North Berwick in East Lothian has retained its title as the most expensive seaside location in Scotland to buy a home, according to the latest analysis from Bank of Scotland.
Homes in North Berwick cost £440,172 on average in 2022, with properties in St Andrews, Fife, only slightly less at £421,528.
North Berwick and St Andrews were also the first and second most expensive Scottish coastal locations for property in 2021.
Dunbar in East Lothian makes up the top three most expensive seaside areas to buy a home in Scotland at £284,121 on average.
A home by the sea in Scotland now costs £182,488 on average. The cost of coastal homes rose by 31% between 2012 and 2022.
Properties in Cockenzie, East Lothian, have increased by 80% to £239,345 over the last decade.
At the end of 2022, homes in Kinghorn, Fife, cost 79% more on average than they did in 2012 (£107,503 vs £192,033) and properties in Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway are up 73% over the past 10 years (£132,670 vs £230,126).
The lowest average price for a home near the sea in Scotland can be found in Greenock, where homes cost an average of £97,608.
Graham Blair, Mortgages Director, Bank of Scotland, said: “It’s undeniable that much of Scotland’s coastline is truly breathtaking, and it’s easy to see why the pretty seaside town of North Berwick is still Scotland’s most expensive seaside location for house hunters, with properties costing over £440,000 on average.
“St Andrews – well known for its world-famous university and golf courses – isn’t far behind, with properties in the area fetching a similar price tag.
“However, many of Scotland’s coastal towns have average house prices that are much lower. Homes in Greenock for example cost less than £100,000 on average.
“While many things can influence the price of a home, socio-economic factors are perhaps playing a greater role in some coastal locations.
“While there are doubtless many property hot spots, a sea view isn’t necessarily supporting house prices in Scottish towns most in need of investment.”