Where to live commutable to Edinburgh with family

[Treesareourfriends]

Hello, I have been offered a job in Edinburgh. I simply couldn't afford to buy there. I have two primary aged kids and am a single parent with essentially whole childcare on myself (relevant because I need to do school pick up and drop off which of course affects commute times).

Any wonderful Mumsnetters with wonderful ideas for where to look to buy a new home?

Other relevant points: I don't drive so someplace that has local fun, family things for kid and good transport. Budget for 3 bedroom would be £160k

TIA!

@sartorius

And I think they were referring to cancelled trains and packed like sardines rather than 30 mins

Yup! Total shit show

Scrap the idea of looking into property in Edinburgh and the Lothians. You won't get much for the budget you have unfortunately.

@ElephantOfRisk has nailed it: having to be able to get to childcare makes it even harder. Rent, and learn to drive. Or a two bedroom flat?

Two bed Restalrig

Two bed Duddingston

Falkirk area at the moment add at least 18k onto the offers over price. Crazy market at the moment OP for the main G2E line you would need to be near Falkirk High for the best frequency of trains. Good luck with your search and new job ✨

OP working in Edinburgh with two primary aged kids could be fantastic if you live in Edinburgh. But without a car or a support network locally, I cannot see how it would be possible to live outside Edinburgh and commute, pick up kids etc. You also have to factor in the cost of transport (not cheap) and childcare outwith school hours.

You could rent a lovely flat in a nice part of Edinburgh, though. Good schools and loads to do, can walk everywhere, and there's a mountain in the middle of the city.

My brother is in Prestonpans, nice area, they’re happy with the primary school and the breakfast/after school club. This is over over 160k although closing today! espc.com/property/26-inchview-prestonpans-eh32-9bq/36042608?sid=184949

I would rent and learn to drive. If you want to be reasonably central and there to pick up kids etc it’s the best option. Property in Edinburgh is very expensive and living in less desirable areas will mean expensive travel on crowded trains or buses.

Edinburgh is overpriced. You would struggle to find anywhere half decent with that budget. Someone has suggested Currie up thread - no chance would that be possible on the budget you have suggested OP.

trockodile that property you linked to is o/o £160k, most likely to go for £180k or thereabouts in the current market. It's ferocious at the moment. OP said her budget is £160k for a 3 bed.

You can forget anywhere within the city bypass on that budget - i just did a search on the whole of Edinburgh for 3 bedrooms on espc and there's 3 properties under £175k - one is offers over £170, one offers over £160 so they're out of budget, and there's a 3 bed ground floor flat on for fixed £160 in Ferniehill. I don't know the area but for that price it can't be great!!
Melrose or Tweedbank might just be affordable and are on the borders railway line.

There are actually areas of Scotland that I would never have imagined being in such high demand, and have been shocked at how quickly properties are being snapped up. I am not even talking about the most desirable of areas either!

Emma, I thought about Tweedbank/Gala (am local) but tbh there's not much in the op's price bracket down here either. Quite a few places in Hawick but the commute would be awful, even if you didn't have children to worry about.

There's not much anywhere in that price bracket @bogeythefungusman! I've searched, East, West and Midlothian and there's next to nothing with 3 bedrooms under or around £160k near a station. I think I'd seriously be reconsidering the job offer!
The further out you go the more the commute is going to cost - Falkirk to Edinburgh is £14 return. That's £280+ a month if you work fulltime or a monthly season ticket is £222. That's a fair chunk of money to balance out a cheaper mortgage.

@emmathedilemma

There's not much anywhere in that price bracket *@bogeythefungusman*! I've searched, East, West and Midlothian and there's next to nothing with 3 bedrooms under or around £160k near a station. I think I'd seriously be reconsidering the job offer! The further out you go the more the commute is going to cost - Falkirk to Edinburgh is £14 return. That's £280+ a month if you work fulltime or a monthly season ticket is £222. That's a fair chunk of money to balance out a cheaper mortgage.

I agree with you there, whichever way you look at it it's going to cost the OP. Housing in general is so expensive just now everywhere.

I could stretch the price bracket but it will eat savings and demand a bigger mortgage (which is a worry when you're a one income family. On the other, I could lose opportunities if I'm too risk averse). I probably need to think 2 bed and kids share!

Again, thank you for the advice.

Is the cost of living ott in these places too, or just the housing?

Even 2 bedrooms is asking quite a lot in Edinburgh and the lothians with your budget, particularly as you need to be on a good public transport route into the city.
Council tax costs for comparison will be on the local authority websites. In Scotland this includes your water and sewage charges so may appear expensive compared to what you're used to.
Edinburgh buses are very cheap - £1.80 single fare and £4.50 day ticket. The trains tend to be more expensive particularly at peak hours.
Have a browse on espc website and zoopla / right move for further afield. You can search by map on espc with a large search area if you draw big circles over it. Zoopla shows distance to the nearest stations. www.lothianbuses.com for routes around Edinburgh.

I think most places have a variety of supermarkets and /or deliveries. Possibly the price of a pint varies but that's the same as anywhere.

Where would you be moving from OP?

I think property (rental or buying) and transport costs will be the biggest variable. Council tax is usually your next biggest bill and I don't think there is a huge difference across councils.

Very tight budget for Edinburgh. You will really struggle to get a 3 bed anywhere close for that money.

Places like Kirkliston and winchburgh are commutable and very family friendly but you won’t get a 3 bed for less than about 230k.

What about looking further afield - Bathgate and Livingston are more affordable and have good transport links to the city. Or somewhere like Bo’ness or Grangemouth.

I wouldn’t consider Kirkliston or Winchburgh if I didn’t drive.

I've seen part buy/part rent come up reasonably frequently OP. Like this one:

espc.com/property/11-5-slateford-green-edinburgh-eh14-1nf/36003799?sid=455067

Primary school would be fine but you'd maybe not be keen on the catchment high school.

This will go well over £200k I think but it's a good area to look at. Very good schools and decent bus service into town and local shops and walks etc too.

espc.com/property/33-colinton-mains-crescent-edinburgh-eh13-9dh/36048129?sid=196072

How much do you want the job OP? Is it worth it if you can’t afford to buy nearer to work? One good thing is that if you buy sensibly you’re making a good investment in Edinburgh .

A few of my friends live in flats where they have split the biggest bedroom in half for the children. So they go for a 2 bedroom flat.