The Halifax has released the Halifax Home Finder app for iOS and Android. The app was developed by Grapple Mobile, which claims it is the UKs first and only smartphone app that offers a comprehensive end-to-end companion for homebuyers.

It includes a mortgage estimator, which helps establish what the homebuyer may be able to afford by working out how much the prospective homebuyer might be able to borrow, and estimating their new monthly mortgage repayments. It also offers access to sold prices from the previous five years in the local area, plus local area guides, offering information such as distance from schools and public transport.

App users can also rate properties, and add comments and images of the property that can be shared with family and friends via an emailed PDF summary. Finally, an Augmented Reality feature enables homebuyers to view properties currently for sale in the surrounding area, wherever they are, simply by holding up the phone.