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!

You could rent a lovely flat in Stockbridge OP - lovely part of Edinburgh to live in, walking distance from the centre, lots to do, good schools. Would be a great base for getting to know the area.

You can't commute and do the school run. You need to be in the city.
If I had your budget I'd buy a lower/upper villa in Broomhall/Carrick Knowe.
espc.com/property/121-broomfield-crescent-edinburgh-eh12-7lu/36050061?sid=987259

It might not quite be in your budget at oo160 and I know that it's only a flat. It does have a private garden and is near to schools and good transport links.
To stretch your budget, could you get the mortgage over a longer term?
Good luck.

@emmathedilemma

PMSL at the suggestion of Stockbridge! Double that budget would barely buy you a 2 bed tenament flat.

The thing is there are posters commenting here who seem to lack knowledge of the areas of Edinburgh which are affordable in this budget - Stockbridge just isn't even a goer!

Try Gilmerton, Westerhailes and you might just be realistic with these areas. That's not to say they are the most desirable, but all realistically within OP's budget🤷

@beastlyslumber

You could rent a lovely flat in Stockbridge OP - lovely part of Edinburgh to live in, walking distance from the centre, lots to do, good schools. Would be a great base for getting to know the area.

Sounds as if OP would like to buy. Would be rubbish getting her DC settled in a lovely school in Stockbridge only to find she couldn't buy and settle their permanently. Giving false hope.

Very tiny budget for Edinburgh. I think you need to check your monthly budget for commuting costs and childcare before working out what area you can afford. Edinburgh is expensive, the outskirts may seem cheaper but when you’re paying £300 to travel in every month…. I like the idea of a double upper in broomhall/carrick knowe but your budget won’t stretch to a 3 bedroom. It’s an ok area. Easy bus to town, close to shops and schools.

Totally agree @HarrisMcCoo it’s not going to buy them 2 or 3 beds in portobello either!

That Broomhall flat looks decent and wouldn't need much spent on it.

Inverkeithing is the smart town to aim for - lots of trains, not just the Fife Circle but the mainline trains stop here. Takes 25 mins into Waverley. Also Ferrytoll for the Park and Ride and buses that go into the centre of Edinburgh on the old bridge and bus lanes so avoids traffic jams.

Plenty of money left to fix this up, but you will need £200K+ for nicer streets.
www.zoopla.co.uk/for-sale/details/57598912/?search_identifier=703f2f5ec54c3c548c20be30dc89857a

@Tailendofsummer

That Broomhall flat looks decent and wouldn't need much spent on it.

Also handy for the tram stop so a quick commute

When I was all about living in something with period features in Marchmont I wouldn't have considered it But real life sets in.

I know the feeling. I bought my first flat in Edinburgh when I was barely 18. I now live in a 4 bed detached house not in Edinburgh and think I could barely afford anything in Edinburgh. I won't be having a lovely retirement flat in a genteel part of the city now 😂😂

Yes little flat in walking distance of the Botanics I'll keep checking my premium bonds

My current house in Corstorphine I bought for £102,000 in 2001. Latest valuation was nearly £300,000.

The Broomhall villa above is great for buses or trams. Local amenities are in walking distance and lots of clubs, after school clubs etc. Think it falls in the Carrick Knowe catchment. Lots of childminders locally too.

A bus pass would be £60 a month.

I rent in Stockbridge and it's lovely. But could never afford to buy here (and I'm planning on moving away, partly for that reason). But I think renting long term could be a good option, though? Once you know Edinburgh a bit more and have settled into your job, you'll have a lot more options and be more comfortable finding a decent house for your budget.

Private renting is just so much more difficult when you have children. I appreciate that loads of folk have to do it as they have no choice but it doesn't have any certainty. If DC are in school and you can't find anything else suitable in price range in the same area, you are left with potentially changing schools or difficult logistics/changing childcare options etc.

This can be helped if you choose an area with lots of rental stock but who knows how things change.

@beastlyslumber

I rent in Stockbridge and it's lovely. But could never afford to buy here (and I'm planning on moving away, partly for that reason). But I think renting long term could be a good option, though? Once you know Edinburgh a bit more and have settled into your job, you'll have a lot more options and be more comfortable finding a decent house for your budget.

Renting is fine if you are single with no dependents, IMO. No idea if you would be able to settle in a rented property long term. No really ideal with children who attend school.

@ElephantOfRisk

Private renting is just so much more difficult when you have children. I appreciate that loads of folk have to do it as they have no choice but it doesn't have any certainty. If DC are in school and you can't find anything else suitable in price range in the same area, you are left with potentially changing schools or difficult logistics/changing childcare options etc.

This can be helped if you choose an area with lots of rental stock but who knows how things change.

I agree with you.

No idea if you would be able to settle in a rented property long term.

I've been in my flat for 11 years.

@beastlyslumber

No idea if you would be able to settle in a rented property long term.

I've been in my flat for 11 years.

Not all landlords allow this and the situation could change where the property needs to be put on the market. Lots of uncertainty especially if children are involved.

That shared ownership development in Slateford is infested with rats. There was a story in the paper about it.

If you need to stay in Edinburgh I’d be looking for a 2 bed flat in Falkirk if I were you. It’s roughly 30mins away by train or an hour by bus. It’s the only area commutable to the ciry centre that will probably fall into your budget if you want to buy.

I don't think the OP is coming back but I'm still laughing over the Stockbridge suggestion

Three beds in Stockbridge for £160 k , I think you've got to go back to the 1980's!

Never mind Stockbridge you wouldn't get three beds in Leith for that budget either! I live in a three bed flat in Leith and it cost more than that to buy it 8 years ago. The identical flat above me sold recently for more than double that £160k amount. Prices in Edinburgh feel pretty out of control.

I think your budget is totally doable, it’s the commute and childcare that may cause difficulties. Fwiw my ex council 3 bed lower villa in central Dalkeith was way below your budget when I bought it about 3 years ago. (I’ve kept an eye on local prices and it’s still well below.) Good sized rooms, high ceilings, a bay window, and front and back gardens. The area is what some might consider dodgy but I’ve never had any bother, I feel safe, and my neighbours are nice.
The station is on the outskirts though, it’s not very handy. The bus takes about 40 minutes into town.

@cannaethink I'm in Dalkeith too which has a bit of a reputation but it isn't bad if you have okay neighbours

I used to bus it to Edinburgh's city centre for years