The UK’s most affordable cities to buy a house solo

Zoopla has revealed the areas where single home buyers have the best chance of getting on the property ladder

The most affordable cities in the UK for solo home buyers have now been revealed. Growing wages and reductions in mortgage rates may now make stepping onto the property ladder more achievable for some people purchasing a home independently, according to Zoopla.

The property site looked at house prices for smaller properties with one or two bedrooms, and matched this against typical incomes for single earners to identify cities where single home purchasers may have a stronger opportunity of entering the property market.

It noted that first-time buyer couples often prefer larger properties with approximately three bedrooms. The website reported that single purchasers represent roughly two-fifths (39 per cent) of first-time buyers, with affordability limitations often working against single earners, making it more difficult to “go it alone”.

Zoopla discovered that in Scotland, Aberdeen was the most affordable city for solo home buyers, with a typical first-time buyer property there costing approximately three and-a-half times the average earning. In Wales, Swansea was the most affordable city, with a property costing roughly four-and-a-half times the earnings of a single first-time buyer.

Meanwhile, in the north west, Liverpool has been named the cheapest city for solo home buyers, with an average house price of £137,100 and an average income of £31,600.

In the London area, Havering was identified by Zoopla as the most affordable borough, with a one or two-bedroom property there costing £305,200 on average – approximately 7.3 times average earnings of £41,600 for a single purchaser.

“Buying a home can feel out of reach for many singles who have to rely on just one income to cover mortgage and other costs of home ownership. Rising incomes and lower mortgage rates mean that owning a home by yourself is increasingly possible,” says Richard Donnell, executive director at Zoopla.

“For many that means buying a smaller-sized home where property prices have risen more slowly than for larger, family-sized homes in recent years. It’s important to do your research digging into mortgage affordability and products aimed at singles while considering alternative locations and selecting the right area for you.”

Kesha Foss-Smith, regional director at John D Wood & Co, said: “Single buyers are becoming far more strategic about where and what they buy. Many are prioritising affordability over postcode prestige and choosing areas that still offer good transport links, local amenities and long-term value.

“The combination of stabilising house prices and improved mortgage rates has opened doors again, and we’re seeing renewed confidence in the market, particularly for one and two-bed homes.

“With more choice coming on to the market and sellers being more open to negotiation, this is one of the more favourable windows we’ve seen for single buyers in recent years.”

Below are the most affordable cities for single home buyers to purchase a home across Britain’s nations or regions, according to Zoopla. The figures display the average house price of a one or two-bedroom property, followed by the average income of a single earner and the average house price-to-income ratio:

UK’s most affordable cities for single buyers:

Aberdeen, Scotland

Average house price: £114,700

Average income: £33,100

Average house price-to-income ratio: 3.5

Sunderland, North East

Average house price: £106,700

Average income: £28,600

Average house price-to-income ratio: 3.7

Hull, Yorkshire and the Humber

Average house price: £115,300

Average income: £27,900

Average house price-to-income ratio: 4.1

Liverpool, North West

Average house price: £137,100

Average income: £31,600

Average house price-to-income ratio: 4.3

Stoke-on-Trent, West Midlands

Average house price: £134,400

Average income: £29,700

Average house price-to-income ratio: 4.5

Swansea, Wales

Average house price: £149,000

Average income: £32,800

Average house price-to-income ratio: 4.5

Derby, East Midlands

Average house price: £169,100

Average income: £31,200

Average house price-to-income ratio: 5.4

Peterborough, East of England

Average house price: £183,200

Average income: £30,500

Average house price-to-income ratio: 6.0

Plymouth, South West

Average house price: £184,000

Average income: £29,600

Average house price-to-income ratio: 6.2

Milton Keynes, South East

Average house price: £230,400

Average income: £36,900

Average house price-to-income ratio: 6.3