Some lenders offer FTB deals which absorb costs such as legal fees or the cost of a survey while others let you add the cost of the application, arrangement or completion fees into your mortgage.
"This means you don't have to fork out a lump sum up front but pay the cash back over a number of years," says Rob Manson of Savills Private Finance.
"It may mean paying interest on this money but if there's no other way of getting on the housing ladder, you may have no other choice."
Other lenders offer cash back to help affordability but be wary. Cash back deals cost well over the odds with stiff early redemption penalties for the first several years - and you are unlikely to get the cheapest mortgage rate.
"A better alternative may be a loan that lets you pay only the interest in the first couple of years, before reverting to a repayment deal," Manson advises.
"Although repayments will jump significantly at this time - and you need to budget for this - the entire mortgage amount is still repaid by the end of the term so there's no risk and it can help in the early years when money is tight."
FTB deals usually have a higher rate of interest than standard deals, so it's worth checking out standard deals as well. Even if there's a fee to pay, this can usually be added onto the mortgage.
"It's always worth asking parents for help with the deposit so you can qualify for a lower rate of interest," says Manson. "It makes your mortgage repayments more affordable and helps you avoid paying a Higher Lending Charge (HLC).
Here's a round-up of the other options:
Guarantor mortgages enable parents' salaries to be included in the borrowing equation. They enable FTBs to borrow more than if they'd bought on their own. However, although it's tempting to borrow as much as the lender's willing to allow, you'll ultimately have to meet repayments out of your own salary, not your parents'. If you're going to struggle from the start, think twice.
Family offset mortgages allow you to involve parents by offsetting their savings against your mortgage. Relatives don't lose control of their savings because they can withdraw their cash at any time, while they are still helping the borrower. This may be particularly appealing given that we will all have to make our own pension provision, so relatives may not be in a position to hand over large amounts. However, ensure that the relatives are aware they won't earn any interest on their savings.
Rent-a-room scheme: It's possible to get help paying the mortgage by renting a spare room to a lodger. If their rent is below £4,250 a year no tax is payable. Put all the details in writing, signed by you and your lodger, stating how much notice has to be given by either side to terminate the agreement, and include what needs paying apart from the rent, such as gas and electricity bills, a share of the phone bill and council tax. Check references before letting a stranger move in.
Mortgages for young professionals: Lenders bend over backwards to help low earners who have the potential to earn much more in the future. Professionals can borrow up to four or five times their basic salary from some lenders and often don't need a deposit. Some lenders will let you borrow up to 110 or 120 per cent of the purchase price. But be careful about taking out a bigger mortgage than the property is worth. You'll be in negative equity from the outset and if property prices fall, you could be in limbo for years.
Clubbing together: An increasing number of people are buying with friends or siblings. As long as you get a solicitor to draw up a contract stating who has put what towards the deposit and what happens when someone wants to sell up, it should minimise the chances of things going wrong.
There are also a number of government schemes available, including Right to Buy, Shared Ownership, Homebuy and the new Social Homebuy scheme announced in November. Eligibility is strict: they assist those who can't afford to buy on their own who are existing public sector tenants or on local authority or social landlords' waiting lists.
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