In today's market, this is an all too common cry!. As someone just starting out on the career ladder, how can you convince a bank or building society to lend you the money to buy your first home, when your income will not even begin to cover it? The way around it is to take out a Guarantor mortgage through Savills Private Finance.

In order to do this, you will need a blood relative, usually a parent, who will agree to act as a guarantor and to pay the mortgage if you cannot. The bank or building society will look at the guarantor's income, and not yours, to cover the cost of the loan. Your guarantor will need to be able to prove that they can cover any mortgage commitments of their own, as well as yours. As they are agreeing to be liable for the mortgage, they will need to take independent financial advice to ensure that they fully understand the implications of this.

In time, as your salary increases, you will be able to take on the full responsibility for the mortgage, but their help will have been invaluable to help you on to the property ladder.