Last Wednesday was the official closing date for offers in the sale process, which is being handled by IBI Corporate Finance, but it is understood that bidders have been given until after this weekend to come back with their next offer.

Thirteen declarations of interest are understood to have been submitted for MyHome. ie, with the process being pursued among five bidders that came in with strong offers over the 40m mark.

Leading the field at this stage are believed to be The Irish Times, Independent News & Media, Guardian Media and British property portal Rightmove. Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGT) and News International are also understood to be in the final shake-out, along with venture capital interests with similar portals.

Others understood to have expressed interest in buying MyHome. ie include Thomas Crosbie Holdings, owner of The Sunday Business Post and The Examiner, as well as at least one of the newer entrants into the Irish financial services market.

One of the best-known brands in the Irish online space, MyHome. ie would offer obvious attractions for mortgage providers. It would be an attractive add-on either for the Irish Times, which runs the Nicemove. ie portal, or for Independent News & Media, which owns Property news. com.

Guardian Media, which is planning an IPO of its nonnewspaper publishing arm, Trader Media, is also seen as a serious contender.

When IBI Corporate Finance first circulated its information memorandum to prospective buyers, the indicative price range given for MyHome. ie was between 35m and 45m.

The property portal looks likely to sell for substantially more than this guide, which would represent a hefty premium for a website expected to deliver revenues of 7m and profits of 1.5m this year.

There is precedent, however. Rightmove, which floated earlier this year, was valued last week at £434.7m ( 633m) . . . more than 26 times its revenue forecast for 2006.

The sale process looks set to deliver a nice windfall for the website's major shareholders. Estate agent Sherry FitzGerald owns 25% of MyHome. ie, while Douglas Newman Good and Gunne Residential each own 20%.

AIB is a 20% stakeholder, and MyHome. ie managing director Jim Miley and other senior executives own 15%.

A strategic review carried out by IBI Corporate Finance had looked a possible flotation of MyHome. ie, but then opted for a trade sale as a more attractive alternative.

A successful auction of MyHome. ie is also likely to encourage the sale of the younger property portal Daft. ie, which earlier this year appointed corporate finance boutique A-Plan to advise it on its future strategic direction. Daft. ie is expected to deliver a profit of close to 1m this year.