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Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

Second home in Scotland

183 replies

Frizzyspider · 12/02/2021 13:06

I'd be grateful for some guidance & recommendation.
We live overseas, and would like to have our second home in Scotland.
Having a tiny budget, we're looking for a 2-bed flat (not a house).
We do homeschooling with our son, so the local schools are not important.
What would be important:
a/ definitely the seaside
b/ vibrant community (to make friends & contribute to the local initiatives)
c/ an inspiring place regarding history, local landmarks, art, museums, libraries, etc.
d/ easy train/bus access to the Edinburgh/Glasgow airports.

We'd love to buy sth near Edinburgh, but the east coast seems to be too pricey. That is why we consider Rothesay on the Isle of Bute or generally the west coast.

Any recommendations would be much appreciated. Thank you!

OP posts:
elastictastic · 13/02/2021 13:02

Not the beach but 5 minute walk to the Loch Leven. You would may be get this within your budget. 30 minutes to Edinburgh airport.

Flat

Brunt0n · 13/02/2021 13:06

@elastictastic

Not the beach but 5 minute walk to the Loch Leven. You would may be get this within your budget. 30 minutes to Edinburgh airport.

Flat

There’s not a chance OP would get that in budget and even if she did, Kinross is not somewhere people go on holiday
Wbeezer · 13/02/2021 13:06

I know that street, that's good value and Kinross is nice, the high st seems to be on the up at the moment.

IseeScottishhills · 13/02/2021 13:07

Just looked on Rightmove quite of flats in Dumfries that fit your budget you're not a million miles from the estuary closish to the motorway for both Edinburgh and Glagow (although still a tidy step) and there's a station. The surrounding countryside is stunning especially as you follow the coastline along to the west. Having said all of this I don't know Dumfries very well but my impression is that some parts are quite grim and I think I'd be trying to up my budget look at Glasgow especially I think in terms of Air BnB it would be a better investment.

makingitupaswegoon · 13/02/2021 13:10

Don't bother. Unless you love the snow, and disruption and a nanny state. Soon as DS is grown up I'm buggering off to somewhere warm. Impossible to leave our city street because of the snow since Monday

elastictastic · 13/02/2021 13:20

Brunt0n

I disagree. That flat has been as low as £70k recently. The auction agent just keep changing the price and hoping someone will bite. It’s no garden hence taking a while to sell.

Plenty go on holiday to Kinross. No idea where you get the opinion that they don’t.

Sturmundcalm · 13/02/2021 13:22

In terms of Rothesay specifically, I've never lived there have only visited - mainly for work. The first time I had to stay over was a Monday night in January and I was a bit freaked out by the fact that at 8.30pm I was "trapped" on the island. Would totally put me off but may not be an issue for you. There is an old world charm to the town (my view may be skewed by how much I love 2p penny falls and find "keep off the grass" signs entertaining) during the warmer months but winter is long enough...

There is a lot happening to try and build on the culture/heritage of the island but it's unclear at this point whether that will be successful or not... The arrival of the Syrian refugees helped to create some new businesses but while some members of the community welcomed them with open arms there were others who were very unhappy about it. I'm not sure I'd agree quite so strongly as someone else about the "incomers" issue because I think you get that in any small town in Scotland but it is worth bearing in mind that as a second-home owner who isn't sending their child to the school or anything you are unlikely to be part of the core community on the island. I think that's probably true to an extent anywhere though as a second home owner. Second home owners are not viewed with warmth generally...

And again, I wouldn't agree quite so strongly as some folk about the access to Glasgow BUT if you want access to the city what is that for? You couldn't go out for the evening and then make it home so it would only really be available to you for daytime stuff.

readsalotgirl63 · 13/02/2021 13:23

There are increasing numbers of threads with people wanting to move up to various areas of Scotland with unrealistic budgets.
I think it's a bit of a gamble moving to cheap seaside places in Scotland hoping for them to become Scotlands answer to places like Margate that have been colonised by creative types down from London and have interesting cultural things going on, maybe one day in the future but you might get lonely waiting for like minded souls to turn up. I could be wrong
There was a thread fairly recently on
the property thread about moving to Margate - it may be up and coming but large parts of it are still pretty grotty and dh who is from close by is quite amused by the whole Margate as the new St Tropez on the Cote de Kent the

readsalotgirl63 · 13/02/2021 13:24

Sorry catching up and typing on phone

Brunt0n · 13/02/2021 13:28

@elastictastic

Brunt0n

I disagree. That flat has been as low as £70k recently. The auction agent just keep changing the price and hoping someone will bite. It’s no garden hence taking a while to sell.

Plenty go on holiday to Kinross. No idea where you get the opinion that they don’t.

OP will be sadly disappointed if she moves there, it doesn’t tick any of her boxes other than near the sea and dirt cheap - there is a reason. I wish people would listen - something that cheap will have a catch, it’ll either need a lot of work, have no local amenities at all, or be in an awful / deprived / dangerous area
elastictastic · 13/02/2021 13:30

You are wrong. Just wrong. Perhaps not comment on areas you don’t know anything about Brunt0on.

IseeScottishhills · 13/02/2021 13:36

"Scotlands answer to places like Margate that have been colonised by creative types"
Have you ever been to Margate? We have friends who near there they think its a dump and it didn't seem to heaving in luvvies as far as I can see!!

"Don't bother. Unless you love the snow, and disruption and a nanny state. Soon as DS is grown up I'm buggering off to somewhere warm. Impossible to leave our city street because of the snow since Monday"
I have nomadic tendencies and have lived in lots of places. I don't think Scotland is any more "nanny state" than England or some other counties in Europe . I agree you don't come to Scotland for the weather but there is more to life than endless sun. We lived in southern England for 8 years we had more snow there than we ever get in Dumfries and Galloway.
A nomadic life has has taught me both literally and figuratively that the pasture is rarely greener on the other side.

C0RAL · 13/02/2021 13:37

@bertieb7

Just pointing out (you are probably aware but in case not) that you will also need to factor in the 3% stamp duty on second homes to your budget.
Actually it’s 4% for ADS ( additional dwelling supplement ) . So £2.6k for a purchase of £65k.

I’d allow another £1k for legal fees and outlays.

So the OP needs to look for properties around 0/0 58-60, as they will have a Home report value of low to mid 60s. Or a fixed price of course.

LilyLolo81 · 13/02/2021 13:40

I’m a Fifer, trust me when I say that no one wants to go on holiday to Leven Grin

rawalpindithelabrador · 13/02/2021 13:45

People want to go on holiday to Kinross? Grin Pull the other one. 😂😂😂

LilyLolo81 · 13/02/2021 13:46

Kinross is lovely and people do go on holiday there, the high street is lovely and definitely up and coming but there’s a reason that flat is that price and has been on the market for so long. Also a pain in the arse to get to Edinburgh from there unless you’re happy getting the bus (no train station but there is a park and ride).

Brunt0n · 13/02/2021 13:47

@elastictastic

You are wrong. Just wrong. Perhaps not comment on areas you don’t know anything about Brunt0on.
Don’t know anything about? I’m born and bred Scottish, my husband is a fifer, my granny is from Kinross.

That’s why i’m allowed (and qualified) to say that they aren’t going to be what the OP is looking for

IseeScottishhills · 13/02/2021 13:49

I just want to add some properties (even expensive ones) do go for the asking price/valuation or even less. It seems to very much depend on the area.
Don’t forget that for second properties most have higher insurance premiums and usually the requirements for them to be visited on a regular basis.

NeverEnoughCats · 13/02/2021 13:50

I went on holiday to Kinross, and liked it so much that I moved there. I still like it, and as a PP said the high street is great. It’s a lovely community, and we’ve been made to feel very welcome.

IseeScottishhills · 13/02/2021 14:05

do go=don't go, bloody phone.

elastictastic · 13/02/2021 14:26

Oh well, if your Granny is from Kinross and that makes you qualified 😂 I’ll just shut up. Living here clearly isn’t qualified enough.

IseeScottishhills · 13/02/2021 14:29

I'm curious now will have to go to Kinross when lock down is lifted Grin.

Ohdeariedear · 13/02/2021 14:40

I go to Kinross lots, mainly to walk round Loch Leven/ take the kids to kirkgate park. It’s definitely perked up lately, new cafes popping up, new housing etc.

Whoever said 1/2 hour to Edinburgh Airport was being slightly optimistic IMO, but it’s definitely well placed for getting about due to the M90. Extra bonus - M&S foodhall at the motorway services!

blowinahoolie · 13/02/2021 14:47

Stop it BruntOn now everyone wants to know how fantastic Kinross is😆😂🤣

IseeScottishhills · 13/02/2021 14:51

It seems particularly popular with pink footed geese.