UK's most affordable cities for FTBs revealed

First-time buyers need an average income of £54,400 to buy a home in a UK city, according to new figures.

That's a rise of 9 percent in just three years, says online estate agent listings site Zoopla.

In its UK Cities House Price Index for May, Zoopla revealed that house price growth has been strongest in cities that are still most affordable. Liverpool had the strongest house price growth at 5 percent, followed by Belfast at 4.6 percent and Nottingham and Leicester at 4.5 percent.

However, FTB affordability varies greatly across the UK; for example, in Liverpool and Glasgow, FTBs need an average salary of £26,000 to become a homeowner, less than half the national average.

However, affordability varies greatly across the UK with FTBs in the likes of Liverpool and Glasgow needing an average salary of £26,000 to become a homeowner.

Meanwhile, it's actually become more affordable to own property for FTBs in expensive locations such as London, Cambridge and Oxford because of a drop in house prices and cheaper mortgage rates.

With more than one in three property sales going to a first-time buyer, the fervour for home ownership shows no signs of letting up.

Richard Donnell, research and insight director at Zoopla, said: "Affordability remains attractive in region cities where house prices not registered the gains in south-east England."

Zoopla also revealed its top 10 most affordable cities, based on sold prices:

1. Liverpool (£123,000); 2. Glasgow (£125,400); 3. Newcastle (£128,200); 4. Belfast (£135,400); 5. Sheffield (£139,000); 6. Nottingham (£154,700); 7. Birmingham (£165,800); 8. Leeds (£169,900); 9. Manchester (£170,300); 10. Cardiff (£209,800).