Where to live in Stirling

[Balloondog]

Any help and opinions welcomed.

DH and I are relocating to Stirling mid January and need to find a house ASAP.

Ideally we'd buy before we move as there doesn't seem to be a lot available to rent and we have cats and find most rental places aren't pet friendly. I will be commuting to Perth but on previous visits we didn't take to Perth and loved Stirling. DH will also be looking for work so Stirling seems to offer good connections to a number of places by road and rail. No children so schools aren't an issue.

We have a limited budget of £150K but would ideally like 2/3 beds and an outdoor space (for the cats!). We're quite happy to do up somewhere outdated especially if it means a nicer area (low crime, amenities within walking distance, parking) nor is this a forever home so we can compromise a fair bit. I've seen a number of 3 bed terrace type houses and some nice 2 bed flats on rightmove/Zoopla but I'm not sure of the areas. Obviously places like Bridge of Allan are out of our budget but what are the more affordable but nice areas?

TIA

I'm a local Baloondog I'll have a look at what's about and see what I think and suggest areas as well.

Riverside is an area that would probably suit you pretty well.

This looks good if you don't mind a flat?:

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-65168853.html

Lots of green space about and walkable to town and the train station etc.

Lots of ex LA houses in the area too which would be a decent buy.

I think areas such as Whins of Milton are too far out (imo anyway).

Some of the new build estates towards the Bridge of Allan end might just have something plus, ex LA do come up near Bridge of Allan station from time to time and should be just about in budget I think.

This 2 bed in Dunblane looks a cracker

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-74796103.html

It's always a bit emotive detailing down areas where I wouldn't choose to live but honestly it can come down to a matter of a few streets sometimes.

"rougher areas" Raploch, Cornton, Cultenhove, St Ninians, Bannockburn. However, all of these areas have some really decent bits and most are undergoing redevelopment. All have pockets where they have been owner occupied for many years.

Cambussbaron on the other side of the motorway has some nice bits and has it's own amenities. Riverside I think is a good fit, sometimes stuff comes up in causweyhead which would also be a good fit as are the new builds between Town and Bridge of Allan, might struggle to find in budget though as they are mostly 3 bed plus.

Feel free to post anything you are keen on and I'll help if I can.

Thanks for such thorough insights @WaxOnFeckOff. It's much appreciated! We saw this online today, unfortunately bids closed on a Friday but I'd still be interested in your thoughts in case anything else comes up on the same development...

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/53373785?utmsource=v1:5bWFDybfWx7C7AGpeagt7mP3PgcqjuqJ&utmmedium=api

Also love this one!
https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/49227301?utmsource=v1:5bWFDybfWx7C7AGpeagt7mP3PgcqjuqJ&utmm_medium=api

I would avoid the Raploch area personally. As Wax has mentioned Riverside is a nice area. The only possible issue there is that it used to suffer from a lot of flooding but I am not sure if that is still the case.

Hope I can help. The first one is part of the Raploch redelevopment. On the edge of the city, handy for the motorway and one the quiet side of the Raploch. I don't know anyone who lives there but I've not heard anything negative. council have announced more housing going up in the area too. You might get a good view of the castle and it's handy enough for the back walk as it's known, round the castle hill and also for kings park though not particularly picturesque in and off itself. There are a couple of eating places to go to out that way but I'd say it's walkable into town and walkable to sainsburys too.

The 2nd one is right in town and there are some lovely buildings. I think there will be a mixed demographic of students, low rents/homeless flats and young first time buyers etc. Might be noisy? Maybe a bit further to walk with the dog to get to a grassy area? Otherwise, it really depends if you want proper "city" living or semi suburbia :)

This?:

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/52990433?search_identifier=c997d084c2d68c206aa188469ce78177

I'd dismissed as at the top of your budget on offers over but could be a decent buy.

Not the most attractive looking on the outside but in sought after BofA and you cant see the outside when you are in :)

www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/52905916?search_identifier=c997d084c2d68c206aa188469ce78177

Ooh the BofA one is lovely inside, hadn't seen that one before. I certainly get the impression the market is pretty fast moving as there is a lack of properties available. Unfortunately we're not going to be able to get back up for 3 weeks now so I suspect most of these will have gone but I'm learning loads and saving favourites to Rightmove and Zoopla so fingers crossed!

The market is generally pretty brisk but it's coming up to Christmas time so you may land a sneaky wee bargain :)

happy to keep an eye out and on this thread or feel free to message too if you spot anything else.

It's a really small city so nothing really unaccessable to be honest. Torbrex or anywhere around Stirling High is also a good place to look though again a lot are bigger places so budget might be stretched.

I can't thank you enough @WaxOnFeckOff. I've learned more in the last 24 hours than in months on Rightmove! I'll take you up on running things by you fab lot once we're viewing things

We lived in Stirling and Bridge of Allen. Bridge of Allen is lovely, Stirling is full of student digs, Bannockburn is more for families, Dunblane is lovely too.

Just saw this which is over your budget and by stirling standards, it is a busy road but a fab property and town on your doorstep:

www.onthemarket.com/details/7957861/

@WaxOnFeckOff @EmmaC78 @Steerpike902

Any thoughts on these locations?
Linden Avenue, Braehead, Stirling, FK7 7PG
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-66550890.html

https://www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/53036959?utmsource=v1:5bWFDybfWx7C7AGpeagt7mP3PgcqjuqJ&utmm_medium=api

Are your cats indoor cats or do they go outside as well? The latter would restrict suitable properties I guess as you wouldn't want to be near a busy road.

That's funny actually my friend told me they just put in an offer for a place near there. It's quite built up, but it's away from most of the pubs of the centre.

I linked to the linden avenue one earlier :) it's on a busy road and doesn't look like there is a driveway but next door has one, I drove past it today. Really handy for town but depends if you'd be happy on a main road. There are only about 6 or so houses at that bit.
The 2nd link is for a house over double your budget so not sure if it's the right one?

If I had small dc I'd say no to linden avenue but if you were able to park then I'd consider it with no DC. Thee is a car park to the back of there but not sure if you could pay for a long term pass? There is a gate to the side which you might be able to get a dropped kerb off the roundabout and open up into the back garden?

The one in Linden Avenue is just along from me. The current owners seem to park at the side of the back garden wall right next to the roundabout
One thing to be aware of with that house is that the Council have approved a new road to run from that roundabout up through the car park up through what used to be the main council buildings so that roundabout has the potential to get more busy that it currently is

Op, just saw something on one of the selling sites on face book. If you join stuff for free and sale Clackmannanshire, Stirling and Falkirk, or something like that, unfortunately I can't seem to link to it or even copy and paste. I'm on my phone as I'm away.

The Upper Bridge Street property is lovely and in a nice part of Stirling but it is over budget. Linden Avenue I wouldn't consider because of the parking. As it is so near the roundabout I am not sure you would get permission for a dropped kerb for parking round the back.

@WaxOnFeckOff Apologies, you did indeed post the first house - I feel like I've looked at hundreds of houses/flats in the last week or so and it's getting hard to differentiate!

The second is above our initial budget and would be a long term home rather than something for just the next year or two. We hadn't planned on buying a long term home yet until we get to know the area but that one is definitely my dream home! We could go for it but it would obviously be riskier.

For those who asked, the cat is outdoor so a garden is essential and off a main road would be preferable.

Thanks to pp who let me know about the new road being built behind Linden Ave. That would make it a lot less attractive to us so I really appreciate the heads up.