HomeLight Reviews

HomeLight is a real estate technology company that connects buyers and sellers with real estate agents and mortgage lenders across the U.S. through its online platform. Founded in 2012 by Drew Uher, it began in San Francisco and is now headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. The platform uses proprietary data to match clients with real estate professionals based on performance metrics. HomeLight streamlines the home buying and selling process with tools, financial products and support at every stage of the transaction.

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HomeLight offers different services depending on where you are in the homebuying or selling process. It provides agent and lender matching for buyers and sellers, plus tools and resources for partnered agents and lenders. Here’s how it works for each group:

Buy a home

HomeLight connects buyers with local agents based on actual sales data, reviews and experience in your target neighborhood. After answering a brief questionnaire, buyers get a shortlist of agent matches and often a follow-up call to better understand their needs within minutes.
The platform also offers mortgage services through HomeLight Home Loans, providing fast preapproval with no lender fees. Buyers can compare rates and complete the application process online.

Sell a home

HomeLight uses data from over 27 million real estate transactions and thousands of client reviews to match sellers with top-performing local agents. Its algorithm compares agents using metrics such as days on market and sale-to-list price ratio, helping you find agents who sell homes faster and for higher prices.

Sellers have two main options:

• Talk to investors: Investors can buy your home quickly, often within 10 days, with no agent commission, prep work, or additional fees. Offers are typically 90% to 95% of market value.
• Talk to agents: Local agents provide full-service marketing, including home prepping, professional photography, direct mail campaigns, and online listing exposure aimed at maximizing your sale price.

HomeLight’s matching service is free and unbiased. Agents cannot pay for placement, and you are under no obligation to work with the recommended agents.

You can also use HomeLight’s Simple Sale process, which includes a free home value estimate generated by combining local market data with seller-provided details. This estimate helps you compare offers from both agents and investors to select the best path for your sale.

Buy Before You Sell (BBYS) program

HomeLight’s Buy Before You Sell (BBYS) program lets you purchase a new home before selling your current one. HomeLight buys your existing home upfront, allowing you to make a noncontingent offer. After the home sells, you receive any remaining profit after fees and costs. The BBYS program is available in 47 states. It’s not available in Alaska, Massachusetts, New York or Washington, D.C., and availability is limited in Florida and Texas. Here’s how it works:

1. Get prequalified by a loan officer
2. HomeLight evaluates your home to determine how much equity you can unlock
3. Find and close on your new home without a home sale contingency
4. Sell your former home vacant to attract strong offers

BBYS unlocks a portion of your home equity upfront for your new purchase, moving costs, closing fees and repairs. It removes sale contingencies so you can make stronger offers and close faster. You move on your own timeline with less stress.

Getting started is free with no charge to find out how much equity you can unlock. If you use the program, a flat 2.4% fee applies when your old home sells. If your home doesn’t sell within 120 days, HomeLight will buy it and continue marketing it. Any profits after costs return to you.

HomeLight states the program is used by over 30,000 buying and selling agents and loan officers, claims more than $760 million in equity has been unlocked and reports closings often happen within days.

Agent and lender services

Real estate professionals can join HomeLight to receive buyer and seller referrals. Eligible agents may qualify for the HomeLight Elite program, which offers access to exclusive leads, marketing tools and financial products.

Lenders partner with HomeLight to support clients through the financing process, helping match buyers with preapproved loan options and coordinating for smoother, faster closings.

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HomeLight’s home search and agent-matching tools are free for clients. Agents and lenders pay various fees as outlined in their referral agreements.

It’s also free to get started with the Buy Before You Sell (BBYS) program and estimate your buying power based on your current home’s equity. If you move forward, here’s what fees you can expect:

BBYS program fees

• 2.4% of your home’s final sale price (or 2.9% in Florida)
• $1,500 fee if you don’t use HomeLight Closing Services for at least one transaction
• Chicago, Illinois: Additional $1,500 per transaction due to local title requirements
• Minimums apply if your home sells for less than $375,000

BBYS: Bring your own cash option

If you don’t need to access your home equity and want to use your own funds to buy your next home:

• 1.5% of your current home’s final sale price
• $7,000 minimum fee

Other potential costs

Sellers should plan to spend 9% to 10% of their home’s sale price on total selling costs, including agent commissions, staging and closing fees.

Note: HomeLight states that fees are subject to change and may vary by region.

Yes, HomeLight is a legitimate real estate technology company that connects homebuyers and sellers with vetted, top-performing local agents. It uses a data-driven approach based on agent performance metrics like transaction volume, days on market and sale-to-list price ratio.

HomeLight also offers tools and services such as instant home value estimates, access to a network of preapproved cash buyers and the Buy Before You Sell (BBYS) program, which helps sellers make noncontingent offers by unlocking their current home’s equity.

These services are best suited for buyers, sellers and agents who prioritize speed, convenience and data-backed matchmaking. However, while the agent matching tool is free, other programs may involve fees that vary based on location and service selection.