Angus is least affordable for first-time buyers

Perth and Kinross also in the top 10 of places most expensive to buy

A pair of Courier Country council areas are among the least affordable in Scotland for first-time buyers.

Angus was named least affordable and Perth and Kinross was also in the top 10 of the Bank of Scotland’s First Time Buyer (FTB) Review.

The figures are calculated using a house price to average earnings ratio.

Five of the UK’s 10 most affordable local authority districts for First time buyers are in Scotland, including East Dunbartonshire at the top of the list.

The 10 least affordable places in the UK are all in London.

More than half (53%) of all FTB purchases in Scotland are below the £125,000 starting threshold for Stamp Duty. Nationally, 45% of properties bought by FTBs are priced between £125,000 and £250,000 with 24% of FTB purchases above £250,000.

The average age of a first-time buyer in Scotland is 30; up from 28 in 2011.

Regionally, the average age of a firsttime buyer is highest in London (32).

Nicola Noble, mortgages director at Bank of Scotland, said: “It’s great news for Scottish first-time buyers.

“Although many potential first-time buyers are facing escalating house prices and deposit sizes, record low mortgage rates continue to make buying seem a more attractive option than renting.”