The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) reported last week that first-time buyer enquiries fell for the 11th month in a row, so it's perhaps not surprising that many buyers are resorting to ever more extreme measures in their efforts to buy a home.

One in three buyers are prepared to take on a second job to make a bit more money for this reason, Abbey Mortgages has said, with one in six even looking for a third job for the same reasons.

And 20 per cent are prepared to sell items of sentimental value, so desperate are they to become owner-occupiers.

"Although it can be more difficult these days to become established on the property ladder than it has been for previous generations, there are still a number of options for first time buyers that don’t require taking such drastic measures," said head of Abbey Mortgages Nici Audhlam-Gardiner.

Such trends illustrate how helpful it can be to seek advice from a mortgage broker before making that big decision.