US Edition Anton Kreil, who starred as the portfolio manager in the BBC Two programme that gave eight members of the public a million dollars to run their own hedge fund, is launching hablib.com with his own capital.
The website hopes to help property owners sell their homes without paying an average 1.5pc commission fee to estate agents. If a user manages to sell their property via hablib.com there won't be a commission fee.
Hablib.com – a shortened version of Habitation Libertum", which means home freedom – will do this by mixing the concepts of Facebook-style social networking with residential property portals. Individuals and professional property developers will be able to generate contacts with like-minded, potential buyers by creating a profile of their homes on the website. The profile will include photos of the property, the total number of viewings and offers made to acquire the home.
There will also be a personal profile of the owner and a messaging service that will enable potential buyers to speak directly with properties' sellers.
As each property generates more and more interest, an owner can market the property as "for sale", speak directly to interested parties and arrange viewings. Hablib.com will even manage the bidding process for its users.
Mr Kreil, a trader who used to work for Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan, said: "The idea is powerful and could change the way home owners sell property in the UK."