McYuppies ca’ canny on property

THEY used to conjure up images of shoulder pads, pin stripes and top end property deals. But today’s Yuppies, particularly those in Scotland, are more likely to be a bit canny when it comes to buying their own first homes.

A new Bank of Scotland survey shows that while well paid young urban professionals still want to own their own pad in one of our three major cities, they tend to populate districts with below average prices.

Leith is top of the list of Scottish areas likely to appeal to a graduate on a good salary, followed by Victoria Quay in Edinburgh. Both have property values lower than average in the city as a whole, but crucially have good links to the city centre. The same is true of Pollokshields and Shawlands in Glasgow, and Mannofield in Aberdeen, all now home to the young wealthy first time buyer and the bars, bistros and shops which tend to spring up around them.