By Jonathan Rennie AS the cost of houses goes through the roof, buyers are being forced to take out 52-year mortgages to get a foot on the property ladder.

Some lenders are even offering buyers up to five times their salary so they can afford a home.

But when it is almost impossible to buy a property for less than £100,000, a mortgage for even the most basic home could cost an extra £121,800 for those who opt for these long-term deals.

According to the Council of Mortgage Lenders average lending figures show that to borrow £100,000 on a standard capital repayment mortgage at 6% costs £317,400 over 52 years, but only £195,600 over 25 years.

Stephen Brown of Glasgow financial services firm Moneyquest, said: "I would be wary of recommending a mortgage of this term.

"It leaves you vulnerable to interest rate changes and no matter how you look at it, a loan on a long-term deal, whether it is a £1000 or a mortgage, always costs more when the term is high.

"But it is the nature of the market just now.

"The housing market is buoyant and there is limited availability so costs of buying a house are high.

"With these new mortgage deals, banks and lenders are simply trying to make it easier for more people to buy their own home."

Lending organisations are increasingly coming alive to property owners' affordability issues by offering higher income multiples, interest-only loans and schemes designed to ease the burden on people investing in bricks and mortar for the first time.

For example, lenders such as Leeds' Building Society have recently launched mortgages which offer customers a loan that is five times their salary with just a 5% deposit.

Banks claims such products offer owners greater flexibility, which is true. For instance the same £100,000 mortgage at 6% over 25 years costs £652 a month, as opposed to £529 a month over 50 years.

But this has to be balanced by the fact that a lengthier mortgage term means a higher overall payment.

According to Julie Harris of price comparison website Moneyfacts.com, if you have to tie yourself into a longer term mortgage, look carefully at the terms and see if you can make overpayments to let you pay the loan off early.

But be careful. Early repayment charges are added by some providers.

Katie Tucker of accountants John Charcoal said: "Most borrowers will be able to overpay their mortgage without incurring ERCs and some may not be aware of this."