Want to buy near Edinburgh but

[Iliveinacardboardbox]

I only have 80k and no scope for increasing. If I stay renting obviously the money will decrease quickly.
I really don't want to move out of Edinburgh but now can't afford to stay unless I live in a tent 😪
I know I don't want to live in Glenrothes, Cumbernauld has properties in my price range but I have no idea about the area.
Lovely MNetters please help me? 😊

I doubt you are going to get much anywhere for that amount. I had a quick look at places like Rosyth and Inverkeithing and they have pretty much nothing at that price. I don't think Cumbernauld will be any better than Glenrothes. I grew up in Glenrothes so know the area better. Some of the properties in your price range in Markinch seem okay and that is a nice place with a train station.

I would add though that train costs into edinburgh might be prohibitive if that's where you work.

I haven't looked at Markinch, thank you.
Its frustrating, I don't want to leave what I know.
Commuting isn't an issue except for visiting family and friends.
Thank you for your advice Appollo 😊

Is shared ownership an option? Some housing associations do this. I don't know any in Edinburgh but Kingdom in Dunfermline have some nice properties.

I've lived in Cumbernauld and have been to Markinch recently, I'd choose Fife over North Lanarkshire. Nicer countryside nearby and I like a Fife accent!

You dont mention your family situation, but Thornton has a direct line to Edinburgh, and apparently a verygood primary school.

Remember most of the things you see will be offers over so even if it looks within your budget it may not end up that way. £80k is a very small budget for anywhere a short commute to Edinburgh unless you're looking for a studio. If you need to get there for work too there are other considerations such as cost and also train services can be unreliable for example from fife. Something on the Glasgow lines slightly better.

Do you mean you have savings of £80k and this is your deposit?

The cheaper way to stay in Edinburgh would be as part of a house share.

No, 80k is my limit. No chance of a mortgage.
I don't have children at home and would prefer not to live in a studio.
Im in my 50s.
I have never owned a property and this is my inheritance money.
Im so torn tbh. I don't want to be too far from the people that I do know up here (originally from down south) and definitely can't afford to move back home even if I wanted to.
Im not able to work (doesn't help I know) but feel if I stay in rented (crazy prices atm) its going to be wasted iyswim? No legacy for my wee family

Galashiels? Direct train line to Edinburgh.

Ooo, thank you Colin, hadn't looked there.

Have you looked at affordable homes schemes in Edinburgh, such as the golden share scheme: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/private-housing/help-first-time-buyers/1

Yes, look at places on the borders railway line going south.
Also, look at West Fife. Some of the villages like High Valleyfield, Oakley, Newmills, Torryburn. Old mining communities which may well be in your budget. If you don't have a car, you'll need to check bus availability to get you to a train station though. There's talk of the west bound line to Stirling and Glasgow being reopened so if that happens, you'd be in the perfect spot.

Falkirk has some decent properties
in your price range, quick
enough train into city.

You can go onto rightmove and do a thing called Where Can I live where you input criteria on how near you want to be to somewhere and your property budget etc and it will suggest areas and show you properties that fit the criteria.

Galashiels and Leven area and Calders/livingston and Falkirk areas are coming up based on 2 hours by public transport to Princes street and £80k budget.

Have you found espc.com - from there it looks like there are options in Dunfermline.
Bear in mind the Offers Over pricing on most houses.

The public transport is terrible for those villages, Oakley is not too bad but houses are like hot cakes and selling for well over the asking price right now, someone I know recently sold for £20K over the asking price. Newmills is nice because it is on the seafront but High Valleyfield is cheap for a reason and Torryburn is very cut off from everywhere else with no facilities.

Falkirk or some of the villages in West Lothian.

I was also going to suggest Galashiels. The train is only an hour to Edinburgh. I live near there and often drive in to get the train up to see family. Feels less time than I used to do travelling in rush hour across Edinburgh. It has its issues don't get me wrong like a lot of small towns but there are some nice little areas in the town and we love living in the Borders.

Don't buy in Cumbernauld if you want to stay in Edinburgh!

What sort of property are you looking for, how many bedrooms? You could definitely get a 1/2 bedroom flat in parts of Fife that are close to a train station or the park and ride places into Edinburgh for 80k.

Larbert/ Falkirk/ stenhousemuir. All near a good trainline to Edinburgh.

There are a few shared equity places in Dunfermline.

Shared equity

There are a few options in the Borders if you have a look on ESPC.

I also found this in Burntisland. It is possibly £80k on the HR but worth asking the agent about it. Direct trains to Edinburgh too.

Burntisland