The ESPC Property Show

On this episode of The ESPC Property Show, Paul and Megan are joined by home designer Sarah Maguire of Raison Home to talk all things renovation and interior design. Sarah shares her end-to-end approach - from that first spark of an idea through to a finished, installed project - and how virtual reality now lets clients walk through their new kitchen or extension before a single wall is touched.Along the way they cover the difference between renovating to sell and renovating to stay, how to set a realistic budget (and where the hidden costs catch people out), the design choices homeowners tend to regret, what buyers across Edinburgh and the Lothians are asking for right now, and how more people are adapting their homes to stay put rather than move.Find out more about Sarah's services: https://www.raisonhome.com/en-gb/home-designer/sarah-maguire-edinburghFind an ESPC solicitor estate agent: https://espc.com/find-an-agentMore property advice: https://espc.com/adviceChapters:0:00–0:57 Intro & what's coming up0:57–1:26 Meet Sarah Maguire & the Raison Home story1:26–3:07 What a home designer actually does3:07–4:53 From banking to design: Sarah's story4:53–6:13 Designing in VR - seeing your home before it's built6:13–9:00 Renovating to sell vs renovating to stay9:00–11:03 Designing your forever home11:03–13:58 The budget conversation (and the hidden costs)13:58–15:27 Design choices people regret15:27–16:05 Repurposing what you already have16:05–18:24 What Edinburgh & the Lothians want right now18:24–19:57 Future-proofing: adapting your home as you age19:57–21:43 Thinking of renovating? Where to start21:43–22:29 How payments work22:29–24:29 Sarah's most memorable projects24:29–26:10 Final thoughts & what's next

This week, Paul and Megan take the pulse of the mortgage market - and look ahead to the Bank of England's next base rate decision on Thursday 30 July.In part one, they unpack why the base rate has held at 3.75% since December, how global events like the conflict in the Middle East and rising oil prices feed through to inflation and your mortgage, and what to expect from the Bank of England's July meeting.In part two, they're joined by returning guest David Lauder from ESPC Mortgages to talk through what's really happening on the ground: where rates sit today, the return of tracker mortgages, how the size of your deposit shapes your rate, straightforward credit score advice, and exactly what to do if you're coming off a fixed deal this year.As always, it's honest, jargon-free and data-driven advice for anyone buying, selling or remortgaging in Scotland.Chapters0:00 Intro & what's coming up1:00 Why we watch the Bank of England1:15 The base rate at 3.75%: cut, hold or hike?1:58 The Middle East conflict & the oil price3:18 Why it all comes back to inflation4:21 The Bank of England's balancing act5:21 What to expect on 30 July5:57 What would push rates up to 4%?7:38 Guest: David Lauder, ESPC Mortgages7:52 Have rates changed this year? Life "in the fours"9:41 Your deposit & loan to value explained10:33 Are lenders still competing? The summer window12:26 Stock levels & sales falling through13:27 Tracker mortgages & the "switch and fix" option15:48 Why a variable rate is the one to avoid17:00 Lender criteria & income multiples17:56 Credit scores: the questions clients ask most19:43 Coming off a fixed rate in 202621:00 Product transfer, remortgaging & starting early23:51 Second steppers, family homes & maternity leave25:03 LBTT, mansion tax & the higher-end market26:55 David's advice: plan ahead28:32 Quickfire round31:25 Speak to a mortgage advisor early31:58 Paul & Megan wrap up34:09 Important informationRead our latest House Price Report and property market news at espc.com. Find an ESPC solicitor estate agent: https://espc.com/find-an-agentImportant informationThe 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). The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate Buy to Let Mortgages. YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR OTHER LOANS SECURED AGAINST IT. ESPC (UK) Ltd is an Appointed Representative of Lyncombe Consultants Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Anything discussed in this episode is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice.

More property sales are falling through across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Scottish Borders - 11.72% so far in 2026, compared with a ten-year average of 7.61%. So what's behind the rise?Paul and Megan are joined by two friends of the show, Dave Marshall (Operations Director at Warners) and Tzana Webster (Head of Estate Agency at Ralph Sayer), to dig into the story behind the headlines. They discuss why property chains have become far more common in the local area, the questions every buyer should expect to be asked about their funding, what "subject to sale" really means for your offer, and what happens - practically and financially - if a sale does fall through.Plus: the 11-property chain that fell through twice, why buying with cryptocurrency is more possible than you might think, and the single best thing sellers can do to protect their sale.Thinking of selling? Book a free property valuation from a solicitor estate agent here.Timecodes:00:00 – Intro & Scottish Podcast Awards01:35 – Meet the guests: Dave Marshall & Tzana Webster02:14 – What does a sale "falling through" mean in Scotland?03:05 – The headline stat: 11.72% of sales fell through in 202604:09 – Why sales fall through: chains, funding and expectations06:36 – "Magic money" - why budgets matter08:55 – The 11-property chain that fell through twice10:18 – Why are property chains more common now?13:45 – Have we hit peak fall-through?14:34 – 24 offers in Craigleith — only 3 chain-free16:55 – Mortgage lending & source of funds19:55 – Buying a property with cryptocurrency20:35 – Why fall-through rates are higher outside Edinburgh23:00 – What happens to sellers when a sale falls through?25:16 – The four-week review & pricing strategies28:05 – The solicitor estate agent difference29:20 – Who pays the fees if a sale falls through?30:28 – Should the government change the process?34:30 – Quick fire questions36:39 – The good news: 90% of sales don't fall through39:39 – Free valuations & next episode

On this week's episode, Paul & Megan do a data deep dive on the Edinburgh Tram line - specifically the effect of the City centre to Newhaven extension. They share some of the ESPC data on property prices in the areas surrounding the tramline through Brunswick, Leith Walk, The Shore and Newhaven. In addition, they discuss the potential for future tram routes and how that could affect different areas and the property prices in those neighbourhoods.Read our full article on the data around property prices on the traimline here: https://espc.com/news/post/three-year...Chapters:0:00 Intro1:04 Has the Newhaven tram extension changed property prices?2:12 Brunswick property prices3:51 Leith property prices6:22 What do these increases mean for buyers?8:30 Where could the tram go next?13:30 Is there support for a North/South tram route?15:07 NIMBYism17:07 What would a new tram route mean for property prices?19:30 Closing thoughts

In this week's episode, Paul & Megan review their 2026 predictions and see what's come true and what has changed since December 2025. Skip to the part that's most relevant to you:0:00 Intro1:24 Changes in interest rates 4:50 How unemployment is affecting markets5:28 Edinburgh property market update7:00 Offering over valuation9:36 Did more sellers come to market this year?10:45 Potential policy changes from Scot Gov11:50 Top areas for listings