Owning your own home

You don't, but they will try to say they can get you a better deal.

You don't need an area specific solicitor, I used these guys and they were great http://www.directionlaw.co.uk/

I just used the forum favourite, not local. Cycled out with some documents rather than post / get certified copies, it was a nice ride from the station (Cheshunt maybe, can't remember)

In house mortgage team is entirely a bullshit sales pitch, every ea asked us if we would like a call from such and we said no. . Your ea's are trying to be creative in getting you to speak to them.

I used Cooke Taylor Woodhouse in Eltham. They were cheaper than the forum solicitor. Possibly not as good though fortunately everything was straightforward with mine, so I had no complaints.