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Half of Scots believe they will never buy their own home, according to new research.

In a YouGov poll of more than 3,000 adults for Bank of Scotland , 48 per cent felt they would never buy their own home, while less than a third (29 per cent) were confident about their future purchasing prospects.

Almost a third of Scots (31 per cent) Scots also think it's normal to believe they will never own their own home.

“Attitudes towards home ownership are changing, with many people reassessing if and when they will make their first property purchase," said Ricky Diggins, network director for Bank of Scotland.

“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.”

Of those Scots living at home but aiming to buy a property, 79 per cent expect to be able to make their first purchase before their 36th birthdays, and just under half (48 per cent) are aiming to do this between the ages of 26 and 30.

After ‘buying with a partner’ (41 per cent), the most popular help Scots expect to get to purchase a property is through the government's Help to Buy scheme, which allows house hunters to buy with only a 5 per cent deposit. Almost one third (29 per cent) will save the money they need to get onto the property ladder by working additional hours or getting an additional job.

Many aspiring homeowners make the most of the government’s 25 per cent bonus on savings, which can go towards their first home, with a Help to Buy ISA. People can save up to £200 per month, however the minimum annual government bonus is £400, meaning that you need to save at least £1,600 before the bonus can be claimed. The maximum government bonus you can receive is £3,000. To receive that, you need to have saved £12,000.