Affordable homes send buyers north

04-Jul-2005

North Ayrshire has become the UK's hottest property spot, according to new figures, thanks largely to a boost in affordable housing.

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Statistics released by Nationwide have shown that the region is profiting from a rise in first time buyers, who are flocking to the area to take advantage of the affordable housing available.

Although traditionally buyers in the area have been more tempted to move to Glasgow, a strong commitment in the region to the development of affordable housing has resulted in many people in Scotland looking to get onto the first rung of the property ladder heading instead to North Ayrshire.

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The region may become a model for the rest of the UK as the property industry looks to pull itself out of its current slump, by boosting the number of aspiring homeowners getting onto the property ladder through affordable housing schemes.

Scotland and Northern Ireland are the only regions in the UK where house price growth is still in double figures according to Nationwide's report, and much of that success appears to be down to the ability to attract aspiring first time buyers onto the first rung of the property ladder with affordable homes.

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