First-time buyers need an annual wage of more than £55,000 to buy an average home in Bedfordshire, according to new research by the National Housing Federation.

Rocketing house prices over the last ten years mean the average house price in the county is a mammoth £203,321, according to the Federation's statistics.

The most expensive corner of the county is Mid Bedfordshire, where an average house costs £225,889 – leaving first-time buyers in need of a salary of £61,313 to secure a mortgage.

According to the Federation's regional chief Gina King, that's a recipe for longer housing association waiting lists, more overcrowding and fewer grown-up children being able to move out of the family home.
But industry insiders were quick to dispute the figures and the report's findings.

Cathy Clark, senior negotiator at Porters Estate Agents in Bromham Road, Bedford, said: "Buying a house is always a good investment. So although it is getting tougher, people are still doing it.

"It is true that people do need to earn a lot of money to secure a mortgage on their own. But parents are increasingly helping their children out. That also helps people to get onto the housing ladder.
"Since the start of the year, ten per cent of our clients have been first-time buyers."

She added: "Another thing that adds to this is that Bedfordshire is quite a wealthy area. And people do not just work locally but commute to London, Cambridge, Northants, Milton Keynes and other places in the region.

"Not only do we have good transport links to these places, but living in Bedford is popular simply because it is a nice place."

Average house prices in the county, and the annual wage required to secure a mortgage at 3.5 times that income:

Bedford: £191,822, £52,066.
Mid Beds: £225,889, £61,313.
South Beds £192,306, £52,197.
Luton £156,331, £42,433.