New priorities for families

Scottish property finders Garrington discuss the challenges of finding a home that works for all the family in a location that offers the right schooling.

For many, the expectations of a home have changed considerably and whilst schooling options are likely to be a priority for families, a new home must suit the varying needs of the whole family. This usually means having more interior space and a larger garden or land.

Across Scotland there are many highly regarded state and independent schools, and competition for places remains fierce, as does the demand for homes in the surrounding areas. This makes the search for the perfect property in the ideal location that much more challenging.

Finding a balance

Whilst fewer parents may have to commute daily, working hours remain the same and rarely align perfectly with school hours. Those parents who have more than one child, perhaps finishing at different times with afterschool clubs and activities, can find this particularly difficult to manage and in some cases have found that the solution of living close to a school can be an attractive one. With less property for sale and with such limited stock, it is easy to understand why premium prices continue to be paid for properties close and convenient to highly favoured schools.

The right location

The most sought after state schools will see parents focusing their efforts to find a new home within the catchment area. Finding that ideal home can be notoriously difficult, expensive and stress inducing. Naturally, as the school becomes more popular the catchment area shrinks.

Whilst independent schools can give families more flexibility on exactly where they live, the large cost difference between day pupils and boarders at some of the top independent schools means living nearer to the school of choice could be a financially savvy move. If this financial saving was instead used to service mortgage borrowing costs, it might make a substantial difference to the level of available borrowing for buying a home and the potential equity gain from a higher value home if property values continue to rise.

Help is at hand

With the continuing shortage of housing stock, it has become increasingly common for families to move into rental properties ready for the start of the new term, thereby settling their children into their new school with minimal disruption, and being in the stronger position of being fully proceedable when the perfect property is found. Even with this advantage, finding and securing a property is often far from easy with many sold off-market and considerable competition to contend with.

If you are looking to buy a property anywhere in Scotland and would value professional advice on the local market in a specific area and to explore the opportunities that exist, Garrington offers a commitment-free discussion with one of their team.