Page 7 - Where do ESPC buyers come from report August 2024 1

The Lothians

As Edinburgh’s closest neighbour, Midlothian West Lothian also enjoyed a high retention rate of
unsurprisingly saw a great deal of properties sold homeowners, with 43% of properties sold in this
to buyers moving across the city boundary: 53% of region since January 2019 bought by an existing West
Midlothian homes for sale since January 2019 were sold Lothian resident. Similarly to the other Lothian areas,
to buyers moving across from Edinburgh, suggesting West Lothian also saw a healthy volume of property
homeowners moving to these neighbouring suburbs purchases by Edinburgh buyers, with 18% of homes in
for larger, more affordable properties in comparison the area purchased by those relocating just outside
to what the same price could purchase in the capital. of the city, ostensibly to purchase a larger, more
affordable property compared to what would be
Just 6% of Midlothian property purchases came from achievable within Edinburgh’s boundaries.
buyers already living in this region, suggesting that
53%
Midlothian homeowners tend to stay in their homes Overall, 66% of buyers within the Lothians stayed
of Midlothian homes
for a longer period, or then relocate to outside of within the same general out code, with 21% of these
for sale since January 40%
the region. buyers choosing to purchase a home within the
43% 2019 were sold to of properties bought
same post district as their current property, e.g. EH21. buyers moving across
of properties sold in in this region were
Ever-popular East Lothian boasted a much higher There was much lower interest in these regions from from Edinburgh.
West Lothian since purchased by an
retention rate of homeownership, with 40% of international buyers, with 1.5% of Midlothian buyers
January 2019 were existing East Lothian
properties bought in the region purchased by an being internationally based, and 0.6% of both East resident.
bought by an existing
existing East Lothian resident. This area also boasted and West Lothian. West Lothian
a high number of ‘local relocators’, with 20% of resident
properties here bought by Edinburgh-based buyers.

6% of properties purchased in the area were bought
by buyers from the rest of the UK outside of Scotland,
suggesting a healthy interest in investment for this
much-publicised region.
EAST LOTHIAN

WEST LOTHIAN

66% of buyers within the MIDLOTHIAN
Lothians stayed within the same
general postcode, with 21% of
these buyers choosing to purchase
a home within the same post
district as their current home.

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