HomeLight is an online real estate platform that operates primarily as an agent matching service, while also offering buy-before-you-sell and cash offer programs.
HomeLight matches customers with multiple agents in their area to help them find the best fit. With over 30,000 agents in its network, you likely won't have trouble connecting with a top realtor near you.
However, our analysis of HomeLight found that it doesn't have a very strict vetting process, so agent quality may vary. You also won’t receive any discounts for using the service: HomeLight customers pay the standard 2.5-3% realtor commission that most realtors charge, and negotiating a lower rate is not guaranteed.
The bottom line: If you want to find a great agent and save on realtor fees, a low-commission real estate company or matching service like Clever Real Estate may work better.
Clever pre-negotiates a low 1.5% listing fee on behalf of sellers. That's about half of what you'd pay if you found a conventional agent through HomeLight or own your own (most charge between 2.5–3%). Fill out this quick form to match with top-rated agents near you!
HomeLight summary
- HomeLight is an agent matching service that makes it easy to find full-service realtors and compare multiple options.
- It has an average 4.4/5 star rating out of 600+ customer reviews online.
- Many reviews highlight the quality of the agents in its network.
- However, unlike some of its competitors, HomeLight doesn't provide any commission savings. Multiple customers also complain about unwanted sales calls.
- If you want to find a great agent and save on commission, we recommend starting with Clever Real Estate.
What is HomeLight?
HomeLight is a real estate technology company, and acts as a real estate matchmaker. It provides a platform for buyers and sellers to connect with local real estate agents, while also providing services like home loans, trade-ins, and a "Simple Sale" program for quick cash offers.
The service is free to use, and you can quickly get matched with agents by answering a few simple questions related to your home purchase or sale, such as your location, property details, and expected home price.
Who HomeLight works best for
HomeLight works for homebuyers and sellers looking for a one-stop shop for real estate services. The company offers realtor-matching services, lending solutions, cash-buying services, and more.
If you prioritize speed and convenience over affordability, HomeLight could be a good choice because the company's services allow you to handle many transaction components.
But, HomeLight isn’t a good fit for buyers and sellers who care more about their bottom line than convenience. You'll pay standard realtor rates, with no pre-negotiated discounts. For example, a 3% listing fee would cost you $15,000 on a $500,000 home sale. Using a low-commission option like Clever, which has already pre-negotiated a lower rate with agents, would cost you half of that (1.5%, or $7,500).
You also won’t receive a discount for its Buy Before You Sell, lending, or cash-buying options.
» Looking for lower commission and top agents? Clever Real Estate might be a better fit. Get connected with top-rated local agents and save thousands on commission fees. Try Clever Real Estate today – just fill out this short quiz to get started!
🔒 Is HomeLight legit?
Yes, HomeLight is a legitimate company. It was founded in 2012 by Drew Uher, its current chief executive officer. Its current network includes over 30,000 active realtors and lenders, and it conducts over $1 billion worth of real estate transactions on its platform annually.[1]
HomeLight is a privately held company that operates nationwide and has offices in Scottsdale, San Francisco, New York, and Seattle. In 2024, the company reportedly raised $20 million from investors to fund its growth initiatives, including its Buy Before You Sell product.[2] It's also accredited by the Better Business Bureau, where it has an A+ rating.
Finally, HomeLight was named to HousingWire's Tech100 list for 2025, recognizing the most impactful and innovative real estate companies.[3]
HomeLight reviews
| Review source | Rating |
|---|---|
| Better Business Bureau | 4.2 (101 reviews) |
| 4.8 (540 reviews) | |
| Yelp | 3.0 (54 reviews) |
| Total rating | 4.4 / 5 (600+ reviews) |
HomeLight customer reviews are generally positive, with an average rating of 4.4/5 from more than 600 reviews across the Better Business Bureau, Google, and Yelp. The company also has a robust testimonial list with more than 5,000 positive in-house reviews.[4]
Positive customer feedback praises HomeLight for offering a convenient matching service that simplifies finding a realtor. Most customers are happy with the realtor HomeLight chose and feel like the service made their real estate transactions easier.
By contrast, negative customer reviews feel HomeLight’s sign-up process is misleading. Multiple reviewers complain about constant calls and texts from brokers they didn’t connect with through the platform.
'Some of the best realtors in the area'
Roger Z.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “HomeLight associates with some of the best realtors in the area. We chose Stacy to help us sell our house. She went above and beyond in her preparations. She took the time to explain the steps involved and prepared flyers so professional that prospective buyers had to be interested in viewing the home.” Source: Google |
‘They made the process easy’
HomeLight users praise the platform for eliminating the hassle of searching for an agent by instantly connecting users with multiple local realtors.
Julia K.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I am glad I contacted HomeLight. They connected me with a number of great agents. I would not of known where to start picking out an agency. They made the process easy. I would definitely recommend them!” Source: Sitejabber |
‘They’ll be my first choice for future needs’
HomeLight’s matching service connects many customers with reliable agents, earning the company repeat business in the future.
Bri K.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I'm very satisfied with HomeLight services. They were flexible and enthusiastic about my needs. The realtor that I was connected to through this agency went above and beyond in facilitating the sale. Once listed, there were two viewings both made an offer on the property. It was sold within two weeks once under contract. I would highly recommend HomeLight to others and they'll be my first choice for future needs.” Source: Sitejabber |
‘They keep sending me spam emails’
Prospective customers complain about constant unsolicited phone calls and texts from realtors, even when they specify not to be contacted.
Randy D.⭐ “I've never done business with this company. They keep sending me spam emails asking me to review a real estate agent. The emails have an unsubscribe link which doesn't work and a phone number which seems to answer and repeat, "No route found." Source: Google |
‘Didn’t read the fine print’
Although HomeLight states that using the platform is consent to receive calls from agents in its terms of service [5], some customers feel the process isn’t transparent because the matching service only states that information in the fine print.
Chris B.⭐ “I clicked a HomeLight link to see get a ‘free report’ on home value - didn't read the fine print. I entered and submitted my info and within minutes received a phone call from HomeLight. *** told me that they were providing my info to three of ‘Top 1%’ realtors in my area and they would be calling me and giving me the info I requested. I explained that I did not want to be contacted by ******** and their answer was pretty much ‘too late.’” Source: BBB |
HomeLight pros and cons
Pros
- Large agent network
- Intuitive dashboard
- Variety of services
Cons
- No commission savings
- Lenient agent-vetting process
- Unwanted sales calls
HomeLight offers a nationwide network of more than 30,000 realtors that extends to areas beyond major metros. Once you sign up for its matching service, you can access an intuitive dashboard to compare your realtor options. It offers more than agent-matching services, with financing, cash-buying, and buy-before-you-sell options available. Working within this ecosystem aims to streamline your buying and selling process.
HomeLight’s expansive agent network is also a drawback to consider. Because any licensed agent can sign up to be in the HomeLight system, you may run into inexperienced agents who don’t have a deep understanding of your market. You also receive no discount on realtor fees when you match with HomeLight agents, and while negotiation is possible, you’ll most likely pay full commission.
HomeLight’s services outside of the matching platform come with significant costs as well. For example, the Buy Before You Sell program charges 2.4% — Knock, a Buy Before You Sell competitor, only charges 1.25%.
For these reasons, we recommend you consider your alternatives, including low commission realtors, before choosing an agent with HomeLight.
Low-commission alternatives to HomeLight
|
Company |
Listing fee |
Avg. customer rating |
|
1.5% |
5.0 (3,000+ reviews) |
|
|
HomeLight |
Market* |
4.4 / 5 (1,200+ reviews) |
|
Redfin |
1.5% |
4.8 (156,000+ reviews) |
|
2% |
4.9 (7,000+ reviews) |
|
|
Market* |
4.6 (6,900 reviews) |
|
|
*2–3% based on avg. commission rates nationwide. |
||
If you want the best deal when selling your home, consider a low-commission alternative to HomeLight. Ideal Agent’s network is smaller but offers a similar matching service and only charges 2% listing fees. And Redfin provides an even lower 1.5% commission when working with its salaried agents.
To get the best deal on commissions and work with an expansive realtor network, Clever is your best choice. The realtor-matching service has more than 14,000 members from reputable brokerages like Re/Max and Compass, and Clever negotiates on your behalf to secure a 1.5% listing fee.
HomeLight: How it works
HomeLight provides multiple services for homebuyers and sellers to help them streamline the process. Here’s how it works for each type of customer:
For sellers
Step 1: Select the “I’m selling” option on the home page, enter your address, and answer some general questions about your property.
Step 2: Connect with up to three agents in your area via the HomeLight matching platform.
Step 3: Interview agents and choose the one who best suits your needs.
Step 4: Stage and sell your home with your selected agent.
For cash offers (Simple Sale)
Step 1: Visit the Simple Sale page, fill out the online form to answer specific questions about your property, and speak to a Home Consultant.
Step 2: Connect with a member of HomeLight’s cash-buying network.
Step 3: Receive a cash offer for your home. It’s important to note that there’s no realtor fee for selling to a cash buyer, but real estate investors will offer less than you could make on the open market.
Step 4: Close in as few as ten days, with a flexible moving date.
For Buyers
Step 1: Choose the “I’m buying” option on the home page and fill out the online form to answer questions about your city, type of home, and price range.
Step 2: Connect with up to three agents in your area and interview the agent who best meets your needs.
Step 3 (Optional): Submit a preapproval application through HomeLight’s mortgage service to keep the process in-house.
Step 4: Work with your agent to find and purchase your new home.
HomeLight Buy Before You SellHomeLight’s flagship Buy Before You Sell service makes buying a new home more manageable by offering a bridge loan that lets homeowners access their old home’s equity before it sells. After receiving your funds, you can shop for a new home and make a non-contingent offer when you find the right one. HomeLight will then sell your old house after you move and give you any extra profit when it sells. Sellers pay 2.4% (plus $1,500 if you don’t use the HomeLight closing service) to use Buy Before You Sell. Best for: Sellers who are willing to pay a little extra to have complete control over the timing of the closing and move-out process. You also have a guaranteed offer on your home, regardless of the timeline. |
HomeLight reviews: The bottom line
HomeLight gives customers multiple ways to buy or sell a home more flexibly than other brokers. From standard matching services to Buy Before You Sell, the company offers various services to streamline the process.
But that convenience comes at a premium. HomeLight customers pay full commission to its matched agents without discounts for bundling services.
If you want a low-commission alternative to HomeLight, check out Clever Real Estate. Clever matches you with top realtors in your area and negotiates to score discounted commissions as low as 1.5% on your behalf.
