FIRST-TIME buyers in Scotland are paying almost £190,000 to get on the property ladder. 

According to analysis from Bank of Scotland, first-time buyers now need to put down an average deposit of £41,442, paying £189,428 to get on the property ladder. 

In 2021, the average cost of a first home was £173,970, with the average deposit being £38,468. 

READ MORE: How much? Private rents in Glasgow rocket to new high as landlords exit market

The average property values for first-time buyers are now around five times the average Scottish salary which is £37, 940.

However, compared to the rest of the UK Scotland has some of the most affordable places for people making their first step onto the housing ladder. 

The most affordable area for first-time buyers in Scotland, and the UK, is West Dunbartonshire, where the average first house price is £103,957.  

READ MORE: 'Fabulous' two bedroom flat for sale in Shawlands

Luckily for buyers in Glasgow and the surrounding areas, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and Renfrewshire are also among the ten most affordable local authority districts. 

Bank of Scotland's figures also show the number of people buying their first home fell by 11% to 31,184 in 2022, compared to the previous year. 

Despite this, first-time buyers still make up half of all home loans and the average age of buyers entering the housing market in Scotland is 31, which is slightly lower than the national average of 32.  

Graham Blair, mortgages director at Bank of Scotland, said: "There was a real spike in demand for Scottish homes in 2021 which means it’s unsurprising that the amount of properties bought by first-time buyers fell back in 2022, by 11%.

"Nonetheless, those getting on the property ladder for the first time still make up half of all home loans, and they’re paying almost £190,000 to get that first property. 

"With average deposits raised now over £40,000, it’s still a significant challenge for people, although Scotland does have some of the most affordable places to buy in the UK."