With the price of extras such as lender fees, stamp duty and a deposit all adding to the overall spend of purchasing and moving into a new house, Key Financial Consultants has suggested that taking on more debt is not the best course of action for all potential homeowners.

According to Dominic Mansley, the managing director of Key Financial Consultants, first-time buyers are often guilty of misjudging the cost of buying a house: "Since the introduction of regulation in November 2004 there's been an increase in lender fees, specifically. We also find that they underestimate the costs for legal fees - searches as well as the conveyancing - and for deposits and stamp duty."

Mr Mansley continued by discussing a trend that has recently grown - that of taking on a 100 per cent mortgage. While the managing director said that a larger loan is suitable for certain first-time buyers, he implied that only when there is a future career path planned with increased earnings should people look to borrow above the 100 per cent barrier for a mortgage.

"Where we see people with an expected career progression which will result in a higher income at later stages in their life - perhaps they're a newly qualified professional going through the process of building up their career - then we certainly don't feel uncomfortable recommending [100 per cent-plus mortgages]," Mr Mansley said.

However, he added that the financial consultancy would be "less comfortable" recommending the same secured loans to a non-professional, with the problem that it may result in the person taking on the loan getting themselves into "heavy debt".

The managing director also suggested that first-time buyers avoid lending in the form of an unsecured loan or credit card to help them pay for stamp duty, lender fees or a deposit, suggesting that the interest paid on such lending means would be larger than on a mortgage of 100 per cent or more. "We wouldn't really advise that as a preferred method, because typically you will find that the rate of interest on a credit card or a loan is going to be higher," Mr Mansley said.

Research carried out by GE Money Home Lending in September warned homebuyers of the need to be prepared for the associated costs that come with buying a house and moving into a new property. According to the research, stamp duty, moving-in costs, mortgage fees and utility bills comprise 30 per cent of the average Briton's annual income, at a total cost of 11,372 pounds for new homeowners.

The company's head of mortgage marketing advised people looking to purchase a new home of the importance of a "financial buffer", suggesting that there has never been a more important time to have a detailed plan of how much different things will cost and how they will be covered.