moving to Scotland from UK

[Anamz]

Hi, we are planning to move to Scotland within next 6 months with family. I am looking for areas within 15-20 miles from Edinburgh that have affordable housing, good schools and a mixture of diverse community. Any suggestions and recommendations?

You sound like just the type we would welcome with open arms

Always happy to have our flaws pointed out

And if that's a chip, bad luck

OP. If you're planning gon moving here, an acknowledgment of your huge clanger (not the perfunctory shrug you have) would have brought forth different responses

You didn’t really respect the Scots with your U.K. error did you? So it’s not surprising you’ve had some snarky replies. You have had a lot of good advice too. It’s great that your daughter has such well defined plans, but university places are not guaranteed so putting all your eggs in one basket might not be sensible. If it’s Edinburgh University there are courses where straight A’s at Higher are not enough to guarantee a place.

Falkirk has lots of nice areas and is right in between Edinburgh, Glasgow and Stirling, and is next to the motorways and train stations.

It is a basic error that you made OP and one which is straying into a political minefield.

I agree that I wouldn't plan your entire families situation around a university place that hasn't been acquired yet.
It is great your dd has clear goals but goals aren't certainties.

Overall Glasgow has always felt the most multi cultural city to me. Edinburgh also has expensive housing.

I would look carefully at any area before buying as smaller central belt towns are often not that diverse.

What if your Dd wants to live in halls?
Nothing wrong with moving to Scotland for any reason, it just seems a tad odd to do it so your Dd can go to Edinburgh Uni and live at home.
Things change an awful lot at the stage she's at.
It could also be a lot of pressure on her.

The reason people are being sarky with you OP is not just the UK clanger.

It's that you are so vague. Words like "affordable". Planning a move based on a 15 year old who may or may not want to go to Edinburgh Uni, and who may or may not get in.

With your budget as a pp said look around Falkirk. Is this to move to now or in 3 years? If now you need to consider the stage of your DDs education as the Scottish system is significantly different to the English.

To qualify for free Uni education (as it currently stands) there is no actual number of years required but you do need to be habitually resident. If your DD sits her qualifying exams in England then I doubt that she would qualify on the basis of you having a house in Scotland.

You will get more for your budget around Glasgow than around Edinburgh.

@Anamz

Wow I am amazed to see how majority of people respond to my query. Cant believe how people lost the tendency to respect others. I asked for recommendation not for being judgemental. I could plan, prepare and make my move for any reason and I know what my daughter wants and has planned for her future. Thanks to all those who actually tried to help.

It is certainly admirable to support your DD in pursuing her goals. I was merely being realistic. My Scottish daughter, living and educated in Scotland was not offered a place at edinburgh university. Getting a place there is not a given. Move to Scotland by all means. It is lovely here. But I would also urge you to be realistic and support your DD to have a backup plan.

Peebles is nice and an easy commute to Edinburgh . Not esp diverse though and property might be too expensive.
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/108385307#/
Here is an example of a 3 bedroom property just outside Peebles - and it’s offers over .
Kirkintilloch is just outside Glasgow . It’s 10 minutes on the train to the centre of Glasgow, and 40 minutes on the train to the centre of Edinburgh with trains running at least every half hour ( in non COVID times). You get more for your money further West
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/109084493#/

@Anamz be aware that Scotland House buying has an "offers over" system. The price you see is not what you will need to pay. Usually about 10% more but things in popular areas recently it's been more like 20%

@Anamz What school will your daughter go to or are you happy to send her to the catchment school. Usually it's your choice of school which will dictate where you choose to live. I see espc has been mentioned, that's a good place to start.

She'll be moving at a crucial time. There have been many posts over the years on Scotsnet with very similar questions.

Personally, I'm not sure it's worth the free uni funding. In England (possibly whole of the rest of the UK too) the level at where you start repaying your loan is higher so, over time, depending on what she'll earn, she may not actually be better off studying here.

[quote latissimusdorsi]@Anamz be aware that Scotland House buying has an "offers over" system. The price you see is not what you will need to pay. Usually about 10% more but things in popular areas recently it's been more like 20%[/quote]
And in some really popular areas it’s gone up to 40-50% over believ it or not

I agree that Glasgow might be your better option unless dd is absolutely guaranteed and Edinburgh uni place. It's incredibly competitive and a huge proportion are not Scottish residents. Glasgow a little easier for many subjects and equally multi cultural. Some areas are cheaper too house wise and most of the top schools are over that way

Looking at the business school at Edinburgh Uni.

2020 offer rate - England/Wales 55%, Scotland 18%. I’m always so cross when I read the stats.

Ignoring some of the reactions, you've had a lot of good info here to be honest OP. As a resident Scot your DD will have a much harder time accessing a place at Edinburgh Uni. If you are moving with the intention being that she is ready for uni in 3 years, you might need to consider what point she will be at school in Scotland. The age ranges are different than in England and also whilst on paper it would be 1 year Nat 5, 1 year higher and then in 6th a mixture or AHs or leave school etc, some schools do the Nat5s over 2 years so they might already be part way through the course when your DD starts.

As for areas, diversity is likely to be more difficult, is there a particular community you are hoping to join?

You could look round the Lothians at areas such as Penicuik, Tranent, Broxburn and might squeak in a 3 bed in budget in an ok area.

I wouldn't move on the basis of free uni fees though. Who knows how long it will last and places are limited. Edinburgh in particular is hard to get into as a Scottish student on some courses even with top class grades. Edinburgh publish their admission rates it might be worth checking out the course that she'd be looking at.

www.ed.ac.uk/files/atoms/files/scotland_and_eu_admissions_statistics_0.pdf

Don't let people put you off. Of course, as is the case across the UK and internationally, the most sought after universities have the most international students.

Re payment of loan for living costs - threshold is £25k (Scotland) and £27k for England however you'll have a huge saving for tuition fees as they are, of course, £0 here.

If living at home, she may not need any loan for living expenses however worth noting that the interest rates are much higher in England also.

Edinburgh is quite expensive. Our 3 bed has recently been valued at £325,000 and it's by no means a mansion.

You could try South Queensferry but prices have been rising. I would look at the central belt. Such as Falkirk.

My niece bought a house in Stranraer. 4 bedrooms £70,000. But it is very cut off and she and her husband are from there.

Do not, I repeat not, move to Falkirk..................although based on your thread title maybe you should.............!

I think there is this myth that scotland is cheap as chips but the reality is that unless you are a local in some of the cheaper places, it can be hard to integrate or what you can afford doesn't give you the lifestyle that you think it will.

I've been looking at downsizing and maybe maybe relocating somewhere else recently also looking for a decent 3 bed but with a slightly bigger budget at the top end. Ideally i'd spend about £200k though. I've not seen anything that I would want to buy in a place i'd want to live in that bracket. they will exist but not ten a penny. The two bed semi in a town outside edinburgh that cost me £50k and I sold 5 years later for over £100k is now over £200k and it's nothing startling (1960s whimpy type).

God luck with it OP, I would definitely think about some of the advice you have been given so at least you are in an eyes wide open situation so you are making the best decisions for you and your family.

I should say, i don't live in that house anymore but I wouldn't necessarily move back.

gibbertyofah completely agree with your statement re Falkirk though interestingly there have been a few threads where it has been suggested as a great place to live!! I mentioned as a solution purely because of distance and price!!!

From where exactly?

I have only visited Edinburgh not lived there but my feeling is that it is not very diverse in the city. And whilst it has a very good transport system and rail links I am not sure being a student with a 1 hour commute is viable or desirable.