What We Check Before an Agent Appears

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Last updated: Oct 2, 2026

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Homegrity

Our editors work with licensed agents and public sales records so every guide is accurate, specific to the market it describes, and current.

Contact: admin@homegrity.com

Written by the Homegrity team to help you make a more informed move.

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Summary

The license, against the state register, re-checked over time — plus real results, labeled by where they came from. Here is the whole list, and what is not on it.

Most directories gesture at having checked their agents and leave it there. Here is the specific, checkable list of what we hold on an agent before their profile goes live — and, just as importantly, what we do not hold and therefore do not claim.

The license, against the state register

Every agent's license is verified against the state register before their profile goes live, and it is re-checked over time. If a license lapses, goes inactive or is revoked, the profile comes down. That is the floor: no active license on the state's own record, no place on Homegrity.

We read the status the state publishes and nothing more. Where a state does not publish disciplinary history, we show it as not checked — never as clean. An absence of evidence is not evidence of a clean record, and printing it as one would be the easiest lie on the page.

Fair housing is a condition, not an aspiration

The HUD fair housing rules protect every buyer and seller equally. Treating every client fairly, whoever they are, is a condition of appearing here at all.

The record is built from real results, and labeled by source

Here is the honest limit of what we hold: a state license register. We do not receive closings, sale prices or days-on-market for individual agents, so we do not print them as if we did.

  • Work a client confirmed counts in full.
  • Work an agent told us about themselves is shown as exactly that, and counts for less.
  • A review says where it came from. A client review is one a client wrote through a review request. A review marked Closed with Homegrity followed a lead we routed that the agent marked won. We do not claim to have witnessed a transaction, so we never say more than we know.

Placement can't be bought

This is the part that makes Homegrity different, and it is enforced in the database rather than promised in copy. Inside your area, agents are ordered on what we can actually measure today — and the methodology page lists every signal with whether it is live or still dormant, counted from the database rather than described.

No agent can pay a dollar to rank higher on your list. A paid plan adds software inside an agent's dashboard; it buys no position, no leads and no badge. Matching is equal for every agent, always.

What this is not

We do not investigate an agent beyond what the state register holds. We do not interview them, and we do not inspect their past transactions. Anyone claiming to do that across every agent in the country is describing something they are not doing. What we do is narrower and checkable: the license, against the register, re-checked — plus real results, labeled by where they came from.

Ready to meet one? Get matched free with a license-verified local agent — no cost, no obligation, and your details are never resold.

Frequently asked questions

Do you check anything beyond the license?

Where a state publishes disciplinary history, we read it. Where it does not, we say so rather than implying a clean record. We do not investigate agents beyond what the register holds, and we do not pretend otherwise.

Can an agent pay to appear higher in my matches?

No. Placement can't be bought. Paid plans add software inside an agent's dashboard and change nothing about where they appear.

What does it cost me?

Nothing. Homegrity is free for buyers and sellers, we take no cut of your transaction, and we charge no referral fee.

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Frequently asked questions

What does it cost to get matched?
Nothing. You’re never charged to get matched, to see an agent’s record, or to talk to them. We take no cut of your transaction and we don’t charge a referral fee — agents pay us a flat subscription for tools if they want them.
How do you decide which agents to show me?
We order agents on license standing, how long they have been licensed, and how closely they are placed to your area — never ad spend. As closings and reviews accumulate on the platform they will join that order; today they do not, and we will not claim otherwise. Placement can’t be bought.
Can an agent pay to rank higher?
No. Paid plans add software inside an agent’s dashboard — a CRM, a branded site, content tools. They don’t buy leads and they don’t move anyone up the list.
Will my information be shared?
Not until you pick an agent and ask us to make the introduction. You can get a valuation or browse matches without a single agent seeing your name.
How many agents will I be matched with?
Usually three. Enough to compare approaches and personalities without turning it into a research project.
Am I obligated to work with anyone you show me?
No. You can contact one, all three, or none of them. There’s no contract with us and nothing to cancel.
What if I already have an agent?
Use them. You can still run a valuation or compare carrying costs here for a second opinion, and you’re never obligated to be matched.
How accurate is the home value estimate?
It’s built from recent comparable sales near you rather than a national model, and it shows you which sales drove the number so you can check the reasoning. Treat it as a starting point — an agent will refine it after seeing the home.
How is that different from other online estimates?
Most public estimates are a national algorithm applied to your ZIP code. Ours is comp-driven and shows its work, so you can tell whether the sales behind it actually resemble your home.
What is the difference between list price and true monthly cost?
List price is what a seller is asking. True monthly is what the home costs you to hold once property taxes, insurance, HOA dues and the payment at current rates are counted. Two homes at the same asking price can differ by hundreds a month.
How much do I need for a down payment?
It depends on the loan program. Conventional loans often start around 3–5% for qualified buyers, FHA around 3.5%, and VA and USDA can go to zero for those who qualify. Less than 20% down generally means mortgage insurance until you build equity.
What is a debt-to-income ratio and why does it matter?
It’s your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income. Many conventional programs look for total debt at or below roughly 43%, though this varies by program and by the rest of your file.
Should I get pre-approved before I start looking?
Yes, in most markets. A pre-approval tells you your ceiling and tells sellers you’re credible. Treat the number as a ceiling rather than a target — what you qualify for and what you can comfortably carry are rarely the same.
How long does it take to buy a home?
From accepted offer to keys is commonly 30–45 days with financing, faster with cash. The search itself varies enormously with inventory and how specific your requirements are.
How long does it take to sell?
It depends on your market, your price and the season. Your agent should be able to tell you the recent days-on-market for homes like yours, which is a far better guide than any national average.
What does an agent’s commission cover?
Pricing, preparation, marketing, showings, negotiation and the transaction management that gets you to closing. Commission is negotiable and is agreed between you and your agent — we’re not party to it.
Do I have to pay a commission as a buyer?
How buyer-side compensation works changed recently and now varies by market and by agreement. Your agent must put their fee in writing with you before showing homes, so ask early and get it in the agreement.
Should I sell before I buy?
It’s a cash-flow question more than a market question. Selling first is safer financially but can leave you renting; buying first is smoother logistically but means carrying two payments if your sale is slow.
What should I fix before listing?
Usually the cheap, visible things: paint, lighting, landscaping, decluttering. Big renovations rarely return their cost at sale. An agent who works your street can tell you what buyers there actually notice.
Do I need a home inspection?
Almost always worth it, even in a competitive market. An inspection is information — you can still choose to proceed, but you’ll proceed knowing what you’re taking on.
What are closing costs?
The fees to complete the transaction: lender charges, title and escrow, recording, prepaid taxes and insurance. They commonly run a few percent of the purchase price and vary a lot by state.
How do rental applications work?
Landlords and management companies set their own screening criteria and fees. Requirements differ building to building, so knowing what a specific landlord wants before you apply is most of the battle.
Do you charge renters anything?
No. We don’t charge to search or to get matched. Landlords often charge their own application or screening fee, and who pays the rental agent’s fee at signing depends on your market and the building.
Who do I contact if something goes wrong?
Reach us at admin@homegrity.com. We’re a matching service rather than a brokerage, so we’re not party to your transaction — but we do want to know when a matched agent isn’t performing.

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