Buying a house in a Scottish city becomes less affordable
Buying a house in a Scottish city has become less affordable over the past year as a result of rising prices, a report has found.
Buying a house in a Scottish city has become less affordable over the past year as a result of rising prices, a report has found.
On average, affordability in Scottish cities is now at its lowest level since 2009, according to the Bank of Scotland Affordable Cities Review.
The average Scottish city house price has risen by 3%, from £176,009 in 2015 to £181,077 in 2016.
As a result average affordability has worsened in the last 12 months from 5.25 to 5.36 times gross average annual earnings.
While average affordability has decreased, it has not reached levels seen at the height of the last housing market boom, when in 2008, prices were 6.12 times earnings.
Edinburgh is Scotland's least affordable city, with the average price of £220,099 - 6.12 times the gross average earnings in the city.
Stirling is the most affordable city and the second most affordable in the UK.
The average property price of £165,658 is 4.11 times the gross average annual earnings.
House price growth has been highest in Aberdeen over the past decade and since 2011.
It has seen a 58% increase over the last 10 years, and a 22% rise since 2011, with the average price now standing at £214,160.
Nicola Noble, mortgages director at Bank of Scotland, said: "The rising house prices over the past three years have resulted in a deterioration in home affordability in Scotland's cities.
"Although affordability is at the lowest level since 2009, it is still much lower than the height of the last housing market boom in 2008.
"Aberdeen has recorded Scotland's highest house price growth over the past decade and more recently during the economic recovery, due to strong performance in the oil and gas sector.''
Chief executive of industry body Homes for Scotland Nicola Barclay said: "The single most effective way to address concerns on housing need and affordability is to increase the supply of new homes of all tenures.
"Scotland's growing population has a diverse set of housing needs and aspirations and there is an ever-present demand for good quality, sustainable homes.''