Page 4 - Where do ESPC buyers come from report August 2024 1

11.5%
Edinburgh
Edinburgh, as the most densely populated region
covered in this research, unsurprisingly boasts the
highest retention rate of homeowners, with 60% of
Edinburgh homes purchased by buyers already living
in Edinburgh and keen to stay within the city.
Of all Edinburgh postcodes, EH13, spanning the
sought-after suburb of Colinton, was home to the
highest volume of existing Edinburgh residents, with
67.5% of properties purchased in this area bought by
current Edinburgh locals.
64% of buyers already resided in a home with an EH
postcode at the time of purchasing, while 20% of
buyers bought a property within the same post district
(e.g., if they lived in EH1, they then also bought their next
property in EH1). This means that while the vast majority
of Edinburgh buyers are already from Edinburgh, only
one-fifth of property purchases were made within the
same district that buyers already resided in, suggesting
a high volume of buyers moving across the city
depending on their requirements and affordability.
4 | BUYER GEOGRAPHIC REPORT
EH3 were from other
of those buying in
parts of the UK.
10%
of properties
Just 6% of Edinburgh buyers are from the rest of purchased since 2019
the UK (England, Wales and Northern Ireland), were bought by buyers
from outside
suggesting a mix of relocators to this world-famous
of the UK.
city, alongside interest from investors too. If we take
a look at specific postcodes in more depth, it appears
that properties in the Old Town, city centre and New
EH3
Town are of especial interest to buyers from the rest
of the UK, suggesting a high volume of investors in
these postcode areas: 16% of those buying in EH1 were
from other parts of the UK, with 13% in EH2 and 11.5% EH2
in EH3. As these properties are so obviously central EH1
and close to Edinburgh’s famous landmarks, it makes
sense that investors would choose a property in these
highly desirable and popular locations.
This trend is also apparent with global buyers; EH2,
which covers the very heart of Edinburgh’s city centre,
holds the most appeal for buyers from around the world,
with 10% of properties purchased in this postcode
since 2019 bought by buyers from other countries
outside of the UK. This was closely followed by homes
in EH1, where 7% of buyers came from international
locations, and EH3, where global buyers snapped up
4% of the properties sold during this period.
EH13
This data also covers the period ahead of short-term
lets legislation coming into effect, which would confirm
that holiday lets would be particularly appealing for
investors to pursue.
16%
of those buying in
EH1 were from other
67.5% parts of the UK.
of properties
60% of Edinburgh
purchased in EH13
homes are purchased by buyers
are bought by
already living in Edinburgh and current Edinburgh
keen to stay within the city. locals.
BUYER GEOGRAPHIC REPORT | 5