Aberdeen Declared Most Affordable City for Single Homebuyers in Great Britain
Analysis reveals Aberdeen as the cheapest city for single homebuyers, with average property prices significantly below national averages.
Aberdeen in Scotland has been identified as the most affordable city for single homebuyers in Great Britain, according to a recent analysis of national property data.
The average one- or two-bedroom home in Aberdeen is valued at approximately £119,350, leading to average monthly mortgage payments of around £510.
This amount represents about 16% of the area's average monthly salary, as reported by the property website Zoopla.
Liverpool emerged as the most affordable city for single homebuyers in England, where average mortgage payments are estimated at £540 per month, accounting for 18% of the local average salary.
Nationally, the average property price in the UK reached a new record of £299,138 in January 2023, an increase of 0.7% from the previous month.
This rise follows a 0.2% dip in December 2022, according to data from Halifax, one of the UK's largest mortgage lenders.
The uptick in prices has been attributed to a surge of first-time buyers entering the market ahead of an impending increase in stamp duty scheduled for spring 2023.
Nationwide Building Society noted a “modest improvement” in housing affordability across Great Britain during 2024. Wage increases have outpaced the growth in house prices, and there has been a slight decline in mortgage costs.
Nonetheless, first-time buyers in general are still facing significant financial challenges, typically needing to pay around five times their annual earnings to purchase a home.
While Aberdeen leads in affordability, Zoopla's findings indicate that Edinburgh remains the most expensive city in Scotland, despite improvements in affordability over the past year due to a slowdown in house price increases and rising salaries.
In Wales, Blaenau Gwent was reported as the most affordable local authority, with an average home costing £112,090, resulting in monthly payments around £470.
Conversely, Monmouthshire recorded the highest average home prices in Wales, at £240,900, which necessitated monthly payments of approximately £1,010.
In England, London retains its status as the least affordable city, with all boroughs exhibiting average mortgage payments exceeding £1,000 per month for one- or two-bedroom homes.
Within the capital, Havering was identified as the most affordable area, where the average property price stands at £306,480, translating to monthly payments of £1,100, or 29% of average earnings.
The borough of Kensington and Chelsea ranked as the least affordable in England, with average property prices reaching £925,870, constituting 73% of average monthly earnings.
Over the past year, house prices in southern England, excluding London, have observed an increase of nearly 1.5%, with cities such as Bristol, Oxford, Portsmouth, and Cambridge being highlighted as showing notable improvements in affordability.
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