Relocating to Aberdeen - where to buy / not

s333fee · Post by **s333fee** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:49 am

Hi all,

this is an appeal for some info from the Aberdeen contingency.

My brother is moving permanently to Aberdeen for his work, and although he has been working there 2 days a week for about 18 months he doesn't really know where to start looking for a house. His work has been picking up the tab for a hotel room etc. Where should he consider looking / and obviously avoiding.

He thinks he will spend about 200K, but this is not fixed.

Thanks for the help

S333FEE Support Team

offshorematt · Post by **offshorematt** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:57 am

If he's looking for a traditional flat try West End or Ferryhill. Plenty of new/recent builds around for that sort of money too but some are pretty close to the sort of places you wouldn't leave your car outside (trying to be diplomatic

). He'll struggle for a house for that money in town these days

and a lot of the closer suburbs have gone through the roof in the last year or two.
Check out the ASPC website for a pretty complete list.

alicrozier · Post by **alicrozier** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:06 am

Might get a 1 bed in the west end for 200K...

anthonyyule · Post by **anthonyyule** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:22 am

6 months ago that £200K might have netted him a wee house out in the suburbs - outlying towns such as Kingswells/ Westhill/ Blackburn/ Inverurie - but he is going to struggle now.

All of the above named villages/ towns are pleasant - although not ideal if it is an urban life he craves. I would strongly recommend that he revisits his finances and considers upping his budget though.

dlogan · Post by **dlogan** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 12:01 pm

I wish him the best of luck!

Not trying to be funny but I would not like to be buying in Aberdeen or surrounding areas at the moment.

If he has a budget of 200k, I would advise him to look at properties at offers over £100-£120k at the most.

Fluoxetine · Post by **Fluoxetine** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 12:55 pm

If it's city centre living, I'd look at something like where I had my first flat...New Century House, at the top of Crown Street...

Secure parking (My Elise was joined by a 360M / RS6 / DB7 Vantage in the underground carpark), gym / sauna in the basement, and factor fees are reasonable...

1-2 bed should be well within his budget...Just don't expect to make a big profit when the time comes to sell, as you pay a premium to live there at the onset...(!)

Other possibilities -

Bastille (Maberly Street)

Links Road - Milne development

Strawberry Bank Parade (getting on a bit now...)

New developments around Ferryhill, as suggested

etc etc

West end flats in Union Grove and the like are decent enough, but parking is a nightmare...

Plenty of cheap flats in Torry, and probably not as bad as the rep suggests, provided you stay clear of Pentland Cres / Balnagask Circle

If it's got to be a house, also consider further south down the A90 - Portlethen, Inverbervie, Newtonhill, and Stonehaven...Even Laurencekirk, which is a 30-40 mins drive from Aberdeen.

Cheers,

Ross.

JohnStewart · Post by **JohnStewart** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 3:58 pm

The drive north from Stonehaven in the morning is horrible though, and can take 30+ minutes unless you work in Altens.

Coming in from the north on the A90 can also be slow, with the tailback starting at the AECC or the B&Q roundabout at times.

Where is it he is working, and what sort of place does he want as that will give a better idea of the type and location.

I'm out in Kintore, which gives a 20 minute commute to Bridge of Don & Westhill, 10 minutes to Dyce, and about 30 minutes to the city centre. Altens though is 40 - 45 minutes in rush hour

John

renmure · Post by **renmure** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:05 pm

I bought an apartment in Golden Square last summer and asking prices were crazy even then. Can only assume it is at least as crazy now. A friend has just bought a 2 bed flat in the Exhibition Ctr area for just under 200k but it was advertised at o/o 140k. She had missed out on about 6-7 other properties in that area by folk bidding higher.

Andy G · Post by **Andy G** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:13 pm

shooomer wrote:ABZ sounds way worse than EDI
Paul
(looking for new house)

Sounds similar to Edinburgh's madness - hate this offers over system - you feel like you are pissing money away

Scotty C · Post by **Scotty C** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:18 pm

shooomer wrote:ABZ sounds way worse than EDI
Paul
(looking for new house)

I think it has, both private and comercial.

I had my name down for a new build townhouse in the city centre 2.5 years ago. They have just been completed. It was 195k, a bit out of my budget so I did not put down the deposit and lost it.

One came on the market before completion offers OVER 300k

How gutted am I.

Scotty C

Baggy · Post by **Baggy** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 4:50 pm

Depends on where he wants to stay. Every now and then flats pop up in Cults & they quite often go cheaper than those in town. Bit sleepy but nice area & good acccess to everywhere cos you tend to be driving against the traffic...IMHO

hendeg · Post by **hendeg** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:24 pm

JohnStewart wrote:The drive north from Stonehaven in the morning is horrible though, and can take 30+ minutes unless you work in Altens.

Coming in from the north on the A90 can also be slow, with the tailback starting at the AECC or the B&Q roundabout at times.

Where is it he is working, and what sort of place does he want as that will give a better idea of the type and location.

I'm out in Kintore, which gives a 20 minute commute to Bridge of Don & Westhill, 10 minutes to Dyce, and about 30 minutes to the city centre. Altens though is 40 - 45 minutes in rush hour

John

Depends on where he's working and how he travels to work. But as others have said - prices are stoopid just now.

s333fee · Post by **s333fee** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 10:16 am

hi everyone,

thanks for the info so far, have spoken to bro and he will give you all more info to help him.

thanks so far

S333FEE support team

k12chu · Post by **k12chu** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 3:46 pm

i have been staying at Strawberry Bank Parade for a year now. fantastic property. safe parking (elise, focus RS, cayman S, TVR...). night clubs r all within 200m radius. (so if u end up in a brawl and break ur leg, u can walk bag home

)
property prices... 2 bedroom flat in
2006 jan = offers over 80k
2007 jan = offers over 105k
2007 april = offers over 115k
2007 july = offers over 145k (sold for 175k)

recntly a house in ferryhill was on the market for offer over 200k. IT SOLD FOR 600K. another property in ashley gardens for offers over 200k SOLD FOR 360K.
been following the property market for sometime now. its just silly money in aberdeen just now. market seems to be falling slowly. am expecting the 30% over asking price to drop down to roughly around 18%.
if ur brother is looking for a house, the Bridge Of Don would be a good bet. property is a little cheap that side due to the traffic congestion at the bridge. but there is a new bridge going to be built in the next 3 yrs (architecture source). so dfntly the prices would shoot then.

s333fee · Post by **s333fee** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 3:27 pm

thanks for the feedback,

I think he might look to stay outside town and commute, I have told himto either buy at auction or at least buy a fixer so he can add value. will se what happens, if it is any consilations we are still getting some house goings for silly money here too.

thanks will keep you infromed