Moving from California - need help!

[CaliMom1]

Hello! Husband and I & our 2 kids are moving this summer from California to East Renfrewshire. We have heard great things about Newton Mearns. We are not sure where else to look for housing that is good commuting difference from Glasgow (also looking at Stirlingshire). Any ideas?

We are also having trouble finding temporary rental housing. We would like to buy a house asap - but not sure how long it will take us to find one and complete the process. Any ideas what websites to look at to find rental housing? I'm desperate and have even been checking out AirBnb (which won't give us formal paperwork to start the school registration process).

Help much appreciated!

Welcome-how old are your kids going to be-primary or secondary school? Re housing, depends what you're looking for and budget you have? East Ren and East Dunbartonshire are thought of as having great schools (unless you're going private school way anyway) -west end is also lovely, lots of independant shops n cafes but mainly large flats rather than houses.

Our daughter will be 5 and our son will be turning 8 August 4th.

Not looking for private schools.

Our budget is GBP450K and we would prefer a detached house with a large garden. What parts of East Dunbartonshire would you recommend?

Do kids will probably be Primary 1 and primary 4-if looking east renfrewshire, Clarkston has good schools and train link (25 mins from glasgow City centre), Newton Mearns is next to clarkston n has good schools but no train station in the main area only further out. East Dunbartonshire good areas n schools would be in bearsden and milngavie.Weat end us a lovely busy thriving area with good primary schools n 'ok' secondary schools. Good budget n will get something detached for that.

Thank you for the information - it's very helpful to us!

I am hoping we can get our son in Primary 3 instead of Primary 4 (he's currently in 1st grade here, equivalent to Primary 2 there). Would you know how we can arrange that?

The primary classes are totally dictated by date of birth with end of feb being the cut off-for example, my friends son was 4 mid feb n if ur child is 4 in jan or feb you can decide if u want them to start primary 1 this aug or next aug n totally up to you. If not 4 until after 1 March then you start primary 1 a year later when you are 5 and a bit. If your son started primary 4 he would be middle of the age range with some kids turning 8 the March before him and some not turning 8 until the February after him. If its because of ability as you hav been following a different curriculum you would speak with the individual school when you register him and they would talk about the level he is working at and what primary level would be best for him.

The housing market in Easy Renfrewshire is rapid, so you need to be quick to get in and all schools are decided on catchment.

You will find sales and rental properties through GSPC, Rightmove and estate agencies like Slater Hogg or Countrywide.