combined with the easy access to Glasgow. There are several good farm shops in the general area, for instance, which is a big plus for me - Girvan has 2 of them, both excellent. Prestwick Airport would be great to have so close by if it were not for the dominance of Ryanair on its flight schedule! Have only once flown from there, with Ryanair on dh's and my first ever trip together, to Paris (or, actually, to near Paris).