Any mums in / around Dundee?

[strangerthanfiction]

My dp is being interviewed for a job in Dundee. We are currently based in London. I've looked at the main Dundee city website but obviously some 'insider' info would be good about it as a city. I've never visited Dundee though have been to Edinburgh and Glasgow numerous times. So, is it very expensive to rent there, and are there better or worse parts of Dundee to look out for? Are schools / facilities for kids ok? Our dd is 20 months.

I live about 50 miles south of Dundee, but I worked in Perth in 2000 and can remember people talking about how cheap the houses are to buy there. So I would say that renting won't be too bad either, especially compared to London prices! You'll be able to live in a Mansion (if you don't already.... ).

Thanks toothache. Far from a mansion, we're in a 2-bedroomed council flat!! To be honest to have 3 bedrooms whether house or flat would make SO much difference to us. Or a two-up two-down terrace would be heaven. Any ideas about the city and schools etc.?

Sorry I don't really know much else, apart from the fact there is a nice public park there with Peacocks roaming free.

Would you definitely be renting rather than buying? You'd probably get a nice 3 bedroomed semi-detached up there for about £80k.

Perth is another possibility too. It's about 15miles away and it's a lovely city.

I'm from Perth, so don't ask me about Dundee

Dundee is a nice city there are a lot of nice parts to it, and it is a lot cheaper than most other cities in Scotland. There are better and worse parts of Dundee, but offhand I don't really know much, but could probably find out (ask my Dad!!)
Perth is an option, its about 20 mins away, but much more expensive. There's also some lovely countryside out towards Perth and also North from Dundee, and quite a lot of people who live in Dundee live in Fife, just over the Tay Bridge, and there are some great spots round there.
I honestly don't know much about schools etc, might be best looking them up online (cant remember the url, will try to find it later). T

I don't mean I live in Perth now BTW, I'm considerably further North, though am there relatively often.

Thanks SO much Susanmt and toothache. Toothache, really truly you could buy a 3-bed house for 80k??? That's just unthinkable after having lived with London prices. Susan, I'd appreciate that URL if you find it.

I lived in Perth for about 13 yrs and now live near Aberdeen and know Dundee quite well. It has good communication links and has been rejuvenated over the past few years. The riverside has been done up, new shopping malls and a massive new Tesco's as well as other shops. The Perth Road area is nice, with the university and cute little shops selling all sorts of bits and pieces. There's also an active theatre and an arts centre, which has been very successful, and botanic gardens. The well-respected Ninewells University Hospital is in the city.

I don't know much about schools, although there are some bad housing estates on the outskirts, but I guess that's the same in most cities. Harris Academy used to be about the best of the state senior schools, don't know how up to date that info is, and there is Dundee High if you want private education. Perth and Fife and also Angus are nice as well, if you want to live further afield. The Perthshire Solicitors Property Centre has homes to buy and also has links to other local sites. Hth.

STF - I could never understand why people live in the London area and struggle to buy houses.... unless of course it's because of work comittments.

You must ALL come to Scotland.... it's wonderful up here. I really hope he gets the job.

I just had a look at that website and even in Perth (which is a bit more expensive than Dundee) you can get a lovely new 3 bedroomed semi-detached for under £100k.

Hmmm.....
That last post wasn't very clear.... what I mean is:
I don't understand why anyone would CHOOSE to pay extortionate prices to live in a tiny flat in the London area unless they had no choice but to do so coz of work. Which I s'pose is the biggest reason for people having to struggle on with huge rents.... I find the prices a complete disgrace! How can they justify that for bricks and mortar???

Toothache, property prices are the bane of Londoner's lives. In my area which isn't great but is only around 20 mins out of the centre if the traffic's not bad, to buy a tiny studio flat costs over 200k. We lived in London and loved it before dd was born, we loved the art and the cinema and we were both students here. Since dd was born though it's got harder and harder and dp's been looking all over the place for work elsewhere. We feel quite excited about the prospect of Dundee so keep your fingers crossed for us.

Thanks to everyone else too for the info.