Why We Built Homegrity

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Last updated: Aug 5, 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: [email protected]

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

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Why We Built Homegrity

Summary

Choosing a real estate agent shouldn't be a coin toss. Here's the problem we set out to fix — and the mission behind everything we build.

Homegrity started with a simple frustration: choosing a real estate agent shouldn't feel like a coin toss. A great local agent changes everything about buying or selling a home — but finding one is opaque.

The problem we set out to fix

On most platforms, the biggest names online are the ones who paid the most to be there — not the ones who are best for you. Placement is an auction: agents buy leads, buy ad slots, and buy their way to the top of your results. The person you end up with often reflects who spent the most on marketing, not who will actually serve you well.

Underneath that is a bigger issue. Real estate is one of the largest markets in the world and one of the most cluttered. Everyone needs an agent to buy or sell — but the platforms in the middle stopped serving people and started taxing them, charging agents a large slice of their commission just to hand them a lead they resell to five other agents. We think that's backwards.

Our mission

We're building a real estate company people can count on — one that simplifies a congested industry with integrity and service, so agents keep what they earn, families get an agent they can trust, and the whole process finally gets simple.

That mission shows up in concrete promises. For buyers and sellers, Homegrity is always free: we never take a cut of your sale and never charge a referral fee. Your details are never resold — no lead resale, ever. And placement is never for sale: matching is equal for every agent, always. You're matched on an agent's track record, not on who paid to rank. Here's exactly how matching works.

What "unbiased" means here

Unbiased isn't a slogan for us — it's a set of rules we operate by. No agent can pay to rank higher on your list. No one buys the top spot. Your contact information is never sold or shared with a crowd of agents competing for your call. When we surface an agent, that recommendation isn't for sale; it reflects a track record in your area and nothing else. If we ever broke that, we'd stop being the one thing the industry is missing — a place you can actually trust.

Built by agents, for agents

We know this industry from the inside, which is why we built the alternative agents wished existed. On our free plan, agents keep 100% of their commission — we're a software company, so we don't take a cut of what an agent closes. That keeps our incentives pointed at matching you well, not at skimming the transaction. Read more about how we help agents.

Where we're headed

Our goal is to become the unbiased way to find a real estate agent — anywhere. We build the network market by market, because real estate is decided street by street, and we verify every agent's license before they can appear. As we grow, we give back too: 1% of our profits go to affordable housing and homelessness relief across the United States.

Looking for an agent? Get matched with a local agent → It's free, and only the one agent who takes your request sees your details. You can also read more about who we are or browse agents in your area.

Frequently asked questions

Is Homegrity really free for buyers and sellers?

Yes. Getting matched, comparing agents, and working with an agent through us costs you nothing. We never take a cut of your sale and never charge you a referral fee — those are permanent promises, not an introductory offer.

How is Homegrity different from other agent sites?

Most sites let agents pay to appear at the top and resell your contact information to several agents at once. We do the opposite: placement can't be bought, and only the one agent who takes your request ever sees your details.

How do you make money if it's free?

We're a software company, not a lead vendor. We earn from optional tools agents choose to buy and from settlement services consumers opt into — not from your transaction and not from selling your data.

How do you decide which agent to match me with?

We match on the area an agent truly works and rank on how close they work to you, the kind of deal and how fast they reply, with closings and client-confirmed reviews counting as soon as there is a record of them. See what we check before an agent appears.

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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 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 [email protected]. 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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