Lancaster is emerging as one of the North West's property hot spots after a 35 per cent house price boom in the past 12 months.
But there are fears that first-time buyers and others moving to the city looking for a cheap place to live may be left out in the cold.
A survey by website, rightmove.co.uk, says the city is second only to Blackpool in terms of price increases in the year to October.
Estate agents have welcomed the news - but there are fears that first-time buyers and the less well-off are being priced out of the market.
Major factors include the record low interest rates, as well as the stock market slump - which has seen investors ploughing money into student housing.
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