MORE than half of the top 20 most affordable places to buy a property in the UK are in Scotland, according to new analysis from Zoopla.
Eleven Scottish towns were picked up as some of the most budget-friendly across the four nations in the study of average property prices and average earnings.
The property firm has compiled a price-to-earnings ratio representing the number of average salaries it would take to afford a property in each place.
In Scotland, Cumnock, East Ayrshire, was named the most affordable area – with a home there costing about £74,000.
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It came second in the UK to Shildon, County Durham, where the average property price is just £60,000.
Other Scottish towns in the top 20 included Girvan, South Ayrshire, with the average property price sitting at £84,000 and Stevenston North Ayrshire, boasting an average price of £77,000.
The other towns were Mauchline, East Ayrshire, Wick, Highlands, Irvine, North Ayrshire, Maybole, East Ayrshire, Shotts, North Lanarkshire, Thurso, Highlands and Port Glasgow, Inverclyde.
Consumer expert at Zoopla, Tom Parker, said: “With the UK housing market opening up again, we know, now more than ever, that it’s important for buyers or potential buyers to know where they can get the most for their money when purchasing a property.
"With budgets tighter than usual, we want to ensure that buying a property is still attainable - even during these unprecedented times.
“Lockdown has resulted in a shift in the way we work, as more employers are allowing their employees to work from home for the foreseeable - and as a result, our property priorities are changing.
"The desire for greater indoor and outdoor space and fewer people having to commute into the office means that the property field is larger and more achievable than ever before - so make use of the analysis and find out a suitable, but most importantly affordable, location to find your dream home.”
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