A new study has revealed the best places in the UK for first time buyers, with eight Scottish locations making the top ten.
East and North Ayrshire top the list, with North Lanarkshire coming in second. Other spots around Scotland such as Falkirk and Aberdeen are also ranked among the most affordable areas in the UK for first time buyers.
The study, conducted by mortgage broker L&C Mortgages, analysed government data on median earnings and the average price of property purchased by first time buyers in the region, to reveal the UK areas with the best house price-to-income ratio.
Eight areas in Scotland have been included in their ranking of the UK’s most affordable regions, while their findings on the least affordable areas in the UK excludes the country entirely.
The top ten most expensive areas in the UK for first time buyers are all in London, with areas outside of the capital including Brighton and Hove as well as areas in Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Kent.
If you’re looking to take a step onto the property ladder, here are the top ten best UK areas for first-time buyers.
The study, conducted by mortgage broker L&C Mortgages, analysed government data on median earnings and the average price of property purchased by first time buyers in the region, to reveal the UK areas with the best house price-to-income ratio.
![East Lanarkshire is the fifth best place in the UK for first time home buyers, with residents boasting a median monthly salary of £2,060 and a median first-time buyer house price of £120,379.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/03/07/10/28/AdobeStock_576096897.jpeg.jpg?trim=0,241,0,239&width=800)
5. East Lanarkshire
East Lanarkshire is the fifth best place in the UK for first time home buyers, with residents boasting a median monthly salary of £2,060 and a median first-time buyer house price of £120,379.
![Coming in sixth is Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire. Residents in these areas have a median monthly salary of £2,471 and a median first-time buyer house price of £136,179, making it attractive for those looking to enjoy both city living and the countryside outside of Scotland’s Central Belt.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/03/07/10/06/AdobeStock_582258513.jpeg.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
6. Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire
Coming in sixth is Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire. Residents in these areas have a median monthly salary of £2,471 and a median first-time buyer house price of £136,179, making it attractive for those looking to enjoy both city living and the countryside outside of Scotland’s Central Belt.
![Located south of the border, Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees provide first time buyers with plenty of opportunities with a median monthly salary of £2,227 and a median first-time buyer house price of £125,088.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/03/07/10/49/GettyImages-1977370253.jpg.jpg?trim=0,298,0,297&width=800)
7. Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees
Located south of the border, Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees provide first time buyers with plenty of opportunities with a median monthly salary of £2,227 and a median first-time buyer house price of £125,088.
![Coming in eighth, and the final English location on this list, is Sunderland where the average monthly salary sits at around £2,134 with house prices averaging at £120,716.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/03/07/11/06/AdobeStock_543170749_Editorial_Use_Only.jpeg.jpg?trim=0,387,0,387&width=800)
8. Sunderland
Coming in eighth, and the final English location on this list, is Sunderland where the average monthly salary sits at around £2,134 with house prices averaging at £120,716.