Why I chose to buy a house in Wallyford

If you’d told us two years ago that we’d end up buying our first proper home in Wallyford, we probably wouldn’t have believed you. At that point, my partner and I thought we were on a straight path to Dunbar. But as anyone who’s navigated the property ladder knows... it’s rarely that simple! Ours has been a bit of a winding journey, but looking back now, every detour helped lead us to the right place.

I’m Kimberley, from the marketing team at ESPC, and here’s my experience of buying a new home in a new town while sticking to my East Lothian roots.

1. A full house in Longniddry

Before we moved, I was living at home with my parents in Longniddry while saving up for a deposit with my partner. He owned a one-bedroom flat in Leith, but it was clear that if we were going to take the next step and live together properly, we’d need somewhere bigger. So, we started planning our future, and our first major step was buying a new build home in Dunbar.

While we waited for it to be built, my partner sold his flat and temporarily moved in with me and my parents. The plan was for that to last two months. It turned into 13. Not quite what any of us had in mind! Luckily, my parents were very generous with their space and support. But after a long and stressful process involving significant issues with the Dunbar property, we ultimately decided to pull out of the purchase altogether. It was a tough call, but the right one.

Needing a bit of breathing room (literally and figuratively), we rented a two-bedroom flat in Portobello while we regrouped and resumed the search.

2. Finding the right fit

Even though our experience with the Dunbar property wasn’t great, it taught us a lot. We realised Dunbar was just a bit too far from our families - especially with train fares increasing - and we really wanted to be closer to Edinburgh. We’re very much East Lothian people at heart, and we couldn’t imagine settling down anywhere else.

We started narrowing our search, focusing on areas that were commutable to Edinburgh including Musselburgh and Prestonpans. Despite everything, we were still drawn to new build properties. We liked the idea of a fresh start, modern finishes, and being the first to make a house a home. Our wishlist was pretty specific: three bedrooms, a garden, and ideally a garage.

3. Welcome to Wallyford

Wallyford had been on our radar for a while, especially with all the new development happening there. When we took a closer look, we realised just how perfect the location was for us. It’s only a five-minute drive to our families, and the train into the heart of Edinburgh takes just ten minutes... that’s quicker than for some of our friends who live in the city itself! It’s also only a few minutes’ drive from Fort Kinnaird, which is incredibly handy.

When we found our home, it ticked all the boxes, and more. We were after three bedrooms and ended up with four. It’s a new build with a lovely garden, a bright and welcoming kitchen, and just the right amount of space for both everyday life and entertaining friends and family. Having an extra bedroom has been an unexpected bonus - it gives us flexibility for a home office, future plans, and guests.

4. Settling in and loving it

Since moving in, we’ve really fallen in love with both the house and the area. Wallyford has a great balance of being peaceful and well-connected. We’re just a five-minute walk to the train station, then ten minutes into the centre of Edinburgh. That makes commuting a breeze, so much so that friends in the city are a bit jealous of how easy our journey is.

Beyond convenience, we’ve found some real gems in our local area. The Musselburgh Lagoons are just a short walk away and offer beautiful coastal walks. We love getting out for a stroll there on weekends... it’s one of those things that makes the move feel really worth it. There's a good community feel here too, with more people moving into the area and putting down roots just like us.

The house itself has become a proper home. We’ve enjoyed making it our own, room by room. Having the garden has been a dream, especially after so long without any outdoor space of our own. Whether it’s a BBQ in the summer or a morning coffee outside, we’ve really come to appreciate that extra bit of space.

5. A long journey to the start of a new adventure

When we look back at the journey - starting in Longniddry and Leith, the ups and downs with the Dunbar property, the unexpected 13 months with my parents, and the temporary stop in Portobello - it’s been quite the adventure. But it all helped shape what we wanted, and we feel incredibly lucky to have found that in Wallyford.

For anyone out there going through a tricky time on the property ladder: hang in there. The right place is out there. Sometimes it just takes a few detours to find it.