HOUSE hunters looking for an affordable place by the sea should look to the north of Scotland, a survey said today.
Wick in Caithness has the country's most favourably priced seaside homes, according to the Bank of Scotland.
Prices there are about 3.1 times the average salary.
At the other end of the scale, upmarket St Andrews in Fife, known as the home of g
olf, commands prices of more than 10 times the level of average local pay.
Nitesh Patel, housing economist at the bank, said: "Property in many seaside towns continues to trade at a premium compared with Scotland as a whole due to the desire of many people to live near the coast.
"Living on the coast has many attractions, such as the climate and a high quality of life.
"Housing affordability has improved in most seaside towns since 2007 due to lower house prices and an increase in earnings."
The top 10 most affordable areas – where prices are below four times the average salary – include Thurso, Fraserburgh and Peterhead.
The least affordable homes are in St Andrews, where house prices were 10.5 times higher than local earnings in the first three months of this year.
Other towns deemed "not affordable" by the bank, are North Berwick and Nairn.
The bank also revealed the top 10 greatest coastal house price increases between 2004 and 2009, with Eyemouth in the Borders heading the list.
House prices there rose from £52,180 to £125,290 – an increase of 140%.
Despite featuring in the affordable list, houses in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, increased from £50,323 to £122,520 and Peterhead prices grew from £56,318 to £115,969.
The average house price in Scottish seaside towns was £136,605 compared with £189,210 in England and Wales.
The top 10 most affordable Scottish seaside towns:1. Wick
2. Girvan
3. Fraserburgh
4. Peterhead
5. Thurso
6. Saltcoats
7. Arbroath
8. Leven
9. Ardrossan
10. Stranraer
The top 10 least affordable seaside towns are:1. St Andrews
2. North Berwick
3. Nairn
4. Dunbar
5. Dalgety Bay
6. Carnoustie
7. Stonehaven
8. Ayr
9. Largs
10. Oban
