The best places to buy a home if you're single
by Harrison JonesLiverpool, Aberdeen, Cardiff and Nottingham are among the best locations for single house hunters to buy a property, a new report suggests.
Zoopla ranked locations across Britain based on several factors – including average asking prices for one-bedroom properties, mortgage affordability, the proportions of other people living alone in the same area.
Richard Houston, Zoopla consumer spokesman, explained: ‘Those looking to purchase a home on their own will likely feel the pressure all the more; or worse, still feel that buying alone is out of reach.
‘Our analysis reveals that it is still possible for someone to afford a property on your own.
‘You might, however, need to look at slightly more affordable areas or even other cities.’
Zoopla, whose analysis assumes a buyer had a 15% deposit to put down for a mortgage, also took into account average local earnings and the number of nearby restaurants, pubs and clubs.
The company found that these are the best places for singles to buy in each nation and region, along with the average asking price of a one-bedroom property:
– South West: Bristol, £190,000
– North East: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, £108,000
– Yorkshire and the Humber: Sheffield, £75,000
– Scotland: Aberdeen, £73,000
– Wales: Cardiff, £100,000
– East of England: Norwich, £149,000
– South East: Portsmouth, £130,000
– East Midlands: Nottingham, £100,000
– North West: Liverpool, £94,000,
– London: Richmond-upon-Thames, £309,400
– West Midlands: Coventry, £105,000