Thinking of buying a home for buy to let or another form of property investment? 

According to the latest Zoopla House Price Index the average cost of a property in the UK is £267,500, almost 2% more expensive than a year ago. However HCB Solicitors reveals where you can get the best value.

Top 10 most affordable cities in the UK:

1. Aberdeen – £137,000
2. Glasgow – £153,000
3. Newcastle – £157,600
4. Liverpool – £160,900
5. Sheffield – £174,500
6. Belfast £181,200
7. Nottingham – £204,900
8. Birmingham – £211,900
9. Leeds – £212,800
10. Leicester – £228,200

Martin Edwards, Senior Associate Solicitor at HCB, comments: “For those looking to upsize and get more value for their money, heading to the Midlands or the North can stretch your budget further, giving you a better chance of an extra bedroom or even a bigger garden. 

“In some cases, a doer-upper could be an option, too, helping you save upfront and add value over time.

“House prices are slowly increasing, making it more difficult to get onto the property ladder for first-time buyers. We need to see prices drop in order to get more people into their first homes.

“Mortgage rates have been lowering, with two year fixed rates sitting at 5.03% and five year at 4.80%, helping to make maintaining a property easier. To land the best deal, make sure you get a mortgage in principle so you know how much you can borrow. 

“Also, don’t forget to look into government schemes like Help to Buy, and don’t be afraid to haggle with the seller.”