Half of Scots no longer believe they will buy their own home, Bank of Scotland research has revealed.
Bank of Scotland's poll found that 48 per cent of Scots feel that they will never buy their own home, with 29 per cent feeling confident about their future purchasing prospects.
Three out of 10 Scots also believe that it is normal to think that they will never own their own home.
On the other hand, 17 per cent of non-home owners are concerned by this, as are 11 per cent of parents, who are worried their children will never be able to buy a property.
Ricky Diggins, network director for Bank of Scotland, said: “Attitudes towards home ownership are changing, with many people reassessing if and when they will make their first property purchase.
“However, many people still dream of owning their own place, and even though it is arguably harder to buy now than ever before, there is help at hand.
"Lots of people look to get help from their family, or partners, and are coupling that support with schemes like Help to Buy, to help them take that first step onto the property ladder.”
The survey, which quizzed 3,039 adults between December 2017 and January 2018, also found that 22 per cent of Scots anticipate financial support from family members to help them buy their own home, and 15 per cent of parents believe they will need to provide their children with substantial financial help to get them onto the property ladder.
The analysis also found that 25 per cent parents are happy to help their children with the costs of buying a house.
The younger generation of parents appear more keen to provide a helping hand, with 46 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds saying they are happy to help their children buy a home, as opposed to just 21 per cent of people aged 45 to 54, and 26 per cent of those aged 55 plus.
Overall, just 6 per cent of parents feel under pressure to help their children with the costs of buying a house.
Daniel Bailey, mortgage broker from Middleton Finance, said: “If you are not fortunate enough to have the Bank of Mum and Dad or a relative to help you it is very difficult to save for a deposit. In my experience this is the biggest stumbling block for many potential home owners.
“If you are renting, have bills to pay and general day to day living costs it is almost impossible for many to save money for a deposit.
“Options to consider are the help to buy scheme, Help to buy Isa , which will help you with your deposit. There are 90 per cent and 95 per cent mortgages available, speak to your local mortgage broker who can guide you on these options.
“Some of my clients have had to move back home to help them save for a deposit, I know this is not ideal but if it can help you get on the property ladder it is worth considering.”
