Buying a first home in Edinburgh in 2026 involves a combination of Scottish Government shared equity schemes, specific tax reliefs, and private developer initiatives. The landscape is currently dominated by the program, as several previous schemes like the First Home Fund and Help to Buy (Scotland) are now closed. 1. LIFT: Shared Equity Schemes
The Low-cost Initiative for First Time Buyers (LIFT) is Scotland's primary support mechanism for first-time buyers on low-to-moderate incomes. LIFT Open Market - Link Housing Association first time buyer scheme edinburgh