Every time you look, house prices go up. It's like hitting your head against a brick wall.

Marie Craigon

Prices in England and Wales are 10% higher than they were at this point last year, and the average property costs more than �120,000, according to the Land Registry's latest report.

The dizzying increases are making it ever harder for first-time buyers to break into the market.

BBC News Online spoke to four young people trying to get a foot on the property ladder.

Michelle Hedley, health and safety advisor

My salary is about �12,000 pa and I could borrow up to three and half times that.

But there is no point attempting to look for mortgages, because there is nothing in my price range.

Michelle Hedley

Lives: Cardiff Age: 24 Occupation: Health & Safety advisor Borrowing limit: about �42,000

I have no other option but to rent.

I have had my eye on the market for the last couple of years and would like to get a one-bedroom place in the centre of Cardiff where I live.

I definitely wouldn't get into a situation where I would borrow four or five times my salary. I think three times is my limit, especially as I am still paying off graduate debt.

Friends of mine have bought and rented a room to a tenant just to get on the ladder. But I wouldn't want to do that - I am very independent. I would only consider that option if nothing changes.

Some friends have also had help with deposits from parents, but unfortunately I don't have that kind of back-up.

I would be happy to live with a partner, but I don't want to do it just for that reason. I feel quite strongly about that.

It makes me very depressed. Unless I compromise the way I live - by renting out a room to a tenant - I will never get anywhere.

Sarah Wardle, P.A.

I live in the Leamington and Warwick area and it is now impossible for me to buy a house on my own on my current salary.

Sarah Wardle

Lives: Leamington / Warwick Age: 21 Occupation: P.A. Borrowing limit: �50,000 (�150,000 with her boyfriend)

One year ago, I was about to buy a house, but then I was made redundant.

That house has now doubled in price, whereas my salary has only increased by a fraction.

I work as a P.A. and I earn a reasonable amount of money but it is not even enough to buy a smaller, poor-quality flat.

My boyfriend and I could buy a house together but taking on such a huge commitment as a shared mortgage when we are only one year into our relationship is a tall order.

I really want to make that first step onto the ladder, but the market is making it impossible, as I do not have the capital to buy a house.

The unfortunate thing for first-time buyers like me is that the house prices will probably begin to slow in their increase - but the values will never drop significantly unless there is a crash in the market.

So it is going to be a difficult decision for a long time to come yet.

Neal Church, internet project coordinator

I have been thinking about looking for a place since August last year.

I have been renting for a long time and I think there are better things that I could do with the money.

My mortgage adviser told me that I could borrow up to �105,000, but I would need more than that to buy a place that I want.

Neal Church

Lives: Reading Age: 25 Occupation: Internet project coordinator Borrowing limit: �105,000

I could buy somewhere with my girlfriend, but I am not prepared to do that yet.

I think I've decided to take the plunge by myself and will try to go for something worth more than �105,000.

But that would leave me quite worried about interest rates and the risk of losing my house if they went up.

I really regret not getting on the property ladder two or three years ago.

At the moment, it is not even worth me saving for a deposit. Every month I save much less than the amount by which property goes up.

I wish all these experts had had the foresight a few years ago to advise people to buy then.

Marie Craigon, research scientist

I rent a two-bedroom, modern flat with my husband in Oxford.

It would cost �150,000 and upwards to buy a two- to three-bedroom place in Oxford, but on our combined incomes the maximum we can borrow is �120,000.

Marie Craigon

Lives: Oxford Age: 25 Occupation: Research scientist (husband is design technician) Borrowing limit: �120,000 with her husband

There is no point buying a one-bedroom place because that would be smaller than where we rent now.

Our rent is �645 a month which is roughly the same as the repayments for a property costing �120,000.

We would need to save up for the deposit as well, which would be �3,600 - too expensive for us.

Every time you look, house prices go up. It's like hitting your head against a brick wall.

We are thinking about moving to Scotland. My husband's family comes from Glasgow and we could easily afford a four bedroom house there for �120,000.

I am afraid if we don't get on the ladder now, we won't ever be able to afford it.