Possible move to Glasgow, not a clue

[Year6dramallama]

Hello,

My DH and I are considering leaving London, where we've lived for over 20 years. Main drivers are cost of living and quality of life/work life balance. Ideally we'd buy somewhere cash, which would enable me to stop work or take a part time role. Our sons both have some additional needs and we're all struggling to manage at the moment with both working full time in very high pressured roles.

DH earns more than me, and his role has better benefits so would make sense for him to keep his job. He could enable a transfer to Glasgow very easily as his employer has a large office there. It could be a good move for his career, or at the least be low-risk to his job security. In terms of budget we could afford a property up to around 600k.

I know very little about Glasgow, but DH spent time there growing up as his mum grew up there until she was a teen, and there are still a few uncles and cousins around there.

Of course before making any decision we'd need to visit a few times and check it out, but I'd be interested to hear from people living in and around Glasgow, what are the pros and cons of living there, what is the lifestyle and culture like? How is it for primary and teenage kids? Especially those moving from England.

You'll need to explain what you mean by "non denom"

Essentially it means "not catholic" in practice as there are usually two catchments in most areas: one non-denominational and one catholic (although in Glasgow, some of the catholic schools are mostly Muslim or Sikh ).

If you want a city/ walking vibe, I would avoid areas like Newton Mearns or any of the big new build estates that have sprung up near Glasgow as they are cultural deserts where you have to drive everywhere. Places like Shawlands, Langside, Newlands are much more accessible but still have green areas. Buses and trains would get your dh into work quickly too.

This is a lovely house but I don’t think you’d get it for even 680? Guessing that would be the home report and I’m told houses are still going over HR?

From talking with lawyers recently too much recently (ds buying at entry level as a 1st time purchase and my dad's lovely home on the north side which will be going on the market within the next 6 months plus another friend's lovely house which was sold recently after his death), the bottom of the market is still really hot (unfortunately for ds but at least he's found somewhere ) but at the top end (over £400k), the market has been slowing down. Not sure how much/if at all the top end houses are going above the home report value.

Cathkin road (second house) is one if my favourite streets. A really nice place to live.

Yes the Cathkin Rd one is lovely, and within our budget even with offers over. Also I showed it to DH earlier, and it turns out his great aunt used to live nearby in the Pollockshields west area and he used to go and play in Queens Park when they went to visit as children.

Both the Merrylee Road and Cathkin Road ones would be in Shawlands Academy's catchment area. Although I have a vague recollection of Battlefield Primary having a choice of which secondary they could go to (Hillpark, which isn't as good) - not sure if that's changed. The Merrylee one is a bit close to Kilmarnock Road for my liking - but that's because we have two Siamese cats that we allow to go outside

We used to live in Bellwood Street but that was pre ds (We're now in Pollokshields no c )

The merrylea one is quite a busy road in itself. I would love to live in Cathkin road. It's very leafy and quiet. All of the houses are different and it has a really nice vibe.

These are some great properties in my favourite area of Dowanhill. A lot there are very large flats

https://www.rettie.co.uk/property-for-sale/glasgow-city/dowanhill

Just checking that you have started to ask for home reports? Cause it's really offers over the valuation and not offers over the asking price. Different areas have a different approach - my town they all go on £5-15k below the valuation but in the West end (at least last year when my sister was buying) they all went on 10% below the valuation.

And very much just anecdotal but we got our current house at a really good price without it going to closing date cause w offered a decent amount over and were really straightforward buyers. There had been several sales locally that fell through because buyers from England couldn't conclude missives so just be aware that you could miss out even if you are the highest bidder because everyone in Scotland hears horror stories about the English system and if you haven't sold may be wary...

Solicitors in Scotland will organise the offer you make and will guide you re this which is also different from English system
might be worth finding a Scottish solicitor

Hello! Been travelling today so just checked back in. Really great tips and advice here, am taking it all on board. Thanks so much, if Glasgow is anything like as friendly as the Scotsnet crew then it must be lovely!

At the moment we are very much in the 'if we left London where would we go' stage amd Glasgow is the best option for DH work, hence my query. But we are nowhere near an actual plan or timeline. I'm planning a visit to Glasgow in Oct half term as would be a good opportunity to suss out whether we think it's a place we could move to. Really interesting to see the kind of properties we could afford (allowing for 50-100k on top of offers-over price for home valuation etc). I think it's really worth us looking into seriously.

So, for now I'm going to plan a half term trip to do sightseeing and a bit of a recce and start from there.

Sounds like a good plan!

That Cathkin road house is gorgeous but the kitchen is a disgrace! How could they live in such a beautiful place and not have put a decent kitchen in!

In the same boat planning a big shift from Birmingham to Glasgow! How’s Strathaven for primary and secondary schooling please? Heard the place is wonderful. Any inputs please.. TIA

I had friends who moved into Jordanhill catchment area, but kids didn’t qualify because they hadn’t lived there since birth.

East Renfrewshire a better bet, if it’s schools that are main driver.

Strathaven Academy is well regarded. Has 3 primaries, one catholic, two non-dom. Strathaven is relatively affluent. It's very definitely not Glasgow. It's a lovely rural town though.

Thank you, travelling tomorrow for a viewing. Much appreciate your prompt response. Any idea on the primary school rating? I know there’s no ofsted there but not too ambitious though. Just need a happy place for my little one.

There are (thankfully) no league tables for primary schools. I'd suggest you visit if you want to get a feel for the school. Kids (by and large) just go to the nearest primary school to where they live in Scotland.

Thank you. Will do. We close a week after Scotland in October which is idea for school tours. The best part is not too many options for catchments unlikesome areas in England. So I assume and like you rightly mentioned, children go to nearby schools. Fact that there are no private schools nearby( nearest being 15 miles away) makes it even easier to decide.

Re Jordanhill, my brother moved into the catchment when my niece was four, they got the last slot on the waiting list for her year! So, pointless unless your children are babies

This is just nuts isn’t it? I can’t believe its results are anything more than the result of a concentration of middle class, aspirational parents moving to the catchment area.

obviously there will be variations in headteachers, but it can’t make that much difference!

I think the culture of aspirational parents definitely factor into it.

Jordanhill also has a lot more autonomy as it answers to the govt rather than to a council- which is more like a private model. This obviously seems to be working well.

They do, because of the above, have the ability not to put pupils forwards for exams if they think they can’t manage them. We don’t have that luxury in traditional state schools and, in general, if pupils and parents want to attempt the exam, they can. I Don’t know how often this actually happens in jordanhill though.

Im a teacher and know teachers who have taught in lots of private schools/east ren/east dun and Glasgow etc but never actually
met one who taught in jordanhill! Do either it’s a great place to work and no one leaves or they recruit differently.

That's interesting @Pammela2 - I've taught in Glasgow for ages and never met anyone with any experience of Jordanhill, or heard of anyone who has. Must be outwith GCC recruitment.

@Year6dramallama , just don't attempt to pronounce Milngavie without the help of a certified local.

Or Strathaven 🤣