Banking giant launches new property app with FindaProperty

Wednesday 9th May 2012

Halifax is launching a ‘home finder’ app, designed to be a one-stop shop for home hunters.

It combines mortgage affordability calculators, local area information, property buying guides, access to Land Registry prices, and a property search facility powered by FindaProperty.

Available to download on iPhone, the free Halifax app also incorporates the functionality of social media apps.

It allows users to book viewings, rate properties, add comments and images of the property during viewings and subsequently share their thoughts with family and friends via an emailed PDF summary.
 
Other features of the Halifax home finder app include advanced augmented reality –enabling home buyers to view properties currently for sale in the surrounding area, wherever they are, simply by holding up their smart phone.

Recent Halifax online research shows that 62% of people who purchased a property in the last five years undertook their property search online, with 80% of those looking to buy in the next five years likely to search for their next property in the same way.

It also revealed that the percentage of buyers looking to use a smartphone to purchase their next property is expected to rise three-fold over the next five years compared to those who used a smartphone in the last five years.
 
Stephen Noakes, mortgages director at Halifax, said: “We know that today’s house hunters want to be able to carry out their searches on a daily basis and when they are on the move. So the Halifax Home Finder app is perfect: it means that you can search properties, book viewings, rate properties and get an indicative mortgage calculation in one place.
 
“It’s a fantastic development which gives house hunters all the tools they need, using the latest technology available.”