Where to buy in Glasgow??

[OliveRhino88]

Hi everyone,

I could really do with some advice on where to buy in/around Glasgow. Bit of background - myself, DH and DS (18 months) are new to the area, moved for DH's job. Currently renting in Bearsden and DH works at the University campus on Switchback Rd. We have a second baby on the way and would love to buy before this baby arrives early summer. Ideally we're looking for a 3 bed with a garden (like everyone else!) with a budget of up to £350,000 (so I guess HRV of £300,000 max?!)

Ideally we would like to live within walking or cycling distance of husband's work so have been looking in Bearsden and Kelvindale however we've made a few offers on houses that have all gone to a closing date and we feel completely outpriced despite putting in offers at 10% + over the HRV. So we're starting to look further afield including Southside. Really important are good local schools, mum and toddler activities and generally a safe, family friendly area (not asking for too much then)!

What would be good options for the Southside? And would the commute for DH just be completely awful as would involve the Clyde Tunnel? Any ideas on other areas north of the river to consider?

We've heard good things about Clarkston and Giffnock. We've also seen some gorgeous houses in Ralston and Mosspark which are within budget but I'm not so sure about these areas and the schooling options?

All advice welcome, thanks so much!!

Clarkston, Giffnock and the rest of East Ren will be just as bad in terms of the housing market tbh. The housing market is crazy at the moment.

I also think the commute would be horrific. I would stay north of the river if it was me, just look in a slightly less popular area.

Bishopbriggs might be a possibility in terms of budget and locale?

Scianel - thanks, yes I saw quite a lot of houses coming up in Bishopbriggs and at a more promising price. Do you know much about the area? Are the schools good (mainly primary we're thinking about at this stage)?

I'm south of the river now I'm afraid but hopefully someone else will be able to give you some schools information for the area.

I was also going to suggest maybe looking at new build estates in north Glasgow as at least that dodges the offers over stuff but there really doesn't seem to be that much on the market right now according to rightmove anyway.

I sympathise. How happy are you in your rental? I think your budget is very good for what you are looking for and you will eventually be fine. I have also been looking for about a year. We have probably bid on the same houses!
I think that the HR values are slowly coming up to the value of the houses but last year it was a ridiculous gap between the "valuation " and the price they were selling at.
Shortage of stock seems to be a huge problem everywhere. You might have to forget your birth deadline and wait.
Do you have any other wishes because your budget seems good to me?

Thanks @17to35
We like our rental but we’re just short on space as it’s 2 bed and the combined kitchen/lounge is pretty small - feels like we’re bursting out of it already. But by no means desperate to leave, we know we’re very lucky to have it.
Thanks for your encouraging words, it’s hard not to feel disheartened! I expect we have bid on the same ones recently in Kelvindale, there really aren’t many!

I think, if we were to forget the close proximity to husband’s work, our top priorities are good schools and a family friendly area without any real trouble (I know there’s always little things but would like to feel safe walking around with the little ones when it’s dark in winter for example). Nice park nearby would be a bonus, mum and toddler groups, that kind of thing.

Do you have any thoughts on looking south of the river? We are tempted but the commute would be a bit of a concern. Also been thinking of further out to the north, Lenzie, Kirkintilloch. Do you have any other suggestions? Thanks so much!

I haven't looked further out myself but I know two lots of younger people (probably around your age) have looked further out, Bishopbriggs,Royston etc.
My husband's research fellow ended up renting in Bishopbriggs, a bungalow and their children go to Wester Cleddans primary school.
As far as I know they love it there. They rent a bungalow in a lovely area and their neighbours are fantastic. The family are not from the UK. He cycles to the West End when he needs to be at work. They were renting (air bnb) before that, a flat in the west end, and hated it.
I think it is better to stay North for an easier commute.
Again, I sympathise.

I don’t know about the primaries but Bishopbriggs Academy is in the top 10 of Scottish State secondaries.

You have a healthy budget but not enough for a Bearsden bungalow at the moment. What about something like this? You'd still have access to the schools and short commute for your husband.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/119404175#/?channel=RES_BUY

It might also be worth considering Blanefield though properties don’t come up to often. Good schooling and easy commute to Bearsden.

Blanefield, out past Milngavie, Kileearn, all nice although they are inevitably commuter towns. If it were me I'd probably go for Dumbarton or somewhere up along the river.

Does the property Aquamarine1 posted above tick some boxes for you? It's certainly a good price for your budget. I do agree with pp who mentioned staying put in your rental. No-one knows, but the consensus seems to be house prices will cool a bit with the increased cost of living. At least that way maybe you could purchase something for close to the value on the home report, instead of the obscene offers over which everything is selling for just now. I suppose the worry is that prices just keep going up and up though! Good luck in your house hunt!

Thanks @aquamarine1, I had a brief look at this one but looking again I think it would be a good one to look at

Thanks @MopaniTree. Yes it definitely ticks quite a few boxes, well worth a look. So hard to know what to do for the best in the current climate!

I'd head out to Houston/Bridge of Weir/Bishopton - great schools, villages, and your husband can head in to work via the A82 rather than through the clyde tunnel. We lived in Mosspark for a number of years, it was ok, but not great. Ralston much nicer but still bordered by not so nice bits.

Would you consider south Lanarkshire? Good schools and nice places to live. Uddingston, Bothwell, or Strathaven spring to mind

Newlands or strathbungo? Good family areas but there isn’t a huge amount on the market atm

I like living in Kirkintilloch. It's got a nice feel to it. Commute to Garscube is about 25-30 minutes drive and it's possible to cycle in 45 -50 minutes or so along the canal. DH hasn't had any concerns on the bike commute.

Bishopbriggs definitely worth a look, good secondary school too. Similar but shorter cycle possibilities to Kirkintilloch.

Wouldn't fancy a commute from South Lanarkshire into Garscube, the last bit into Garscube is a bit of a pain from the South.

My geography of the area isn’t good, sorry!

We are in knightswood near to westerton which is not far from the campus , I walk my dog up there regularly and absolutely love it! It was difficult to buy there too as all houses went way over our budget and had so many people interested. We giot a private sale so were very lucky. There has been more houses come up recently so fingers crossed you get something.

what about on a train route like Helensburgh

If the commute isn't a deal breaker then you should be able to pick up a 3 bed with a garden with your budget in various East Renfrewshire areas. Not necessarily a bungalow or sandstone villa, but a decent 3 bed semi would be within your price bracket. The housing market will be equally competitive, but maybe more semi detached properties within your budget than in Bearsden.

@Firefightress1 how do you find Knightswood? I’ve seen a few nice properties on Rightmove recently and one has come up just opposite the golf course (Loanfoot Ave) which is ticking lots of boxes but I’m finding it hard to find out about the area. Do you know much about the local primaries? Thanks very much

I would try and stay north of the river too, the motorway/clyde tunnel can be a bit of a nightmare so if he would be commuting for a large part of the week I would try and avoid the south side.

The commute from East Ren into Glasgow in the morning takes ages (unless your DH can choose his start and finish time in which case he can avoid the busy times). We always found it was much faster coming back to East Ren after school/end of work, etc.
However, I think you'll struggle to get the house you want in a good school catchment in East Ren. The market is so busy just now and houses go above HR just as much as they do in Bearsden.
Could you rent somewhere bigger for another year instead? Then the market should have slowed down and you'd have a better chance of buying something that suits you.