PROSPECTIVE homebuyers will be shocked to learn that there remains an area in Britain where three-bed homes go for over £200,000 less than the UK average.

As house prices continue to climb, more and more Brits are struggling to achieve their dreams of home ownership.

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Today, first-time buyers typically fork out well over a quarter of a million pounds for a place of their own.

Just this month, a report by Zoopla showed that the typical house price in the UK is £267,100 as of August 2024.

But if you’re willing to be flexible, all hope is not lost. There are still a few locations across the UK where homes are well below the national average – and they’re easily commutable to major cities.

The stunning city of Durham and nearby town of Hartlepool are packed with properties that go for less than £40,000 – and there’s no catch.

The location in northeast England also has strong connectivity to the major cities in the area.

For example, a train from Durham to Newcastle takes just 16 minutes and a return ticket costs less than £4, while it’s just 45 minutes to York.

Meanwhile, a train from Hartlepool to the UK’s eighth-largest city takes less than an hour.

Daniel Copley, consumer expert at Zoopla, told The Sun there are still parts of the country where it’s “possible to purchase a house for under £40,000, well below the UK average of £267,100.

“These include areas like Durham and Hartlepool, which provide easy access to the Northumberland Coast and the city of Newcastle with its many amenities including an international airport and high-speed train links to other major UK cities,” he said.

Take a look at the cheapest houses up for grabs in these areas.

Two-bed terrace in Horden, County Durham – £34,950

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This two-bed terrace house is up for sale on Zoopla for £34,950.

The property has one bathroom and is located in Horden

Better yet, this home is just a six-minute walk from the local village train station, which is about a 30-minute train ride to Sunderland city.

This home will undoubtedly require a bit of work before you can move in, so it is worth factoring this in when looking at an affordable property such as this one.

But, you might be able to get a mortgage on this house with a 10% deposit of just £3,495.

If you got accepted for a 25-year loan with 5% interest, you would be required to pay back around £183 per month.

Two-bed terrace in Hartlepool – £34,950

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This two-bed property also costs £34,950 and is located in Hartlepool, also in County Durham.

A listing on Zoopla shows this property comes with two bedrooms, one bath and one reception room.

It is about a seven-minute drive to Hartlepool train station, which is well-linked to Durham, and is 0.2 miles away from the local primary school.

Again, this home would probably require a fresh lick of paint and a few refurbishments before a family or tenant could move in.

You could get a mortgage with a 10% deposit of £3,495.

Two-bed terrace in Durham – £35,000

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This two-bed has definitely seen better days, but it’s hard to complain at such a low price.

A listing on Zoopla shows that this property in Sherburn Hill, is on the market for £35,000.

It comes with one bathroom and a separate kitchen and lounge.

A 16-minute car journey will take you to Durham train station, where you can catch trains to Newcastle or York.

However, the area this house is in does not seem to be well connected to buses or other modes of transport, so it’s worth keeping that in mind.

On a property like this, you could get accepted for a mortgage if you have a 10% deposit of £3,500.

Two-bed terrace in Horden – £39,950

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This two-bed home in Horden costs just under £40,000.

According to a listing on Zoopla, it comes with one bath, a kitchen and a reception room.

It is just a two-minute drive from Horden train centre or 10 10-minute walk if you don’t use a car.

The area is also surrounded by a selection of parks which are within walking distance from the home.

A mortgage calculator shows that you would need a deposit of £3,995 to buy this home.

The interest was calculated at 5% over 25 years meaning you would pay £210 per month.

How to save for your first home

HAVE you ever wondered how first-time buyers manage to go from savers to homeowners?

Getting a foot on the property ladder might seem like a daunting task, but The Sun’s My First Home feature allows you to find out exactly what it takes to finally get the keys to your own place.

Leanne Gem managed to buy her £456,000 four-bed house with an “underrated scheme”.

Karis Jacobs and her husband George used the 50/50 method to buy their first home just two years after losing their jobs.

Parents Chae and Cem used a “DIY Help to Buy scheme” to buy their £466,000 first home.

Anupam and his wife Shrabanti lost £6,000 free cash when buying their first home – here’s how you can avoid it.