Ceredigion among the hardest places to buy a home, report reveals
Getting on the property ladder is tougher in Wales than anywhere else in Great Britain, according to a new affordability report by the Skipton Group building society.
The report, which analyzed data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Bank of England, and Land Registry, found that six of the ten least affordable areas in Britain are located in Wales. It considered local house prices against average first-time buyer incomes to assess where homes are out of reach.
Ceredigion and Powys top the list of least affordable Welsh areas, with only 2.7% of would-be first-time buyers able to afford a home there. In Ceredigion, where average house prices are around £236,000—above the Welsh average—this is especially concerning given the area also has the seventh lowest median income in Great Britain.
Least Affordable Areas in Wales for First-Time Buyers
Ceredigion – 2.7% can afford to buy
Powys – 2.7%
Pembrokeshire – 2.9%
Cardiff – 3%
Vale of Glamorgan – 3.1%
Monmouthshire – 3.3%
(Source: Skipton Group Home Affordability Index)
Skipton Group CEO Stuart Haire said the findings might surprise people who assume London or the southeast would be the toughest regions for first-time buyers.
“It must feel impossible for young people in Wales,” he said. “The data clearly shows how steep the challenge is.”
In Ceredigion, estate agent Tania Dutnell said many buyers rely on family support to get onto the ladder. She added that larger, more expensive properties dominate the market, with a shortage of affordable, smaller homes.
Rising interest rates have made it even harder. “If you’re renting, most of your income goes on that, making it difficult to save for a deposit,” she explained.
An aerial photo of Aberystwyth highlights the problem, showing rows of houses along the riverbank—yet only a small fraction of locals could realistically buy one.
Ceredigion Council said it's working on solutions, with a target of 20% affordable housing in new developments, a goal they say they've exceeded. The council also offers a Community Housing Scheme—an equity sharing model to help people buy homes.
The Welsh government acknowledged the issue and pointed to support programs like Help to Buy Wales, which has helped over 14,500 people, and Self Build Wales, which provides loans for land and development costs.