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IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

The city option: Dunfermline
The best areas for Scotland’s newest city is hugely popular with
younger buyers, in part due to its property
first-time buyers prices alongside its fantastic amenities and
commuter links to Edinburgh and Glasgow.
A typical first-time buyer flat in Dunfermline
Hoping to purchase your first home costs an average of £103,626, making it a
this year? Here’s a rundown of the best much more affordable option for many
buyers starting out.
areas where you can find a property
priced under £200,000.

f you’re planning to purchase your first The most popular: Musselburgh The rising star: Gorgie The family-friendly option: Dalkeith
property this year, it’s essential to know how On the boundary of Edinburgh and East Gorgie is rapidly becoming one of Edinburgh’s Located in Midlothian, the town of Dalkeith is
Ifar your budget can stretch. Using ESPC’s Lothian, Musselburgh is a hugely popular property hotspots, and this might be due to a great option for first-time buyers who want
latest housing market data, we highlight the best choice for first-time buyers who want a it regularly being home to the Capital’s most a family-friendly, community feel to their new
areas for first timers, where you can find a one- or seaside feel, at a more purse-friendly price. affordable properties. Indeed, a flat in Gorgie home, just half an hour from Edinburgh city
two-bedroom flat for less than £200,000.
Musselburgh boasts excellent transport will set you back, on average, £168,142, meaning centre. Dalkeith offers a bustling local high
links, including a short six-minute train you could potentially purchase a home under street packed with bars, shops and restaurants,
Remember, first-time buyers do not have to pay journey into Edinburgh, as well as a thriving the LBTT threshold. Gorgie is a stone’s throw and beautiful green spaces like the eponymous
Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) up local high street and plenty of gorgeous from the city centre, with Harrison Park and the Country Park. A flat here costs, on average,
to £175,000, meaning that for many areas on this green spaces too. Flats here have an average Union Canal in close proximity too. £142,375.
list, you might not need to pay any LBTT at all, selling price of £176,349, making them a great
saving you hundreds of pounds to put towards choice for first-time homeowners.
furnishing your new pad.
The coastal option: Granton The ‘have it all’: Liberton
Located on Edinburgh’s north coast, with Positioned in a convenient pocket south of
views over the Firth of Forth, Granton is a great the city centre, Liberton offers a great location
spot for first-time buyers. Property prices for for buyers who want a slice of everything
The most affordable: Galashiels flats here sit at £197,901 on average and offer Edinburgh has to offer, right on their doorstep.
homeowners the opportunity to enjoy a more Easily commutable, Liberton has fast links into
With an average price of £71,019 for a peaceful slice of city life, with Newhaven, the city centre, while offering plenty of green
typical first-time buyer flat, Galashiels is
a fantastically affordable option for new Trinity, Leith and Stockbridge all close at hand, spaces and lovely parks, including Blackford
homeowners. Commutable to Edinburgh while the city centre is around 20 minutes Hill, which offers a peaceful feel, as well as easy
thanks to its position on the Borders Railway away by car, and just over half an hour on access to the retail park at Straiton. Flats in this
area have an average cost of £184,602.
public transport, making it a great choice for
line, Galashiels is a historic textiles town commuters too.
that’s rich with things to do and is ideal for
those who love the idea of living somewhere
more tranquil than the big city.
Head to espc.com to start your property search today!

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