Edinburgh homes and streets before they’re listed

What “pre-market” means on HomePinr

On HomePinr, pre-market refers to homes that are not currently listed for sale on the open market. Buyers can register interest in those homes or streets, but a pin does not mean the property is available or that the homeowner intends to sell.

Edinburgh, its council area and the surrounding councils

“Edinburgh” can mean different things, so it helps to know which one you mean before you pin.

Edinburgh city centre

The city centre is made up largely of the Old Town and the New Town, which together form the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site, inscribed by UNESCO in 1995.

The City of Edinburgh Council area

The City of Edinburgh Council covers far more than the centre. Leith, Portobello, Morningside and Stockbridge are all inside it, as are South Queensferry, Corstorphine and Balerno further out. Every neighbourhood in the next section is inside the City of Edinburgh Council area.

Surrounding council areas

Some nearby towns have their own councils. Musselburgh is in East Lothian, Dalkeith is in Midlothian and Livingston is in West Lothian. They are separate council areas, not parts of Edinburgh.

EH postcodes

EH postcodes reach well beyond the City of Edinburgh Council area, covering much of the Lothians and parts of the Scottish Borders. Musselburgh, Dalkeith and Livingston all have EH postcodes, for example. An EH postcode doesn’t on its own mean a home is in Edinburgh.

On HomePinr, search for and pin the exact home or street you mean. Postcodes and council boundaries are useful for checking that you’ve found the right place.

Edinburgh neighbourhoods to explore

These are examples to help you start searching, not recommendations, and they don’t reflect how many people have pinned there.

Stockbridge

Stockbridge sits on the Water of Leith, just north of the New Town, and is the area in the photo above and the map further down this page. Its Colonies are rows of stone terraced houses built by the Edinburgh Co-operative Building Company, and the City of Edinburgh Council protects them as a conservation area. The Water of Leith Walkway runs through the neighbourhood, and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is close by at Inverleith.

New Town and West End

The New Town, north of Princes Street, is part of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh World Heritage Site and has its own conservation area, with streets and squares of Georgian terraces and tenements. Princes Street Gardens lie between it and the Old Town. At the West End, Haymarket station is served by ScotRail, and Edinburgh Trams run along Princes Street through the West End and Haymarket.

Marchmont and Bruntsfield

South of the city centre, Marchmont and Bruntsfield fall within the council’s Marchmont, Meadows and Bruntsfield conservation area, which the council describes as characterised by tenement housing, mostly in the Scots Baronial style. The Meadows and Bruntsfield Links, two large public parks, sit beside them.

Morningside

Further south, Morningside has its own conservation area. Blackford Hill, home to the Royal Observatory, and the Hermitage of Braid local nature reserve are both nearby.

Leith

Leith is Edinburgh’s historic port, on the Firth of Forth, with its own conservation area around the Shore. Since June 2023, Edinburgh Trams have run along Leith Walk to the Shore, Ocean Terminal and Newhaven. The Royal Yacht Britannia is moored at Ocean Terminal.

Portobello

Portobello, on the coast to the east of the city centre, has a sandy beach and a long seafront promenade, and the council protects its older streets as the Portobello conservation area.

Narrowing your search to particular streets

• Begin with your routine. A tram stop, station, park or school you use often is a good anchor.
• Pick a street, not just a neighbourhood. Reid Terrace in the Stockbridge Colonies, for example, is one street you might choose to pin.
• Search the exact address or street and check the result on the map before pinning.
• Check the postcode and council. An EH postcode may be in Edinburgh or in a neighbouring council area.
• Keep your pins current as your plans change.

These streets are examples of how to search. They don’t mean anyone has pinned or claimed homes there.

Buying your first home in Edinburgh

Many first-time buyers start with a place rather than a property — close to work, family or a station or transport link you use regularly. While you save or arrange a mortgage in principle, you can pin the Edinburgh streets and homes you’d consider and refine them as your plans firm up. A pin isn’t an offer and doesn’t commit you to anything.

For Edinburgh homeowners: claiming your property

If you own a home in Edinburgh, you can claim it on HomePinr for free and see any buyer interest recorded for your home and your street. Claiming isn’t a decision to sell, and you choose whether to reply to anyone. Claiming is a self-declaration: HomePinr does not currently check ownership independently. Each property can only be claimed once.

How a match works

A match happens when a buyer’s pin on a home or street overlaps with a claimed property, whether the buyer pins first or the homeowner claims first. Both sides can be notified, and a conversation can start through HomePinr’s messaging. Homeowners see buyers by general labels rather than names. Claiming a property isn’t a decision to sell, and a match doesn’t guarantee a reply, a viewing, a sale or a purchase.

Using HomePinr alongside Rightmove and Zoopla

Rightmove and Zoopla help buyers search homes currently marketed for sale. HomePinr works alongside them by letting buyers register interest in Edinburgh homes and streets that aren’t currently listed. It doesn’t replace an estate agent or a property portal.

Nearby areas

Inside the City of Edinburgh Council area

• South Queensferry: on the Firth of Forth beside the Forth Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; nearby Dalmeny station is on ScotRail.
• Corstorphine: in the west of the city, home to Edinburgh Zoo on the slopes of Corstorphine Hill.
• Balerno: on the south-western edge of the city, where the Water of Leith Walkway begins, close to the Pentland Hills Regional Park.

Outside the City of Edinburgh Council area

• Musselburgh: a town in East Lothian, east of the city, with its own ScotRail station.
• Dalkeith: a town in Midlothian, south-east of the city, beside Dalkeith Country Park.
• Livingston: a town in West Lothian, west of the city, served by ScotRail stations.

You can pin homes and streets in any of these places on HomePinr.

Edinburgh FAQs

Can I pin an Edinburgh home that isn’t for sale?

Yes. A pin records your interest; it doesn’t mean the home is available.

Is Musselburgh part of Edinburgh?

Not for council purposes. Musselburgh is in East Lothian, though it has an EH postcode. You can still pin homes there.

Does an EH postcode mean a home is in Edinburgh?

Not always. EH postcodes also cover places in neighbouring council areas, so check the full address.

Does an Edinburgh homeowner have to be planning to sell?

No. Claiming a property lets you see recorded interest. It isn’t a decision to sell.

Does HomePinr replace Rightmove, Zoopla or an estate agent?

No. HomePinr works alongside them for homes and streets that aren’t currently listed.

Other HomePinr city guides

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