Affordability

3 items found

Nationwide Building Society Affordability Report: Mortgage rate rises add to affordability pressures

  • Higher mortgage rates have resulted in a significant increase in the cost of servicing a mortgage relative to take-home pay
  • High house prices relative to average earnings continue to make raising a deposit a significant barrier for first time buyers (FTBs)
  • Affordability remains most stretched in London and south of England; the North & Scotland remain the most affordable regions

Local Affordability Report: Britain's most and least affordable areas to live

  • London borough of Kensington and Chelsea least affordable; East Ayrshire in Scotland remains most affordable
  • North East has smallest gap between least and most affordable boroughs, London has largest
  • 25% of local authorities have seen an improvement in affordability since 2016
  • Westminster, Cambridge, Reading and Aberdeen amongst areas which have seen largest improvements, due to earnings growth outpacing house price growth
  • Around 45% of local authorities now have an HPER of 6+, compared with c35% in 2016

Affordability special report: Raising a deposit still the biggest hurdle for first time buyers despite affordability becoming more stretched

  • High house prices relative to average earnings continue to make raising a deposit a significant barrier for first time buyers (FTBs)
  • 20% deposit equivalent to 110% average income – a record high and up from 102% one year ago
  • House prices have risen quicker than earnings over last year resulting in increase in cost of servicing a mortgage relative to take-home pay
  • North region & Scotland remain most affordable

3 items found