It's lunchtime and Matron is in the staff lounge holding court over the issues of mortgages, while the rest of us try very hard to have a quiet lunch...

She is trying to engage us in her latest mortgage hot topic: namely, where do people go to get their mortgages?!

These days getting a house can be a tricky prospect what with ever increasing house prices (the average is now £214,222!!), lack of availability and increasing interest rates! (but we think you knew that already!).

Many of you think that once you'd found your dream property, buying it would be relatively simple. However, finding a mortgage is at least as mind-boggling!

Gone are the days when you walked into your local building society and filled in an application form. (oh if it were only that simple sighs Matron).

Many of you also know that there are loads of ways of getting your mortgage. You can approach a lender (Halifax etc) directly, by walking into their branch, but you can also get your mortgage by post, phone (mobile or otherwise!), through the internet and by interactive TV! (such a world of choice!)

Many of you say you prefer to have advice on an appropriate mortgage, and so you decide to use a mortgage intermediary such as a broker or independent financial adviser. This is because their role is to find you the most appropriate mortgage, usually in return for a fee (no surprise there!).

These brokers either charge you an upfront fee (depending on how hard they work!) or by getting commission from the lender. Many of you choose the latter option because it reduces the upfront costs, although the long-term cost may be higher.

A lot of you like to do your own homework, pick the mortgage you want and then go straight to the lender. Others of you prefer to use a broker to do the legwork, help you make the choice and then approach the lender for you.

So as Matron is interested (and it will make for a quieter life for the staff if we keep her happy...)

...we thought we would ask you...