Is Knock Home Swap a Good Deal? Honest Reviews

If you need the funds from your current home to purchase a new one, Knock offers a convenient solution. Through a Knock Bridge Loan™ (formerly Knock Home Swap), you can access a portion of your home equity to put toward a down payment, renovations, or other expenses related to buying and selling a house.

Homeowners and realtors report positive experiences with Knock, citing the convenient process and excellent customer service. They also say that Knock’s guaranteed backup offer gives them peace of mind in case their home doesn’t sell.

But not all properties will qualify, and the backup offer tends to be well below the full market value. You’ll also have to pay program fees (a flat 2.25% based on the home sale price) and $1,850 in extra closing costs, which makes this a more expensive option than a traditional transaction.

However, unlike some of the alternatives, Knock lets you choose your own agent — which can give you both savings and peace of mind while navigating a complicated trade-in process. Working with a brokerage that offers more competitive commission rates can go a long way toward offsetting the costs of this type of program.

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🔎 Knock overview

What is Knock?

The Knock Bridge Loan — formerly called Knock Home Swap — advances you up to $1M of your current home equity to buy a new home.[1] The Knock Bridge Loan is ideal for homeowners who are buying and selling at the same time, especially when you:

• Need to move quickly, but don't want to sacrifice profit by rushing the sale
• Don’t qualify for financing unless you sell your current home first
• Are buying in competitive markets where having a non-contingent offer is key
• Need funds for repairs or want to avoid living in a home under construction
• Don’t want to live in your house while it’s on the market

Rather than having to rush the sale in order to access the funds tied up in your house, Knock gives you the freedom to move when you're ready and put your home on the open market for the best price. According to Knock, most customers sell their homes to someone other than Knock.[2]

Knock also offers flexibility in how you use the loaned money and the agent you use to help sell your home. But these conveniences come with tradeoffs.

Knock pros and cons

A Knock Bridge Loan may streamline the buy-before-you-sell process, but is it worth it? Let’s look at the pros and cons.

Pros

✅ You can make a more competitive offer

You can use some or all of the Knock Bridge Loan to make a cash offer on a new house. This can make your offer more competitive — and more likely to be accepted — in a hot market.

✅ Use the loan to cover multiple expenses

In addition to a cash offer, the Knock Bridge Loan can be used for multiple expenses, such as:

• A down payment on a new home
• Closing costs
• Covering Knock’s fees
• Up to six months of mortgage payments on your current home
• Moving expenses
• Repairs as you get your house ready to sell (up to $35,000 of the loan)
• Paying off debts that improve your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio

✅ You get to choose your own realtor

While some buy-before-you-sell programs make you use their agents, Knock lets you work with the realtor of your choice. This enables you to save money by working with a low-commission realtor or negotiating a reduced fee if they help you with both transactions.

✅ Knock has a guaranteed backup offer

If your home doesn’t sell within six months, Knock will buy it from you. You’ll agree upon the Purchase Offer amount upfront, giving you peace of mind that your house will sell one way or another.

Cons

❌ You'll pay service fees on top of realtor commissions

The biggest factor to weigh with Knock is whether the convenience is worth the fees.

Jacob Naig, a real estate agent and owner of We Buy Houses In Des Moines with over a decade of experience, frames the tradeoff plainly: "Convenience comes at a cost. Most programs add fees of 1 to 2.5 percent of the purchase price on top of closing costs, loan origination, and sometimes service markups on things like home prep or staging."

❌ Homes in poor condition won’t qualify

Not every home will qualify for Knock’s program. Ineligible properties include:

• Mobile homes
• Manufactured homes
• Multi-family properties
• Deed-restricted properties
• Homes with substantial foundation or water damage
• Homes in poor condition overall
• Condos considered non-warrantable or located in an unserviceable area

The maximum listing price[2] is $1.5 million for homes in most markets and $2.5 million for high-cost areas in California and Washington.

❌ The backup offer is typically less than market value

While Knock’s backup Purchase Offer gives you a sense of security, it’s typically only about 85% of your home's original list price. So if your house is listed for $500,000, Knock would offer around $425,000.[3]

❌ The loan must be repaid after 6 months

You’ll pay no interest on the Knock Bridge Loan for six months, but then it will start to accrue. When your loan is due, you’ll have to repay it in a single payment. That means that if your loan is for $200,000, you’ll need to pay back $200,000 plus any interest or fees all at once.

Knock reviews

Source	Average Rating	Review Count
BBB	5.0/5	7
Trustpilot	4.7/5	193
Zillow	4.8/5	761
Weighted Average:	4.8/5	961

Reviews for Knock Bridge Loan are overwhelmingly positive. The company has an average rating of 4.78 out of 5 from 961 reviews across Better Business Bureau, Trustpilot, and Zillow. However, Trustpilot has a warning stating the company “may use unsupported invitation methods.”

Knock reviews suggest that the bridge loan service makes buying before selling an easy and convenient process. Customers praise the company’s excellent customer service.

A few unsatisfied customers express frustration over delays, confusion with paperwork, and problems with the Knock home valuation compared to independent valuations. However, most negative Knock Bridge Loan reviews were posted in 2024 or earlier.

✅ ‘Knowledgeable, helpful and easy to reach'

Satisfied customers praise Knock's excellent and timely customer service. Many customers expressed that they were kept informed throughout the process and that representatives acted quickly to facilitate a smooth transaction.

Professionals who work with Knock also agreed. They appreciated Knock team members’ professionalism, dedication, and how easy they are to work with.

✅ ‘The Knock process was easy, quick’

Many reviewers appreciated the ease of the process, especially when buying in one state while selling in another. Using a bridge loan also made the selling and buying process less stressful and less complicated for many reviewers.

❌ 'Every day there was a new request for documentation'

Some dissatisfied customers experienced issues with the Knock process that ultimately led to closing delays. In a few cases, people reported losing out on buying the house they wanted.

Knock vs. other buy-before-you-sell options

More Knock alternatives to consider

A buy-before-you-sell company isn’t the only way to lessen the stress of buying and selling at the same time.

"The simplest alternative would be to sell then buy," says Brett Ringelheim, a real estate agent at Compass in New York. "You can sell and then stay with family for a few months, or rent back the home after closing so you can have some extra time, or move into a rental and sign a short-term lease."

Depending on your situation, working with a real estate agent or choosing an iBuyer could be a good — or better — option for handling your sale.

Sell with an experienced listing agent

You’re more likely to get the market value or more when working with a traditional realtor.

The big challenge with a traditional sale is timing, says Naig. "If you sell before buying, you may be scrambling for temporary housing. If you buy first, you're doubling your financial exposure. In a market with low inventory and multiple offers, contingent offers can quickly sink to the bottom of the stack."

However, an experienced agent can negotiate a faster closing date if you need to move soon or a lease-back agreement if you need more time to close on your new home.

Your costs will also be lower, as you’ll only have to pay the realtor’s commission fee (2.5–3% for your agent) and closing costs (1–3% of the sale price).

An agent-matching platform like Clever Real Estate can help you lower those costs further by connecting you with a top-notch realtor offering more competitive commissions rates through their network (1.5% vs. the typical 3%). This can help offset some of the other expenses that come with buying and selling a home.

Get a better agent at a better rate: Start with Clever Real Estate and save thousands!

Sell to an iBuyer

With its upfront cash offer, selling to an iBuyer like Opendoor shortens the selling process and delivers the cash you need to buy a new home. But there are some downsides.

For instance, iBuyers tend to pay closer to the full market value for your home than other cash buyers, but they may charge hefty service fees. You also won’t have the opportunity to try selling your home on the open market first, which could result in a higher sale price.

How Knock works

Knock Bridge Loans are interest-free for six months. The amount is determined by the value of your home, your current mortgage balance, and what you need to buy your new home—up to $1 million.

You can use the loan to:

• Make mortgage payments on your existing home for up to six months
• Put up to 30% down on a new home 
• Get up to $35,000 to prepare your current home for sale
• Cover closing costs
• Pay Knock’s fees
• And more 

If your home doesn’t sell within six months, Knock offers a purchase guarantee. Knock will offer to buy your existing home for an agreed-upon price. If you don’t sell within six months, you will need to start paying back the bridge loan. So be sure to understand the rates and terms.

Knock will accept most single-family homes and townhomes. Some condos may qualify, but only in certain states. Homes are unlikely to qualify if they are in poor condition, have unpermitted additions, or are selling as-is.

Steps to apply for a Knock Bridge Loan

Here are the steps if you want to consider a Knock Bridge Loan.

1. Complete an online application to see if you’re eligible. You’ll need to supply your address, estimated value, and estimated mortgage balance. You can do this step yourself, or Knock will work with your mortgage lender. 
2. Once you receive your loan amount estimate (usually within 48 hours), you can decide whether you want to sign with Knock. You should also receive the amount of Knock’s guaranteed purchase price for your home if it doesn’t sell in six months.
3. If you move forward, you’ll receive the agreed-on bridge loan amount to start shopping for a new home. You won’t be charged interest for six months.
4. You can use the loan amount to fit your needs, such as buying before you sell, making repairs, covering mortgage payments on your existing home, and more.
5. If you haven’t sold your home after six months, you can decide whether to accept the Knock Purchase Offer (usually 80% of the market value) or start to repay the loan. 

Knock bridge loan fees on a $600,000 house

With Knock, you can choose your own lender and real estate agent. Shopping for competitive mortgage rates and using an agent from a brokerage offering built-in commission savings can help to offset some of the costs of using Knock's program.

What to watch out for with Knock

A Knock Bridge Loan isn’t for everybody. There are some things you’ll want to be aware of.

You can’t do an FSBO listing

One good thing about Knock is that you can choose your own listing agent to help you sell your home. However, you must use a realtor — you cannot list the house as a “for sale by owner” (FSBO). 

Not all homes are eligible

Knock primarily works with single-family homes in good condition. Generally, manufactured homes, mobile homes, or homes with severe water or foundation damage don’t qualify.

You can use the loan to buy a new construction home if the builder funds the construction costs before the final closing. You can also use it to purchase a condo or townhome as long as it will be your primary residence.[2]

The backup offer should be a last resort

Knock’s Guaranteed Purchase Offer is a nice perk, but don’t rely on it — it will typically be just about 80% of the home’s market value. Accepting this offer outright would be a big loss compared to selling on the open market.

This is where an experienced agent is helpful. According to Knock, 92% of its customers sell their homes on the market within 90 days.[2]

You can buy a home in any state, but sellers are limited

Homebuyers can purchase a property in any of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. However, sellers can only list their current homes in 31 states, plus D.C.

How does Knock make money?

Knock makes money through its contract fee, which is 2.25% of your departing home’s list price, plus an estimated $1,850 in closing costs — although these can vary somewhat by market and loan amount.

If your list price is $600,000, you’ll pay Knock an estimated $15,350 in service and closing fees — even if your home ends up selling for less.

Where is Knock available?

Knock's Bridge Loan products are currently available to home sellers in the following markets: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

However, customers can purchase a new home in any U.S. state.

Bottom line: Is Knock worth it?

A Knock Bridge Loan can help you avoid moving twice or living in a house you’re trying to sell. You can use the equity in your current home to purchase a new one, make repairs, pay closing costs, and cover other expenses associated with buying and selling.

You’ll also pay no interest on the loan for six months. And if your house doesn’t sell in that timeframe, Knock will buy it from you. But its offer will be below the fair market value. Plus, the fees can add up, and not all properties will qualify.

Before you commit to a Knock Bridge Loan, it’s essential to explore other options. Requesting quotes is free, and you’re under no obligation to move forward. By comparing other buy-before-you-sell programs, iBuyers, cash investors, and traditional real estate transactions, you can secure the best deal.

Want a simpler way to compare your options? Clever Offers makes it easy to find the best path forward for your home sale by helping you compare a variety of options all in one place — ranging from competitive cash offers to buy-before-you-sell solutions providing cash upfront, plus additional upside at closing. Get started with a few quick details about your home and see your best options side-by-side — no added fees or obligation to move forward.

Knock FAQs