:: EMBARGOED TO 0001 WEDNESDAY JULY 7

(with pictures - two generics of couples with computer; generic of couple outside a house)

THE PROPERTY WEB

By Emma Pomfret, PA Features

The initial thrill of looking for a dream house can soon turn into a nightmare for first-time buyers as they try to cope with all the headaches involved in buying property.

But many aspiring home owners are now discovering that expert property advice is already at their fingertips.

The internet is fast becoming a crucial information tool for young house-hunters looking to get on the first rung of the property ladder, according to new research.

In fact, over a quarter of first-time buyers say that they would look online to find out about different types of mortgages and search for the best competitive rates.

And nearly three-quarters of the 1,200 first-time buyers surveyed by the Alliance and Leicester, said they would surf the net for housing advice because it was the most convenient way to get information.

"It's encouraging to see that first-time buyers are tapping into the wealth of information available on the internet to find a great deal from a reputable lender," says Paul Cooper, head of mortgages at Alliance & Leicester.

"The findings show that they recognise that this is a convenient and straightforward way of gaining information to compare mortgages."



:: HOUSE-HUNTING ON THE WEB

The exhausting search for a dream home can often be less fun than fledgling buyers expect but help is at hand as the internet looks set to become the house hunter's favourite method of finding a dream home.

Jennifer Holloway, Head of Corporate Communications at Skipton Building Society, says buying a property is a big commitment for anyone, and it's especially daunting when you're dipping your toes in the water for the first time.

"For many first-time buyers the internet is a great source of information, for every stage of the process - from estate agency sites showing houses and flats for sale and sites giving tips on viewing a property, to lenders' sites giving a whole host details on mortgages, including interest rates and calculators to work out their affordability.

"It's important first-time buyers really do their research to make sure their first step onto the property ladder is a solid one, because it's a home they want to buy, not just a house," she advises.

"The internet can take a lot of the legwork out of this, however, it's still worth bearing in mind that, for a financial decision as large as buying a property, it can also be very worthwhile seeking face-to-face advice."



:: CUTTING OUT THE MIDDLE MAN?

In an ideal world many buyers would bypass take the estate agent completely. But the only real alternative is to go it alone or try to buy or sell your property privately.

"People buy and sell their homes through the internet or even in local papers. Sales are based on trust, and it's much harder to gazump, or be let down, if here's a relationship that's built up," says Emma Harrison, Senior Public Affairs Officer at the Consumer's Association.

"There's lots of information, but you have to have the time - it's a cash-rich but a time-poor society," she adds.

But while cutting out the middle man may seem like a great idea, John Wriglesworth, Senior Economist with Hometrack independent property research and datebases, warns that it does have its pitfalls.

He points out that many housing websites have failed after injecting thousands of pounds into the business.

"Internet companies tried putting houses on the web, but it failed completely.

"People like the hand holding, they want help with the negotiations and I don't think you'll find that you'll ever cut out the agent.

"The only internet sites that work are portals of estate agents. They are successful because they include estate agents," he says.



:: WHERE TO LOOK

The internet is not simply a great source of financial property information but it can also provide access to hundreds of helpful resources to ease the process of buying and moving into a new house.



LOCAL INFORMATION:

www.upmystreet.com - Lots of interesting info about the type of people living in your neighbourhood and much more.

www.homecheck.co.uk - Is the property you have just seen sitting on a nuclear waste dump or in a bad air quality zone? Find out with this neat database (England and Wales only).

www.hometrack.co.uk - The most in-depth, up-to-date and independent survey of house prices and market trends in England & Wales.



FIRST-TIME BUYERS

www.firsttimenerves.co.uk - All the information you need to make the first step onto the property ladder stress-free, from tips and advice when viewing a property, right through to finding professional legal and financial services.

www.halifax.co.uk/mortgages/firsttimebuyers

www.nationwide.co.uk/mortgage/guides/firsttimebuyers

www.mortgages.co.uk/first-time-buyers



MORTGAGES:

www.adviceonline.co.uk - This financial website offers comprehensive mortgage tables for you to instantly compare lenders' introductory discounts and standard rates.

www.ukmortgagesonline.com - A great way to compare UK mortgage products.

www.if.com - Consistently one of the cheapest mortgage products on the market. (IF are backed by Halifax).

www.shopguide.co.uk/First-Time-Buyer-Mortgage - links to other mortgage sites

www.yourmortgage.co.uk

www.asserta.co.uk



BUYING AND SELLING PRIVATELY:

www.rightmove.co.uk

www.houseweb.co.uk

www.privatehousemove.co.uk

www.homeswithoutagents.com



MOVING HOUSE

www.pastures-new.co.uk - includes buying tips, and estate agents listings

www.themovechannel.com

dir.rics.org - If you are going to get a survey done then ensure that you use an RICS accredited surveyor.

www.surveysonline.co.uk - The idea here is that the seller of the property gets a pre-sale survey done by an independent surveyor. Potential buyers can then get access to this information at a snip of the price of getting a survey done themselves.

www.checkmyfile.com - If you want to know what lenders or letting agents may find out about you when they make credit checks, this site should help.

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