1. Loyalty counts:It doesn't matter where you have held your current or savings accounts - the bank won't be any more predisposed to advancing large sums of money. "Once you prove you don't need to borrow the deposit, lenders don't care where you have your savings," says adviser Mr Liam Ferguson.

2. Anyone can go guarantor: Your parents might own a seafront mansion, but if their only income is the State pension they won't be able to help you get a bigger loan. "A guarantor is only useful to a lender if they can demonstrate an ability to pay your mortgage if you default. Having a nice home won't help," says Mr Ferguson.

3. If you can afford the rent...: Borrowers won't always qualify for a mortgage that has the same monthly repayment as the current rent they are paying, according to Mr Tice O'Sullivan of Primafinance.ie. "A mortgage is a much bigger commitment and there's no landlord to take care of any repairs!"

4. You can borrow more than 92 per cent: First-time buyers often believe they can borrow 95-100 per cent of the purchase price, says Ms Sarah Wellband of brokers REA. The maximum, with the exception of an Ulster Bank scheme for certain professional categories, is 92 per cent.

5. SSIAs will reduce the amount you can borrow: Some buyers will be contributing up to €254 a month to a Special Savings Incentive Account (SSIA) and often worry that this will reduce their net disposable income in the eyes of lenders. "This is not the case and, in most cases, the banks look favourably on it as it shows a good savings habit," says Mr O'Sullivan.