In this episode of The ESPC Property Show, Paul & Megan are joined well renowned tax expert, Alan Barr (Partner at Brodies LLP) to discuss Scottish property taxation including Land & Buildings Transaction Tax and Additional Dwelling Supplement. Use ESPC's LBTT calculator here: https://espc.com/advice/tools/lbtt-calculator You can skip to your favourite part here: 0:00-0:44 Introduction 0:44-2:39 What is LBTT? (and how is it different to stamp duty) 2:39-4:44 How importa...

This week's episode is another special episode - Paul & Megan are joined by four ESPC solicitor estate agent member firms to discuss the current property market. From a drop in property listings to the outlook for the Christmas market as well as some insight on where property is moving fast. If you enjoyed this episode, remember to subscribe to our channel. Skip to the part that's relevant to you: 0:00-0:50 Intro 0:50-3:24 What is happening right now in the property market?...

On this week's episode of the ESPC Property Show, Paul & Megan are joined by two of the ESPC Mortgages team: David Lauder & Lisa Bell. In this episode we chat about: 0:00-0:44 Intro 0:44-2:39 How is the market reacting to the interest rate reductions? 2:39-4:07 What's the average mortgage interest rate at the moment? 4:07-5:16 Do lenders have different criteria for different types of mortgages? 5:16-7:53 Is it getting easier for first-time buyers to get a mortgage?* 7:53-...

Paul and Megan are back for the sixth season of the ESPC Property Show! In this first episode back, they discuss how the summer property market looked across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders including the properties in highest demand. Chapters: 0:00-0:54 Intro 0:54-3:51 What happened in the summer property market? 3:51-5:15 What type of properties were in demand? 5:15-7:05 Top performing areas 7:05-8:00 Has seller confidence improved? 8:00-9:18 How might interest ...

In this week's episode, Megan is joined by Paul Demarco from ESPC Mortgages to discuss the insurance that first-time buyers should consider. They cover everything from how to best prepare to make an offer to what happens once an offer is accepted. You can watch this episode on YouTube here. Got a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on marketing@espc.com or via our social media channels....

In this week's episode, Megan is joined by Hannah Gaddie, a solicitor at Gillespie Macandrew, and they discuss how to make an offer on a property in Scotland. They cover everything from how to best prepare to make an offer to what happens once an offer is accepted. Watch the episode on YouTube here. Got a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on marketing@espc.com or via our social ...

In this week's episode of ESPC's First-timers Club, Megan is joined by Tzana Webster from Ralph Sayer, an ESPC solicitor estate agent member firm, to chat through what first-time buyers can expect from a property viewing including how to prepare, red flags to look out for and what NOT to ask. You can watch the episode on YouTube here. Got a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on marketin...

In this week's episode of ESPC's First-timers Club, we're sharing a real life first-time buyer story. Sam has recently purchased his first home with his fiancée in Rosyth, and he joins Megan to chat through his experience of buying in a busy Fife market, his advice to other first-time buyers and how to move on after a rejected offer. You can watch the episode on YouTube here. Got a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your q...

In this week's episode of ESPC's First-timers Club we are talking about LBTT (Land & Buildings Transaction Tax) with Gavin Pearson, a solicitor at Mov8 Real Estate. It's likely you may have heard of Stamp Duty - a tax payable on the purchase of a property, but do you know what LBTT is? LBTT is Scotland's version of Stamp Duty. During this episode Gavin debunks what LBTT is, how it is paid and how to determine how much you LBTT you will pay on a home. You can calculate this using our E...

In this week's episode of ESPC's First-timers Club we are talking about Home Reports. Megan is joined by Kirsten Nicolson, a Director at DM Hall. In Scotland, it is a legal requirement for sellers to have a Home Report for their property. This allows prospective buyers the chance to find out more about the structural condition of the home and alerts them to any issues that they face if they were to purchase the property. During this episode Kirsten explains what a Home Report in...

In this week's episode of ESPC's First-timers Club we are talking about appointing a solicitor. Megan is joined by Keri VanderburgSole, a Partner at Blair Cadell. In Scotland, it is a legal requirement to use a solicitor when buying a property. A solicitor will make offers on your behalf and can provide advice and support throughout the process. During this episode Keri explains why first-time buyers need to appoint a solicitor as well as how they can do it and her best advice f...

Welcome back to the ESPC first-timers club! In this episode we discuss the process of applying for a mortgage including how to work out your budget, how to find out about your credit score and the best ways to save money for a deposit. The initial consultation with an ESPC Mortgages adviser is free and without obligation. Thereafter, ESPC Mortgages charges for mortgage advice are usually £395 (£345 for first-time buyers). YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS O...

While Paul & Megan take a break for the summer months, we'll be dropping episodes from our "First-timers Club" mini series. It's the ultimate companion for first-time buyers in Scotland. If you would like to watch the episode in video form, you can watch it on our YouTube channel here. In this first episode Megan chats to ESPC Mortgages advisor, David Lauder, about the basics of getting a mortgage including what a mortgage actually is, why you may need one to get a property an...

On this week's episode, Paul & Megan are joined by Niall Hedderman of @RealLifeArchitecture to discuss renovating and reimagining the unique properties of Edinburgh. This is the final episode of the podcast for this season! Before we return in September with more episodes, we're going to share our mini-series the "First-timers Club" which is our guide to buying a property in Scotland for first-time buyers. We'll be dropping each of the 9 episodes every week, so keep you're e...

In this week's episode, Paul & Megan discuss the latest ESPC House Price Report which covers the property market activity from March to May 2025. You can read the full report here. Got a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on marketing@espc.com or via our social media channels. You can also help other people find us by sharing the episode or leaving us a review and rating from wherever y...

With just under a year to go until the Scottish Election, Paul & Megan are joined by political analyst, Andy Maciver to discuss what the next 12 months may hold in store for the political landscape. Got a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on marketing@espc.com or via our social media channels. You can also help other people find us by sharing the episode or leaving us a review an...

In today's episode, Paul & Megan are joined by solicitor Jill Andrews to discuss the challenges and trends for foreign nationals looking to buy property in Scotland in 2025. Here's our jargon-busting guides to buying a property in Scotland: What is a Closing Date? What is a Home Report? How to read a Home Report? Appointing a solicitor in Scotland What is LBTT? How to make an offer on a property in Scotland? Got a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy t...

This week's episode is a special one - Paul & Megan are joined by four ESPC solicitor estate agent member firms to discuss the current property market. From the properties that are in high demand to the best places for first-time buyer as well as the current climate for landlords and the issue with conveyancing - they leave no stone unturned. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a comment below and remember to subscribe to our channel. Skip to the part that's releva...

In this episode of the ESPC Property Show, Paul and Megan are joined by returning guest Nicky Lloyd, Head of Lettings at ESPC Lettings. They cover some new ground in this discussion including advice for new landlords, why more and more homeowners are opting to rent their properties instead of sell and how much rent should be priced at. Got a question for us? Send us a text message! Enjoy the episode? We'd love to hear from you! Send your questions and comments to us directly on marketi...

On this week's episode of the podcast, Paul & Megan are chatting through the latest updated from the local property market including the rapid speed that Dunfermline homes are selling at, as well as the outlook for house prices across the rest of the year, and a deep dive into the proposed Seafield regeneration plan. Resources mentioned: ESPC House Price Report Seafield regeneration plan "Call for Edinburgh's south suburban rail line to reopen to passengers after 60 years" Got a ques...