Moving to Fife Scotland

[Australianmade]

Hi all, I’m looking for advice about moving to Fife Scotland. My husband has the opportunity to move offices to Glenrothes from Essex. We have a five year old, three year old and six month old baby. Had anyone made the move? Is there any advise you could give on best places to live?
Ideally my husband doesn’t want to travel more than 30 minutes into work. I would like to be close to the coast and prefer places with a smaller village feel rather than a big city. Husband enjoys playing rugby and with young kids it would be great to be close to a good school. We also have a dog so I would like somewhere with nice walks or parks close by.
I don’t know if I’m looking for a unicorn here, but if anyone could recommend areas which might tick a few of those boxes, I would appreciate any help

What’s your budget and what kind of house are you looking for?

Not sure if it’s possible but would like a detached house under 420,000

Definitely achievable in Leven, which is on the coast

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/152592404

Plenty of villages/small towns in Fife which meet your criteria.

East Neuk (Elie/Anstruther/Crail) is most desirable area but you would probably get more for your money in Burntisland/Aberdour/Kinghorn

East Neuk is lovely & nice and handy for St Andrews

I really like BurntIsland, Aberdour and Kinghorn.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/157225436

I think you need a trip up to get a feel for the area and also work out what else is important for you. I agree that Elie / Anstruther / Crail area is probably the nicest parts of Fife and by the coast, but you've got no train line and you're getting further from major road networks. You could also look around Kinross, that's not on the coast but you've got Loch Leven on the doorstep.
Also bear in mind that on the scottish "offers over" system of selling, properties may go for 10% over the asking price, if not more in popular areas. Property for Sale | ESPC

I personally wouldn’t live in Glenrothes, but you do get a lot of house for your money! Leven has access to the beach, but again I wouldn’t probably live there. Largo would maybe be okay. East Neuk (anstruther, pittwneeem etc) is lovely but very expensive these days. Cupar is fine, good connections as on the east coast rail line, good rugby club for adults and kids, not on the coast but it’s just 20mins to St Andrews. Kinross is nice, far from the coast but next to a loch.
I think primary schools are all much of a muchness. Secondaries, Kinross is good, as is madras in St Andrews. Levenmouth has a lot of challenging kids, but also some good teachers.

Not a unicorn, you can get a great house for that money here in Fife!

I moved up from the SW last year and have no regrets. I wouldn't live in Glenrothes but instead I'd look at Dunfermline and Dalgety Bay, both great options within 30 mins. And then Edinburgh is 20 mins away on train.

PM me if you want to chat!

I agree with others, you don’t want to live in Glenrothes. ESPC is a good shout for property but also look at Rightmove etc as not all agents in the Fife area will be on ESPC.

Moving from Essex to Fife will be a huge change in climate - we just don't get long hot summers in Scotland. No water shortages or hosepipe bans, but no suntans and a long dark winter instead. Before anyone jumps on me, I'm Scottish and prefer cooler weather and struggle to cope with hot climates (including summer holidays to the south of England) - it is a major difference that will affect your lifestyle.

I’d go visit. If your from the south your idea of a small villae might be very different! I’d look at Cupar. Great rugby, good train links and not far from the coast.

I'm another fan of Cupar. A real small town with a lot going for it. I sometimes go for a curry there.

Go visit soon, while it’s dark and cold.

Couple of bits to be aware of where Scotland is more different to England than you might think.

1. school age cut offs are different. The year starts in August not September, has 4 terms not three, no half terms in the way you’re used to. Age cut between years is end of Feb, but flexibility for children with birthdays after school year starts so common to defer. Check the council info for dates.
2. House buying. Scotland offers are done through solicitors and they’re legally binding. Closest to the contract exchange stage in England. Survey is done by the seller. More normal to have the base price than an asking price (so you offer over, not under and the over bit comes off your deposit). If you’re buying get in touch with a local property solicitor early on and make sure they know you don’t know the process and they’ll guide you. You basically get your conveyancer to do everything from offer onwards.
3. schools are zoned. You can look up the maps to see which one goes with which house. To the extent that generally don’t have open days. You go to zoned ones.
4. nursey funding is different. 30 hours for everyone term after 3rd birthday (closer to third birthday in some areas, but term after is the latest). Generally no funding prior to that unless deprived. Tax free child care scheme is the same.
5. tax is different. Run numbers through a tax calculator, for some pay ranges the difference is significant.

We've got friends in Cupar with young children and they love it. It's not far from the coast and has a lovely town centre. Beautiful countryside around and the house prices are reasonable - I love visiting

Agree that Cupar and Burntisland are good options. The latter has a lovely, thriving high street, and both have good train links to Edinburgh. Aberdour has been mentioned, it’s lovely, especially the beach, but it’s v small and pricey. There are some nice bits of Kirkcaldy with large period houses in budget. The stretch of coast between Kirkcaldy and Lundin Links is not very nice, but LL and Upper and Lower Largo quite nice. Elie and upwards expensive and not on train lines (though neither are LL and Largos).

Agree you need to visit the area because Essex and Fife are just so so different.

I’d second Dalgety Bay, it’s Fife but effectively an Edinburgh Suburb.

Better for your kids when they hit their teenage years to have access to a city like Edinburgh.

Also has more people from elsewhere than anywhere else in Fife I can think of, most towns consist of predominantly locals so will be harder to integrate, this isn’t specific to Fife but something to be aware of.

Cupar is very nice and has a station and town facilities. The east Neuk is lovely but not well connected. Elie is incredibly expensive and virtually deserted in winter, Pittenweem, Anstruther and Crail are proper villages with full time populations. No large supermarkets, you need to go to St Andrews or Leven for a big shop.

Did you end up moving in the end? How are you finding it? We are considering a similar move from Essex to Glenrothes