The Real Cost of Buying a First Home in South Queensferry
A first purchase at the £370,000 South Queensferry average needs about £50,050 in cash, made up of £37,000 deposit, £9,750 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 £370,000 South Queensferry average needs about £50,050 in cash, made up of £37,000 deposit, £9,750 LBTT with first time buyer relief, and roughly £3,300 in fees.
Every pound you need before completion in South Queensferry
On the local average the deposit is £37,000, LBTT is £9,750 and fees are near £3,300. Total cash needed is about £50,050.
First time buyer relief raises the LBTT nil rate band to £175,000, saving you £600 against the standard charge of £10,350 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.
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.
Where the upfront cash goes
The commercial page for this town sets out the introduction itself: Mortgage advice in South Queensferry.
What you can borrow against local incomes
Running costs from week one
Band D council tax in City of Edinburgh is £1,626 a year, which is £136 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 South Queensferry detail first buyers ask about
The schools families ask about here are Queensferry High School, Echline Primary School, Queensferry Primary School, Kirkliston Primary School and Edinburgh independent schools. Ratings age between inspections, so read the latest report before you rely on one.
On getting about: Dalmeny to Edinburgh Waverley takes about ~15 min.
By price, South Queensferry ranks 1 of the 3 City of Edinburgh locations we cover, at £370,000 against a county average of £350,000. Band D council tax here is £1,626, against £1,626 across the county.
What your money buys in South Queensferry
South Queensferry is an affluent, historic former royal burgh on the Firth of Forth beneath the three Forth Bridges, premium and a fast Edinburgh commute.
The full local guide covers schools, transport and the market in detail: South Queensferry property and area guide.
| Budget | What it buys here |
|---|---|
| Around £170,000 to £270,000 | A flat or townhouse on the newer developments, the most accessible way into the town, popular with first-time buyers, commuters and downsizers. |
| Around £270,000 to £500,000 | A terrace, a semi or a family home near the High Street or on the established streets, the heart of the South Queensferry market. |
| £500,000 and above | A detached, period or waterfront home near the bridges, the top of the local market. |
- A historic waterfront royal burgh beneath the three Forth Bridges
- A fast 15-minute train from Dalmeny to Edinburgh Waverley
- Hopetoun, Dalmeny and the coastal walks on the doorstep
- A simple Scottish council-tax bill, no police, fire or community precept
- Edinburgh Airport only about 10 minutes away
- No hospital in the town, nearest full adult A&E is the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
- Prices carry a premium, especially near the water
- Some homes sit under Edinburgh Airport's approaches, check for noise
- Scottish Water is a separate charge added to the same bill (~£652 at Band D)
- The A90 and the Forth crossings can be busy at peak times
South Queensferry is known locally for The three Forth Bridges, and The Forth Bridge (UNESCO). The Forth Bridge (1890, a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Forth Road Bridge (1964) and the Queensferry Crossing (2017) frame the town, a genuinely world-famous grouping of engineering on the Firth of Forth.
Practical detail for South Queensferry: the EH30 postcode district, Dalmeny station, direct to Edinburgh Waverley (~15 min) and north over the Forth Bridge to Fife and nearest A and E is Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Little France, the city's major 24-hour adult A&E (no hospital in the town).
South Queensferry at a glance
| Upfront cost | South Queensferry figure |
|---|---|
| Average price | £370,000 |
| Deposit at 10% | £37,000 |
| LBTT, first time buyer | £9,750 |
| LBTT, standard rate | £10,350 |
| Legal, survey and moving | £3,300 |
| Total cash needed | £50,050 |
| Monthly repayment illustration | £1,947 |
Figures are local averages used for illustration. Confirm your own numbers before acting on them.
Ask about South Queensferry
Three details is all we need. You are told before anything is passed to a partner firm.
Your checklist
- Total cash of about £50,050, not just the deposit
- Your LBTT position confirmed on revenue.scot
- A first year running cost budget including £1,626 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 South Queensferry
Broadband speeds can vary street by street in South Queensferry, 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 South Queensferry?
Do first time buyers pay LBTT in South Queensferry?
What is the biggest hidden cost?
How do I check broadband speed at a property in South Queensferry?
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