Rising house prices good news for Motherwell commuters

Zoopla compared the average annual house price increase in some of Scotland’s most popular commuter towns to the cost of an annual train ticket into its largest city.

The study found property owners in Motherwell fared best when compared against the likes of Strathaven, Lanark, Dumbarton, Stirling, Kilmarnock and Greenock.

The average property in the town increased in value by £11,933 last year (or £32.69 a day) to £134,598.

The annual cost of commuting from Motherwell to Glasgow is £1,048 which means the rising value of property could cover the cost in just 32.1 days.

Lawrence Hall of Zoopla said: “Our research shows how much property prices have increased in certain popular commuter areas over the last 12 months and also highlights just how expensive commuter-belt living can be.

“As we’d expect, properties in key commuting areas continue to be in demand for buyers in competitive markets.

“While our research may soften the blow of increased rail fares for home owning commuters, the price rises we’re seeing do make it harder for those looking to take their first step onto the property ladder.

“But with Government Help-to-Buy schemes still in place and the promise of new homes to ease demand, both buyers and sellers should have at least some reason to be upbeat as we go into 2016.”