Professionals and university graduates are being targeted by mortgage lenders despite the fact many hold student debt, a property expert has commented.

Some lenders already offer tailor-made deals to people who have qualifications, with Scottish Widows offering a 102 per cent loan to people under the age of 40 who have graduated from a recognised university.

Helen Adams, director of advice website FirstRungNow.com, said that firms are looking to "lower risk" borrowers such as graduates as the credit crunch continues to bite.

"Guarantor mortgages, professional mortgages, joint mortgages and graduate mortgages will come to the fore. The mortgage lenders are keener to lend those types of mortgages," she explained.

With many people who have completed a course at university still in debt years after they graduate, some may believe that it may be tricky to secure a loan during a time of financial uncertainty.

However, Ms Adams points out: "The lenders aren''t necessarily put off by people being credit averse or being in debt despite the market conditions, because with a professional or graduate mortgage they can hope those debts will be paid off."