Edinburgh is so blimmin expensive

[Ready2020]

Hello all

My husband and I lived in Edinburgh for about 15 years but only the last 2 together. We moved out to by Peebles just in August last year and fell pregnant in November (planned). It's out first and maybe only child.

The problem is we both miss Edinburgh terribly and thought that we would enjoy living in the country more than we do. I was brought up on a farm so it's surprising that I feel so isolated now. I didn't think I would have a city child but think Edinburgh is a brilliant place to raise a child with loads to do (minus covid restrictions).

We would love to move back to Edinburgh at some point but our budget of £220k will not get us far at all. I've never lived on an estate (modern or council) and when living in Edinburgh was always in the old tenement flats in Morningside or the New Town.

The house we have now is 3 bed with a garden and while I'm happy to go to a 2 bed a garden is still a must for me.

Am I being too ambitious? What areas are open to us now?

So we've seen some new builds in Wallyford that are about in budget plus on the train line to my mum in Dunbar. Fingers crossed! Good trains and bus to Edinburgh.

@Ready2020

So we've seen some new builds in Wallyford that are about in budget plus on the train line to my mum in Dunbar. Fingers crossed! Good trains and bus to Edinburgh.

I don’t think there’s a Walkyford to Dunbar train. The Dunbar train is direct from Edinburgh I think.

I would be a bit wary of Wallyford and would choose Musselburgh instead - better schools, shops, community. Wallyford has a lot of social issues.

It might be the case of beggars can't be choosers.

Yeah the train goes to Musselburgh but the 44 bus goes to Wallyford.

@Ready2020 check out some of the houses in Musselburgh. You can definitely get something decent for your budget. Stoneyhill is probably the best primary school. And you can walk to Musselburgh station. Wallyford is a real trek from Musselburgh station, not walkable and at rush hour you’d be quicker driving to Dunbar!

Musselburgh has good bits and not so good hits but it’s got a great community, a pretty nice high street, gorgeous walks and great links into Edinburgh. Wallyford is a council house estate with a few shops and a lot of new houses. You’d have to drive to get anywhere. My friend taught at Wallyford primary and I wouldn’t send my kids there. I’d rather be in a smaller house in Musselburgh than a big place in Wallyford.

I've seen another new development with some houses to go at Preston Square which is a bit closer to Musselburgh so we'll check that out too.

I take it I don't have to send my child to the local school? I can send them over to Musselburgh.

@Ready2020

I've seen another new development with some houses to go at Preston Square which is a bit closer to Musselburgh so we'll check that out too.

I take it I don't have to send my child to the local school? I can send them over to Musselburgh.

You have to make an out of catchment request and I know of one year a parent took the council to court over it. So it’s not a given especially for Stoneyhill which is deemed be of the better in Musselburgh. There’s 4 primary schools in Musselburgh alone. It may be hard for play dates etc... having local friends.

I think Preston Square is Prestonpans?

@Ready2020 where you’re looking- you’ll still need to drive to get anywhere.

There's bus stops on that road. The Lothian 44 pasts near by.
This is just one option we're looking at here. Others might come up.

It sounds like you are hankering after living IN Edinburgh and tbh currie musselburgh etc just aren't Edinburgh. You might move and end up feeling just as isolated but in crappy wee flat in musselburgh. Lockdown is a weird time I would wait until things are relatively back to normal before making a big decision like this.

@Ready2020

There's bus stops on that road. The Lothian 44 pasts near by. This is just one option we're looking at here. Others might come up.

Good luck! It’s hard especially when you’re pregnant and in the middle of a pandemic so can’t go and visit!

When we were at your stage what helped was thinking of day to day stuff with a baby. So for me I needed to have nice walks from the door and be able to walk to shops/ cafes. Baby and toddler groups and a local swimming pool. Getting in and out of the car is a hassle with a baby, it’s nice to just go. A good community and a light house (you spend quite a lot of time feeding at the beginning!) These were my priorities if it helps at all?

I agree with @ImperfectTents those places are not an Edinburgh lifestyle which seems to be what you're wanting.

Have you looked at south queensferry? Houses are generally better value. It’s a large town feel but very easy to access Edinburgh central...

I came on to second south queensferry. It’s a nice town with a friendly feel. I would wait until you have your baby, Peebles is lovely and once you get into baby groups and meet other parents you’ll not feel as isolated. I moved from Edinburgh about 4 years ago after being there on and off for 20 years and I really don’t miss it at all now.

Also I would not get a house in a school catchment that you absolutely don't want to send your child into. The out of catchment request is a gamble. I don't know the situation in Musselburgh, but in a lot of Edinburgh you wouldn't get a space.

Davidson mains or some areas of silverknowes?

Hiya, have you ever considered living in Leith? You can find cheaper flats, it's a great community and very urban...short bus ride into town or you can walk/cycle...

There are lots of green spaces, parks and the disused railways lines that make great paths for pushing pram, cycling etc...

education-wise the GME nursery & primary is in Leith, is non-catchment and it has an excellent reputation. Gaelic medium education, but it's essentially bilingual.

What about this OP?

Close to the area you are familiar with closer to town and to the Gyle than East Lothian, ground floor, own garden etc:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/99317477#/

@WaxOnFeckOff that’s a good find. Nice garden and I think walking distance to lots of places.

Or here further up budget:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/83750515#/

Quite a few 2 bed ground flats (with suitable space for cats to go catting) around that area in budget.

[quote Goingdooolally]@WaxOnFeckOff that’s a good find. Nice garden and I think walking distance to lots of places.[/quote]
Thanks, it's mostly a decent enough area, I'd happily live there. You'd maybe want to be somewhere else by High School age. I think if work was the gyle direction i really would want to be that side of Haymarket or closer to the bypass than east Lothian, but I'm not the one having to travel :)

Coming back to this after a few months of housing up and downs! We offered on a few places in Musselburgh but kept losing out. We eventually offered on a new ish build in Dunbar (mum lives there and train is 20 minutes to Edinburgh) and it got accepted for the sellers to get cold feet and possibly want to pull out. That was yesterday so we're waiting to hear what's going on.

We're moving out of here on the 14 May no matter what so I hope it works out or its 6 month pregnant me, my partner and our 2 cats going to my mums!

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/90601366#/

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/104370047#/

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/105358973#/

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/78332043#/

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/90659353#/

ARGHHHH!!! Fingers crossed for you!

@CirclesWithinCircles thanks.... Not entirely sure the need for them. Most are out our price range and location. But, well, ta.

What sort of prices were the ones you were missing out on in Mussy? Were you going over asking?