HOMEBUYERS in Harrogate face forking out almost EIGHT times their annual income to get a foot on the housing ladder, it emerged today.

Houses in York and Ryedale also cost more than SIX times the average income of local people.

The new figures from property analysts come as a leading building society predicted the housing boom was to slow next year, although property prices would still increase by double figures.

Barclays house price and income data reveals that the average price of property in Harrogate is £170,719 - 7.72 times the average local earnings of £22,113.

Four boroughs in the area have higher ratios than the national average of 5.98, with Ryedale on 6.55, York at 6.53 and Hambleton at 6.49.

Experts believe that figures above the national average tend to indicate highly-desirable or historic areas and the statistics are an important gauge in the rapidly-changing property markets. Gordon Rankin, of Barclays Private Clients, said North Yorkshire had some of the most desirable places to live in the UK.

The building society Nationwide expected house prices to rise by ten per cent during 2003, well down on this year's leap of about 25 per cent.

The society said it expected the market to remain strong for several more months, before slowing in the second half of the year.

But it said that certain hotspots, particularly parts of the south east, where houses had become less affordable, could see some price falls, although it is not expecting sustained falls across other areas.

Meanwhile, a Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) housing survey found Yorkshire's housing market remained in the grip of a boom, although nationally the market showed signs of slowing.

It said house price inflation had slowed for the third consecutive month.

Updated: 12:15 Thursday, December 19, 2002