The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in Bridge of Don
A first purchase at the £220,000 Bridge of Don average needs about £26,200 in cash, made up of £22,000 deposit, £900 LBTT with first time buyer relief, and roughly £3,300 in fees.
The introduction costs you nothing. If you go ahead, we may be paid a fee by the firm we introduce you to.
A first purchase at the £220,000 Bridge of Don average needs about £26,200 in cash, made up of £22,000 deposit, £900 LBTT with first time buyer relief, and roughly £3,300 in fees.
Every pound you need before completion in Bridge of Don
On the local average the deposit is £22,000, LBTT is £900 and fees are near £3,300. Total cash needed is about £26,200.
First time buyer relief raises the LBTT nil rate band to £175,000, saving you £600 against the standard charge of £1,500 at this price. LBTT rates are set by the Scottish Government and collected by Revenue Scotland. Confirm the current position on revenue.scot before you complete.
Where the upfront cash goes
The commercial page for this town sets out the introduction itself: Mortgage advice in Bridge of Don.
Where local earnings cap the purchase price
In Scotland first time buyer relief raises the LBTT nil rate band to £175,000, worth up to £600. There is no upper price limit on the relief.
What the first year actually costs
Band D council tax in Aberdeen is £1,748 a year, which is £146 a month. Add energy, water, insurance and maintenance.
Protection belongs in the same budget. If the mortgage depends on two incomes, it depends on both people staying well enough to earn. That is the part of the purchase we advise on directly.
The Bridge of Don detail first buyers ask about
The schools families ask about here are Bridge of Don Academy, Oldmachar Academy, Glashieburn School, Bridge of Don & Danestone cluster primaries and Aberdeen independent schools (nearby). Ratings age between inspections, so read the latest report before you rely on one.
On getting about: Bridge of Don to Aberdeen city centre (by bus) takes about ~15 to 25 min.
By price, Bridge of Don ranks 2 of the 3 Aberdeen locations we cover, at £220,000 against a county average of £286,667. Band D council tax here is £1,748, against £1,748 across the county.
What your money buys in Bridge of Don
Bridge of Don is a large, popular northern suburb of Aberdeen across the River Don, modern family estates, the beach and the Donmouth nature reserve, mid-market.
The full local guide covers schools, transport and the market in detail: Bridge of Don property and area guide.
| Budget | What it buys here |
|---|---|
| Around £90,000 to £160,000 | A flat or apartment on the estates, the most accessible way into the market, popular with first-time buyers, investors and energy-sector workers. |
| Around £160,000 to £300,000 | A terrace, a semi or a family home on Danestone, Dubford, Grandhome or the older suburbs, the heart of the Bridge of Don market. |
| £300,000 and above | A larger or newer detached home on the estates or around Balgownie, the top of the local market. |
- One of Aberdeen's biggest, most popular family suburbs
- A wide choice of modern housing (Danestone, Dubford, Grandhome)
- Good schools, retail and leisure, and quick city access by bus & the AWPR
- A simple Scottish council-tax bill, no police, fire or community precept
- The beach, the Esplanade, the Donmouth reserve and the Brig o' Balgownie
- A large, car-oriented city suburb rather than a compact village
- No railway station in the suburb, the nearest trains are in central Aberdeen
- The wider Aberdeen-city market is exposed to the North Sea energy cycle
- Scottish Water is a separate charge added to the same bill (~£652 at Band D)
- New-build estates need factoring/adoption checks; some older stock at Balgownie
Bridge of Don is known locally for The Brig o' Balgownie. The medieval "Auld Brig o' Don', a single Gothic arch over the River Don from the early 14th century, one of the oldest bridges in Scotland and the suburb's landmark, steeped in local legend.
Practical detail for Bridge of Don: the AB22 / AB23 postcode district, none in the suburb, the nearest trains are in central Aberdeen; frequent buses and the AWPR bypass and nearest A and E is Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI), Foresterhill, the city's and region's full 24-hour blue-light A&E, a short drive.
Bridge of Don at a glance
| Upfront cost | Bridge of Don figure |
|---|---|
| Average price | £220,000 |
| Deposit at 10% | £22,000 |
| LBTT, first time buyer | £900 |
| LBTT, standard rate | £1,500 |
| Legal, survey and moving | £3,300 |
| Total cash needed | £26,200 |
| Monthly repayment illustration | £1,157 |
Figures are local averages used for illustration. Confirm your own numbers before acting on them.
Ask about Bridge of Don
Three details is all we need. You are told before anything is passed to a partner firm.
Your checklist
- Total cash of about £26,200, not just the deposit
- Your LBTT position confirmed on revenue.scot
- A first year running cost budget including £1,748 council tax
- Income protection quoted before completion, not after
The introduction costs you nothing. If you go ahead, we may be paid a fee by the firm we introduce you to.
Check broadband before you make an offer in Bridge of Don
Broadband speeds can vary street by street in Bridge of Don, so check the exact address before you commit. Ofcom's free checker shows which broadband speeds and mobile coverage are available at any UK property.
We can introduce you to a specialist who can combine your mobile, broadband and utilities into one bill. There's no fee for the introduction.
We don't provide these services ourselves. Switching household bills is not a regulated financial service, so FCA protections and the Financial Ombudsman do not apply. We'll only pass your details to the specialist if you ask us to. See our privacy notice.
Questions people ask
How much money do I need to buy a first home in Bridge of Don?
Do first time buyers pay LBTT in Bridge of Don?
What is the biggest hidden cost?
How do I check broadband speed at a property in Bridge of Don?
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