Why I chose to buy a house in Dunfermline

For years, Edinburgh had been the city I’d called home and a place where I loved to live. The capital has it all; brilliant restaurants, an array of shops, excellent leisure and recreational facilities, and some world-class attractions. I could have lived here for the rest of my life, no question...

But as my partner and I prepared for the next chapter of our lives, with one child already keeping us on our toes and another on the way, our priorities had all but shifted. We needed more space, a home that could grow with our family, and a lifestyle that balanced convenience with affordability… which Edinburgh, unfortunately, couldn’t offer.

My name is Tommy, from the marketing team at ESPC, and in this article, I’ll share the reasons why we made the move, the benefits we’ve found in Dunfermline, and what life has been like since settling into our new home.

 

1. The motivation behind the move

Living in a one-bedroom bungalow in the Corstorphine area of Edinburgh with a baby and a dog, my partner and I were definitely ready for a bigger home. Especially after residing in such a tight space during the Covid pandemic, and discovering we had another baby one the way.

Along with more bedrooms, and more spacious living areas, our list of “wants” in our dream home was lengthy. Unless the property was detached with a good-sized garden, had off-street parking, at least 3 bedrooms and was located in a safe neighbourhood, it wasn’t even considered. Finding this kind of property in Edinburgh, with our modest budget of £300,000 was a challenge.

It quickly became apparent that to get our perfect home, we would have to look elsewhere. House prices in Edinburgh were just too high, so we turned our attention to the best commuter towns nearby.

2. Whittling down the shortlist

Once the decision had been made to move out of Edinburgh, the question now, was where would we go? Luckily, the capital has several commuter friendly towns, each offering something a little different.

We started with South Queensferry, drawn by its charming high street, close proximity to Edinburgh and the fact we had family living there. It ticked all the boxes but again, we found house prices just a little too high for the style of house we wanted.

Linlithgow was another option, with its attractive town centre and highly-regarded schools. However, with no family close by and a lack of houses of the market, Linlithgow started looking less attractive.

Kirkliston, Balerno, Broxburn and many more towns were considered, along with Dunfermline, with its growing reputation as an attractive alternative to Edinburgh.

3. Why Dunfermline?

Affordability was a major draw. House prices in Dunfermline were (and still are) significantly lower than in Edinburgh, meaning we could afford a larger home with more outdoor space, something that was particularly appealing after spending lockdowns in our one-bedroom bungalow.

But it wasn’t just about cost. Dunfermline has a lot to offer in terms of lifestyle. Pittencrieff Park (or “The Glen”) is a beautiful place to walk, and Dunfermline Abbey adds to the town’s historical charm. The town centre has a mix of independent shops, cafes, and restaurants, and with frequent train and bus services to the capital.

Dunfermline’s proximity to both my family and my partner’s family gave it another big tick, so it was time to go house hunting. Searching for 3-bedroom houses in Dunfermline was refreshing compared to Edinburgh - there was more choice within our budget, and we didn’t feel the same level of competition and pressure...

...and after viewing just one house, located really close to Pittencrieff Park, we made an offer and within a few weeks we moved over the bridge to start a new life in Fife.

4. The commute & connectivity

One of the biggest concerns, especially for my partner who has lived her whole life in Edinburgh, was whether Dunfermline would feel too disconnected from the capital. Fortunately, we found the commute to be surprisingly easy.

Dunfermline has good transport links, with regular trains running to Edinburgh in under 30 minutes. It took almost as long to reach the city centre from our bungalow in Corstorphine as it does from Dunfermline by train, albeit with the train being less frequent and more expensive of course.

The drive across the Queensferry Crossing is also straightforward, and the availability of park-and-ride options makes commuting manageable. While I initially missed the convenience of being in Edinburgh, we soon realised that we weren’t as far away as we’d imagined.

5. Final thoughts

Despite the occasional pang of nostalgia for Edinburgh, we have been infinitely happy with our decision to move to Dunfermline. We’ve grown into our home but feel it’s spacious enough, we have lovely and leafy places to walk in right on our doorstep and our daughter has not long enrolled in a really nice school.

Buying a house in Dunfermline has given us the best of both worlds - more space, a better work-life balance, and a welcoming community, all while staying close to Edinburgh.

If you’re thinking about making the move, my advice would be to explore the area, consider what’s most important to you, and don’t be afraid to embrace change. Sometimes, a fresh start in a new place is exactly what you need.

Would I ever move back to Edinburgh? Perhaps one day. But for now, Dunfermline is home.