4x usually.
yeah need to figure out how much deposit i'll have available to me (depends on offshore work)Nice calculator on the ING website. Will tell you what you need to know.
Right hand side.
http://www.ingdirect.co.uk/mortgages/fixed_rate/fixed_rate_buying_home.asp
Could always drop your expectations, I'm now seriously thinking about the very bottom end of the market in not so nice places. But because they are ex council houses most are 3 bed with large gardens. Couple of years do it up nicely and hopefully by the end of it make a profit and have slightly more saved up and wage will almost certainly be higher.
I can't believe people outside of London are winging about house prices - you've got it easy tbh.....
