HOUSE hunters in Pembrokeshire could struggle to find their dream home, as official figures show the imbalance between property prices and average income.

House prices in the county have risen, on average, by 23.2% since last year, making Pembrokeshire the sixth most expensive place to buy a house in Wales. Buyers have to shell out, on average, £158,729.

When compared to the average hourly earning of £10.49, which is the sixth worst wage in Wales according to the GMB General Workers' Union, the odds of buying a home are less than favourable.

Director of John Francis, Trevor Carr, told the Western Telegraph: "It is a huge issue in west Wales, generally, of income and house prices. The main reason fuelling house prices is people coming in from away and buying properties. They have got a higher income and often buy holiday homes and second homes, which has left first time buyers in Pembrokeshire with a major problem."

House prices in England and Wales have risen by just 5.43% in the second quarter of 2005, the lowest annual rate since 1996, according to the Land Registry.

Mr Carr believes the market in Pembrokeshire is also beginning to stabilise.

"You have got a micro market around Milford Haven due to LNG. We have seen house prices rise in Milford and Pembroke. But in Haverfordwest, Fishguard and Tenby it has gone back to a normal market, where prices have been fairly static for a year," he explained.

He said those already on the property ladder were benefiting from the latest trend, but not first time buyers.

Mortgage lender, Halifax, said one solution is to stay at home for longer to save for a deposit.

Shared equity is another solution, which allows people to purchase one half of a property and, when sold, receive a percentage of the resale price.

"Some major developers are building, in the Swansea area, some very cheap-to-erect houses of non-traditional construction and selling them for around £50,000-£60,000," Trevor Carr revealed.

"That would be an option for developers in Pembrokeshire to look at in the future, but other than that there is no magic wand."