High north-east housing costs means the average age of first-time buyers in Aberdeen and the north-east is higher than in most other parts of the country.

The average age of first-time property buyers in Scotland may be lower than in other parts of the UK, but it's a different story in the north-east because prices are forcing young people to remain with their parents for longer.

The need for first-time buyers to find bigger deposits before they are considered by lenders for a mortgage, has meant they are having to wait longer as they save up.

In Aberdeen, where house prices are higher than in other parts of Scotland, the wait to gain a foothold on the property ladder is longer and while the Scottish average is 27-years-old, it is 30 and older in the Granite City and the surrounding area.

A recent survey revealed that areas with the youngest first time buyers are also those where housing affordability conditions are the most favourable. Nine of the ten local areas with the youngest buyers have an average house price to average earnings ratio for first time buyers below 4.

In the ten areas with the oldest first time buyers, six were where the average first time buyer price is above the Scotland average of  £105,401. These are Edinburgh at 37%, Moray at 7%, Highland at 12%, Aberdeenshire at 28%, East Lothian at 47% and East Renfrewshire at 28%.

Those who have managed to buy a property within the last two to three years, tend to have been helped financially by their parents or other members of the family.

However, there are a sizeable number who simply have to stay at home and save longer and harder for their start. What this means is that the one and two-bed flat market is also sticking with owners who purchased prior to the credit crunch finding it more difficult to sell and climb the ladder.

The result is that the letting market, particularly for central, one-bedroom flats, is booming and that properties of that size are difficult to come by. When they do become available for lease, they are normally snapped-up within a few days.

There are still 90% and 95% mortgages around but the conditions attached to them are stringent.

For further information contact Brian Sutton on 01224 581581, alternatively via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.