Where to live in Glasgow

[peonyjam]

We are really stuck about where to move to and hoping wise Scotsnetters might be able to help. I'm a Glasgow native so really should have all the answers but I don't!

My husband works in Glasgow and I work in Edinburgh. He drives but I don't. We have a one year old who is settling into nursery where we currently live in the South of Glasgow. We are rapidly outgrowing our flat and need to move.

Our budget is around £300k with some ability to stretch. We are looking for 3 bedrooms and a garden and a survivable commute to Edinburgh city centre using public transport. And a good school but not necessarily 'topping the league tables'.

We were set on Bishopbriggs but demand seems to outstrip supply and I'm worried about being so narrow in our focus once the pressure is really on and we have sold out flat.

I wish we could stay in the south of Glasgow where we are now but I'm worried the commute would just be too brutal with a toddler to come home to. It is also more time away from him. My job is high pressure but we are only required to be in the office 2 days a week. My husband doesn't work from home at all.

Has anyone happily done this commute from the southside? Or any thoughts on Bishopbriggs more generally? Any suggestions of where we could live would be really appreciated.

If you're commuting into Edinburgh by train then that has to be the determining factor. I would keep looking in Bishopbriggs, also Lenzie and Kirkintilloch, Stepps - anywhere that side of the city where you can get onto that fast train to Edinburgh Waverley.

When I read your post I instantly thought Bishopbriggs then Lenzie too. You are in a great buying position. Something will come up.

Looks like there are a few things available and some at fixed price?

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/148043984#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/146748257#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/147708125#/?channel=RES_BUY

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/149105180#/?channel=RES_BUY

Id marginally rather be in Bishopbriggs than Lenzie if commuting to Edinburgh by train because you can get into queen st slightly quicker for the fast train to Edinburgh. I had an ex colleague who did that commute.

I had another colleague who commuted from Clarkston to Edinburgh. He drove and was only required to do it once a week - very occasionally twice. I dont think its feasible on public transport with a young family too.

What about Cumbernauld? For £300k you'd get something pretty decent.

I think there are regular trains to Edinburgh from Croy

Lenzie was my first thought

There are trains to Edinburgh from Uddingston.

Thank you so much. Earlier in the year we were viewing houses and have kept an eye on the market all year and I have noticed now there are more fixed prices than before. Do you think that means it's becoming slightly less competitive?

We really need to have sold our flat or at least be on the market to have any chance of having an offer accepted. But we have just been too nervous to go for it.

I'm reassured others have come to the same conclusion in terms of area and that our budget seems realistic!

Thank you! I've never been but looking at rightmove there are some great houses there. Do you think it would be okay to live in as a non driver?

I'm worried about being totally reliant on my husband for lifts places. We live very centrally right now and I walk everywhere or use public transport.

Thank you - I didn't know that was on the line. The fast train would be ideal but that really doesn't give us many options!

@peonyjam you could also get the train to Central (10 mins) which would give you more train options. Public transport in Uddingston is good.

Yes, the market is a bit slower at the moment so thats why there are quite a few going for fixed price. Some people waiting for rates to drop so if you could move quickly it could go in your favour.

Croy is on the Edinburgh trainline but not all the express trains stop in Croy. Id rather be in the bishopbriggs or lenzie school catchment.

Falkirk High is on the express train route. Lots to do centrally that you could walk to and easy access to motorway for DH. No idea about the schools though.

Bishopbriggs would definitely be my preference because of schools and how quick it is to get into the city centre too.

That's a good point. Maybe we should be brave. We were also hoping mortgage rates would drop but it makes sense everyone else is doing the same!

I think flats are still selling in our area in a couple of weeks.

I wouldn't say you have to have sold first. You don't want to leave yourself homeless! Good flats always go quickly. Wait till you've found something you like and could likely get.

@peonyjam I work in property in Glasgow OP, mainly the Southside/East Ren/South Lan but I do have a bit of knowledge on the areas your looking at.

For Bishopbriggs specifically you’ll find older properties there have seen prices go down over the past year.

For the simple reason that they’ve been overvalued in the first place.

Like most places through the city now many people still think they are going to get loads over the HR value, but have failed to appreciate how much HR values have risen over the past few years.

Detached Houses there that were sub-200k 5 years ago had a boom period where some were going for upwards of £350k during the post-Covid boom, which is far higher than the rises most areas saw.

It’s a nice area but be sure you do your research as most of them were built in the 60’s/70s and may have hidden issues like dangerous/untested Artex plastered over.

Commuting to Edinburgh from Uddingston is also not ideal, the trains are nowhere near as reliable or quick as the main lines.

I travel from Clarkston once or twice a month to our Edinburgh Office, it’s fine if you drive and leave before 6 but would not consider it on a daily basis.

The low level Edinburgh Train goes from Milngavie to Edinburgh through west/east Glasgow, North Lan & West Lothian.

Plenty of good areas close to stations on that line too.

Bishopbriggs just isn't very nice though. There's no high street or heart to it, it doesn't really have any identity.

Houses in Bishopbriggs are often older and only 1 bathroom . Some of the newer estates are closer to less desirable surrounding areas so be careful.
Lenzie is a bit better and schools are good.
The Cumbernauld option is not bad if you look at Dullatur/westerwood/ Carrickstone/ Craigmarlo ch which are b ie residential areas less than 10 mins drive to Croy. Schools are decent and nice communities in these areas with young families

Thanks so much. This is really helpful. We are coming from a tenement with big rooms and just don't have the budget for a similar period property in that area so I don't love how expensive it is for 1960s style houses that often seem to have lots of these issues with asbestos etc. and it is painful knowing it isn't really worth what the home report says it is.

What do you think was behind the boom in prices there? Earlier in the year when we were viewing houses we did get the sense it was very competitive but where we live right now it is not unusual to go 10% over the home report as standard.

I can drive but unfortunately gave birth before I could sit my test and I don't know when I could realistically get my licence now (£ and time!) so I'm wary of moving somewhere that I would really need to drive.

I see what you mean and if we were less restricted I don't think it would be my first choice. But from my short visits it seemed nice and safe to me! Do you think it is not a nice place to live, particularly for young children?

Thank you that's really useful. I'm not familiar with those areas at all so I wouldn't know where to start with looking.

@peonyjam Good luck in your search. Just posting to encourage you to look into doing a day/weekend intensive driving course and test. If you can already drive, this would be an effective way of getting it done and dusted before you lose too many of those skills.

@peonyjam No problem.

The price boom (like most places) was caused by pent-up demand during Covid supported by low-interest rates and higher available funds due to savings and money made from selling property.

Bishopbriggs is considered one of the aspirational family areas around Glasgow which have low crime and good schools etc..

However it was traditionally considered second-tier in many people’s eyes behind Bearsden/Milngavie and places in East Ren so the property was slightly cheaper there than elsewhere.

Bishopbriggs Academy and Turnbull drastically improved their performance over the past decade which attracted many to the area and many people were priced out of similar sized properties in other East Dun areas so the value of houses there raised by a higher factor than elsewhere.

Slightly perplexed at why some don’t think it’s a nice place to stay, not there often but the Main St seems nice enough and from a family perspective there’s loads of sports clubs/activities going on with loads of access to nature/cycle tracks etc..

Fair enough there might not be a raft of quirky independent shops but that doesn’t build a community, which is something that Bishopbriggs has in abundance.

Plus you’re something like 6 mins away from the city centre on the train if shopping is important to you.

There really isn’t lots to do centrally in falkirk for life with a toddler.

Ohh have you stayed in Bishopbriggs?

Bishy - Edinburgh train every half hour takes only 42 mins