Where to buy in Glasgow for a single woman

[Wander99spirit]

Hi all,
My fiancé has broken up with me and now I am looking for a new place to call home. We currently own a flat in Edinburgh where we moved from London to be closer to his family. I found a job at the University of Glasgow, so it would make sense for me to move there, especially as I am new to Scotland and have no friends here.
I would like to get a small flat (studio or a 1bed) and should have a budget of around 120k. Can someone suggest some nice areas in or around Glasgow as I have no clue where to go (I know that the west end is nice but also very expensive)?

Thank you

Round the west end is lovely but I suspect out of your budget although a quick hunt on zoopla suggests you might just get a 1 bed if you went more towards Partick. Round Shawlands / Queens Park area seems quite reasonably priced but I don't know it well enough to say if you'd be happy living there, it's always seemed ok from what I do know of it!
Bear in mind how the offers over system works in Scotland, for your budget you probably need to be looking at offers over £100-110k and check the home reports for the valuation price. You will only get a mortgage up to the valuation price but people often bid higher. I'm not sure what the market for flats is like in Glasgow at the moment but in Edinburgh it seems to be slowing down due to people relocating out of the city after lockdown and a noticeable number of AirBnB / holiday rental flats coming up for sale.

Basically anywhere near the subway stops on the north side of the subway would be ideal. I'd probably avoid Cowcaddens and too far into Maryhill. Southside (Shawlands/Queens Park) is nice and likely more affordable, but bus or train are your main transport links so not as easy to get to Glasgow uni. Assuming you're based at the Hillhead campus. £120k should get you at least a 1 bed if you're flexible on location.

Sorry to hear your relationship has broken down. Similar happened to me 5 years ago. I bought a flat in the west end and had a great time! You could also consider renting for a while to get to know the area, it's a funny time to move cos you won't see the city at its best with everything closed.

The market has gone wild apparently. I think you'd have to look at properties valued around the £100k mark rather than £110k, especially if you're looking at town/west end, which makes location a bit trickier.

Do you know anyone or anywhere in Glasgow? Maybe renting would be a good idea for you to get an idea first. I'm so sorry about your relationship.

West end would be better for a young professional!
I lived there and it was just fab. Anything goes.
You might find something at the finnieston side for that price or over at the Glasgow harbour (beware cladding there might be getting changed though). They do have studios at the harbour and it does feel a bit like you are on holiday if you get a water view one.

West end is the most similar to Edinburgh or London.

I'm so sorry about your relationship.. Southside is a decent bet but trains/ buses to work and it's further.

I think you should look at Dennistoun- it's getting very arty as the arty types can't afford the West End/ South Side. Quite hipster shops/cafes and a decent pubs. Great , big tenements and you'd get a good 1 bed for your budget. Stick to ' The Drives' for more spacious flats and better surroundings. My first flat was in Dennistoun and I loved it so much. I have fabulous memories.

You can walk into The Merchant City in 15 minutes and town centre in 20. Train to town then underground or train to Partick and walk to the uni.

My ExH moved back there to a bigger flat and he and my boys love Dennistoun. Still got a few friends there, it's very friendly.

My boys spend 2 days a week there and their life is certainly more bohemian than with me in the burbs.

Dennistoun is great but not much in the way of one bed flats there unless you head over to Haghill but that area still has some problems. You might find something in Partick for your budget, it has more one bed places and is good for transport and fairly close to Glasgow university. Merchant City might have some options for you as well ... Lovely architecture, very central, maybe too central...you would really be in the thick of things for dining & nights out there!

I would definitely go for west end.... maybe rent initially until you get a feel for the area? South side - Shawlands/strathbungo is nice but not as easy to get to the uni.

Sorry about your break up OP. I love the West End it’s my spiritual home if only I could afford to live there lol. I would probably rent before buying TBH especially in this climate get a feel for the different areas first.

@mummywithtwokidsplusdog crossed post but we’ve just said the same thing, I also don’t think a lot of people are selling just now so not much for sale people hanging on to see what the market is going to do.

Look around the top of Napiershall Street / St George's Cross area. G20 postcode. Lovely walk along the Kelvin to the botanics or to the Uni via Woodlands Road . I know the area very well.

Prices in Dennistoun are outrageous atm.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/77789223#/

The price on this one is suspiciously low for me, considering the Drives location, but this is the only one in OP's budget.

The proper sandstones go for nearly 200k!

• Sorry, not the only one in OP's budget, but the only one in Dennistoun that I'd recommend to her, location wise.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/75399825#/ I d go with something like this

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/88926028#/

Quite small but in budget and great location.

I would try on the edge of the West End - Yorkhill, Thornwood end of Patrick or around Oban Drive off Queen Margaret Drive - that way you are close to the buzz of the West End and can walk to the Uni. Also lots of cafes, bars, shops, green spaces.
As pp said, look at property around the £100k mark as flats are going for 10-15% over home report value at the mo. You might have more luck with modern builds than tenements in these areas.
Another single female friend swears by Dennistoun, but maybe get a feel for it first, still has some gritty areas. Also Merchant City might be worth a look.
How about this as a starting point in Yorkhill?
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/89692501#/
If you do decide to rent first, there are no minimum lease lengths any more in Scotland, you can just give your landlord 1 months’ notice to quit. Could be the way to do it while you find the perfect flat.
Sorry about your relationship breakdown, but hope the move works out for you!

I would try and be as close to the West end as you can - eg Partick is close but cheaper. It’s handy for the university and just the nicest bit. Personally I wouldn’t go South till you’ve found your feet.

I wouldn't go for Dennistoun personally.

I’d go for West End - you won’t get something in the heart of it for your budget but Partick and Finnieston are within walking distance of the uni and have good tube links too.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/74957655#/

Out of town, Uddingston. Restaurants a. Couple of bars, 15 mins in train into Glasgow. Ok it’s suburbia but it’s safe, nice and there is stuff

Yorkhill. You’ll be able to walk to work, walk up west end and walk into city centre. It’s well placed for easy access to M8. Kelvin grove Park across the road and art gallery. Finnieston has also gotten a bit gentrified as has Partick. Glasgow is very friendly. You’ll love it

Ah was thinking Glasgow uni was east end of Glasgow but that’s Cally. Uddingston would be a pan for west end

Have you looked out towards Scotstoun/knightswood/yoker? You're West of the west end so easy for work (there's lots of trains and buses going via the uni and into town) and prices are still reasonable. Its not the nicest area in terms of nice pubs and places to go for dinner, but you're only a short taxi ride away from the west end! I lived there for a while an really liked it, and I think prices will continue to rise as its within commuting distance for both the big hospitals so when you come to see I dont think you would lose money.

I would definitely recommend coming through and having a drive/wander through any areas you're thinking about.

@Redtartanshoes

Ah was thinking Glasgow uni was east end of Glasgow but that’s Cally. Uddingston would be a pan for west end

Cally's more West too - just behind Sauchihall St, near Cowcaddens.

Yes, I’m actually thinking Strathclyde. 😂