Homeward is a real estate service that offers multiple ways for homeowners to leverage their cash to buy a new home — especially in a competitive market. The company’s products include:
- Get a cash offer: Homeward pays you up to 80% of your home value upfront, plus the additional upside (minus its program fees) once your sells your home on the MLS
- Buy before you sell: Homeward fronts you the cash to buy a new home before you sell, giving you the freedom to move when you're ready
- Make a cash offer: Find a home you love and make an offer backed by Homeward's cash — no financing contingency required
Homeward's cash offer products are designed to boost buying power in competitive markets and increase sellers' freedom to move when they're ready, regardless of how long it takes their old home to sell — but those perks don’t come free of charge.
To take advantage of Homeward's services, you'll pay 1–7% in program fees, on top of any realtor commissions or program costs. And if you use Homeward's cash to buy a new house, you'll pay a daily fee until you secure the financing to buy back the home.
Homeward's fees are on par with competitors offering similar home trade-in services. However, unlike some of the alternatives, Homeward lets you choose your own agent — which can give you both savings (if you shop round for competitive commission rates) and peace of mind while navigating a complicated trade-in process.
Homeward overview
| ⭐️ Average customer rating | 4.51/5 (1,280 reviews) |
| ✅ Pros | Multiple options to fit various needs Unlock equity to buy a new home Make full listing price after a cash offer Choose your own agent |
| ❌ Cons | Added fees Full realtor commission Tight deadline to get your house on the market |
| 🧰 Core services | Sell for cash Buy-before-you-sell Make a cash offer |
| 💵 Fees | Sell for cash: 7% Buy-before-you-sell: 2.4% Make a cash offer: 1% |
| 📍Locations | AZ, CO, FL, GA, OR, TX, WA |
What is Homeward?
Homeward is a real estate company that helps homeowners sell their homes and purchase a new property with more convenience. The company provides three core service offerings, which include:
Sell to Homeward. Homeward makes an upfront cash offer on your home, with up to 80% of its value. If you accept, the company lists your home with an agent and sells it on the open market. You recoup any remaining upside after realtor commissions and program fees.
Buy Before You Sell. Homeward purchases your new home before selling your old one. Then, you move into your new home, list it on the open market, and pay Homeward back for your new home after it sells.
Make a Cash Offer. Homeward backs your new home purchase with cash. You can either close with traditional financing or let Homeward buy on your behalf. If Homeward buys, you pay rent until you secure funding.
Each service simplifies the real estate process for sellers, but that simplified process comes with a significant drawback — higher fees.
Homeward pros and cons
Homeward makes selling and buying a new home easy, but is working with the company worth it? It’s essential to weigh the pros and cons of Homeward before settling on its services.
✅ Pros
Pro 1: You can buy and sell with plans that fit your needs.
Real estate transactions aren’t one-size-fits-all, and Homeward offers multiple ways to make buying and selling a home easier.
Whether you have a home with significant equity, need more cash to make a stronger offer on a new home, or simply want to sell quickly, Homeward’s services help streamline the process.
Pro 2: Unlock your home’s equity to buy a new property.
The Buy-Before-You-Sell program helps you unlock your home’s equity by putting a cash-backed, non-contingent offer down on a new home. This cash offer can make the difference between winning your new home and losing the deal.
Pro 3: Make full listing price on a cash offer.
Most cash buying companies only offer close to 70% of a home’s after-repair value (ARV). Homeward pays cash upfront and helps customers unlock their home’s full value by selling on the open market at full price after accepting the cash deal.
Pro 4: Choose your own agent to work with.
Unlike some competitors, Homeward lets customers use any agent to sell their home. This freedom allows you to find an agent you trust rather than relying on a company-appointed realtor.
❌ Cons
Con 1: All of Homeward’s services come with significant fees.
Customers pay extra for the convenience that Homeward offers. While most home sales cost sellers between 5% and 6% in agent commissions (plus closing costs), you can expect to pay at least:
- 7% for the cash buying program
- 2.4% to buy before you sell, plus carrying costs (1.9% if you use Homeward Mortgage)
- 1% to use a Homeward Offer, plus carrying costs (0% if you use Homeward Mortgage)
Con 2: You still pay realtor commission on top of fees.
The extra fees charged by Homeward don’t cover any realtor commission. This means you may pay up to 6% in commission, plus any program fees.
Con 3: You must be ready for market in 14 days.
If you buy before you sell, Homeward expects your old house to be ready to list within two weeks. This tight turnaround may be inconvenient for some sellers.
| Buy-before-you-sell services like Homeward work best in incredibly competitive markets where non-contingent cash offers are the norm. However, you could end up paying thousands of extra dollars in short-term interest and other fees. Under normal market conditions, you may be able to negotiate a home-sale contingency allowing you to close on your new home after your old one sells — without the added expense of a short-term loan. Before springing for a buy-before-you-sell service, talk to a few different realtors about market conditions in the areas where you intend to sell and buy. 📊 We leverage thousands of data points to connect you with the exact real estate expertise you need. Find top-rated agents in your zip code — and benefit from industry leading commission savings when you sell. Enter a few facts about your home sale, see what agents suggest for your situation, and decide on the best course of action — no added fees or obligation to move forward. |
Homeward reviews
| Source | Average Rating | Review Count |
|---|---|---|
| BBB | 1.0/5 | 4 |
| 4.7/5 | 953 | |
| Trustpilot | 4.0/5 | 323 |
| Weighted Average: | 4.5/5 | 1,280 |
Homeward has a strong reputation with clients, with a 4.51 out of 5 average across BBB, Google, and Trustpilot reviews.
Past customers praise the company for its transparency, high sale prices, and the ability to make a strong offer on their new homes, while a handful of unhappy customers claim that Homeward may back out of its deal at the last moment.
✅ ‘Easy company to work with’
Happy customers rave about the transparent and easy process when working with Homeward. This shows the company’s programs ease the stress of home buying.
“The entire process of working with Homeward was transparent, easy, and allowed us to purchase our dream home quickly. I highly recommend ******, *****, and the whole team at Homeward!” – Patricia H., 10/30/2024, Trustpilot
✅ ‘This option was a GREAT choice for my clients’
Having the ability to keep the upside after receiving a cash offer is a game-changer for many customers. Some people report making significantly more money on top of the first cash deal on their homes.
“This option ended up being a GREAT choice for my clients. The GOAL was to get them a good second check, and we did. Their second check was almost $59K over what they had already made on their first closing, and they were VERY happy.” – Holly M., Google
✅ ‘We were able to move into the home that we love’
Having a Homeward Offer makes it easier for people to place an offer on a new home. Many reviewers cite the company’s services for the ability to make a purchase.
“…Homeward helped us by giving us the opportunity to bring a cash offer to the table when purchasing our home. It allowed us to have the flexibility to sell our home while living in the home we hoped to buy, and made the process incredibly organized and smooth while leading us step by step in this whole process.” Hector, 10/06/2024, Trustpilot
❌ ‘They have not paid me what they owe’
While most customers are happy with Homeward’s speed and convenience, some report that it takes time to receive their funds after the second closing.
“Upon the resale of my home, I was supposed to get a second check for the remaining funds. They sold my house on 9/16, and as of 10/3, the wire has still not reached my bank. Additionally, I had to keep the utilities in my name until they sold the house, and what they wanted in repair costs kept changing.” Samuel C., 10/02/2024, Trustpilot
Homeward vs. other buy-before-you-sell options
| Company | Program Fee | Use your own agent? | Locations | Avg. customer rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Homeward | 2.4% (1.9% w/ Homeward Mortgage) | ✅ | AZ, CO, FL, GA, OR, TX, WA | 4.51/5 (1,280 reviews) |
| Knock | 1.25% + $1,450 | ✅ | AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MD, MI, MN, NC, NJ, OH, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, WA | 4.8/5 (905 reviews) |
| Flyhomes | 1%* | ❌ | CA, CO, MA, OR, TX, WA | 4.84/5 (2,007 reviews) |
| Orchard | 2.4% | ❌ | CO, GA, TX | 4.05/5 (678 reviews) |
*Flyhomes advertises no fees, but you pay a 1% loan origination fee with Flyhomes Mortgage
Knock: Wider coverage and money for repairs, but no rebates
Knock offers a similar buy-before-you-sell program to Homeward, offers up to $25,000 to cover repairs before selling your old home, and is available in several more states.
However, Homeward’s rebate if you finance through its in-house mortgage company makes its services a bit cheaper than Knock’s 2.25% + $1,850 for most homeowners.
Flyhomes: Spend less, but no freedom with agent selection
Flyhomes is a Homeward competitor with potentially lower fees. The company’s buy-before-you-sell program has no charge, but you pay a loan origination fee of up to 2.5% of the loan amount to the company’s affiliate lender, Flyhomes Mortgage[1].
Homeward has a leg up when it comes to agent selection, though, since it allows you to work with any realtor you please to sell your home. With Flyhomes, you’re assigned a listing agent — meaning you'll also pay Flyhomes a minimum of 2.5–3% in brokerage fees.
Orchard: Repair costs and rent covered, but limited service area
Orchard covers repair costs with its buy now, move later service. And customers can enjoy 30 days rent-free to secure financing after moving into their new home — a significant draw over Homeward’s carrying costs that starts on day one.
That said, Homeward’s service area is significantly larger than Orchard’s, and you’ll pay slightly less than Orchard’s service fee when you use Homeward Mortgage.
More Homeward alternatives to consider
Homeward’s programs can help streamline your real estate transactions, but they aren’t the only way to reduce stress when buying and selling simultaneously.
Working with an experienced agent or iBuyer can make the process go smoothly without the significant overhead.
Sell with an experienced listing agent
An experienced listing agent can help you have a smooth buying and selling process by negotiating for a lease-back or closing dates that match your timeline. However, you won’t benefit from a cash-backed offer like with Homeward.
If you want to make the most of Homeward’s buy-before-you-sell program and save money on commission, a low-commission real estate broker or agent matching platform, like Clever, might be the right fit.
Clever negotiates with top agents on your behalf to secure 1.5% commissions from top agents at reputable brokerages like Century 21 and RE/MAX. These discounted rates may offset some of the extra costs of getting a cash-backed offer.
Sell to an iBuyer
Opting for an iBuyer’s upfront cash offer can simplify your selling process and help you get cash on hand when buying a new home — but there are some drawbacks.
While iBuyers pay more than other real estate investors, those offers come with service fees attached. You also miss out on selling your home on the open market to make extra on top of the cash deal, like you do with Homeward.
Want a simpler way to compare your options? Clever Offers makes it easy to find the best route for your home sale — including options that let you get up to 80% of your home value upfront and then sell for additional upside once you've moved. Get started with a few quick details about your home — no added fees or obligation to move forward.
How Homeward works
Buy Before You Sell
Overview: Homeward’s Buy Before You Sell program makes it easier to secure your new home and less stressful to sell your own home by:
- Helping you make a competitive, cash-backed offer on a new house based on your pre-approval amount — no home sale contingency required
- Giving you time to list your current house and sell at a competitive price, rather than selling it discount to make sure you have the cash to close on your new house
How it works: Here’s a quick rundown of Homeward's Buy Before You Sell program[2].
Step 1. Find a local realtor to help you buy a new home and sell your old one.
Step 2. Get pre-approved with Homeward to understand your home shopping budget based on your current home equity and other financial assets
Step 3. Work with your agent to submit offers and choose your lender. (You can get a discount on Homewards program fees by using Homeward Mortgage, but be sure to check their rates and original fees against competitors'.)
Step 4. Get your offer accepted and pay an earnest money deposit. You’ll also sign a Customer Purchase Contract that outlines the daily fee you'll pay to Homeward until your old house sells.
Step 5. Move into your new home, and list your old home. You have two weeks after moving in to get your existing home on the market.
Step 6. Sell your existing home. Work with your listing agent to set a price for the home and sell it to a prospective buyer.
Step 7. Buy back your new home from Homeward. You’ll secure a mortgage from the lender of your choice, or choose Homeward Mortgage for a 0.5% credit.
What it costs: Homeward’s Buy Before You Sell Program costs 2.4%, plus any realtor fees (typically 5% to 6%) and closing costs (typically 1% to 3%). You can reduce program fees by 0.5% if you choose Homeward Mortgage for financing.
Get a Cash Offer (Sell to Homeward)
Overview: The Sell to Homeward program is a cash offer deal that lets you reclaim your on-market profits. You take a cash offer upfront, then list on the open market to make more money with the realtor of your choice.
How it works: When you accept Homeward’s cash deal, you still sell the traditional way with a realtor — but you take it to market with cash already in your pocket.
Homeward will offer a cash deal to buy your home before listing. These deals are based on Homeward’s market value of your property and are probably around what a real estate investor would pay.
After you accept the cash offer, you’ll work with your real estate agent to list for top dollar on the market. When your home sells, you keep the profits, minus realtor and program fees.
What it costs: You’re responsible for the realtor fees and closing costs associated with your sale. Plus, Homeward charges a 7% program fee on the initial sale. If your home’s final sale price is under Homeward’s offer, you won’t owe any extra.
Make a Cash Offer (Buy with Homeward)
Overview: Homeward's Make a Cash Offer program lets you leverage Homeward's cash to make a strong offer on a new home and win in a competitive market. Once your home is secured, you can either close with traditional financing or let Homeward buy the home temporarily on your behalf until you secure the financing to buy the home back.
How it works: After approval, you’ll use a cash-backed Homeward offer to purchase your home. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown.
Step 1. Get approved for the program. Homeward will provide you with a specific amount so you understand your price range before you start shopping for homes.
Step 2. Make an offer backed by Homeward's cash. If you win the home, you'll pay Homeward an earnest money deposit. You’ll also sign a purchase contract that outlines the terms of your lease agreement with Homeward until you secure financing to buy back your home.
Step 3. Move into your home. After closing, you can move the next day and rent from Homeward until you can buy it back.
Step 4. Secure financing and buy your home. You can choose any lender or select Homeward Mortgage to negate the service fee.
What it costs: Using the Make a Cash Offer program costs 1.9% of your home’s final purchase price if Homeward buys your home, or 1% if you close on the home with your own financing. However, Homeward will waive 1% of the fee if you finance through its in-house mortgage company.
You’ll also pay rent (or carrying costs) based on how much Homeward accrues in interest while you secure financing and buy the home back.
Homeward Mortgage
You can use any of Homeward’s services with any lender, but you receive a credit back when financing through Homeward Mortgage.
The mortgage service functions like any other lender, but you’ll score significant savings on fees if you keep your lending in-house.
Homeward Title
Homeward’s title program streamlines its selling services by facilitating all of your titling responsibilities.
Since Homeward’s Buy Before You Sell and Cash Offer programs require a double-titling process, working with Homeward Title ensures things go smoothly.
What to watch out for with Homeward
Buy before you sell fees may not be worth it
Selling with a full-service agent already costs close to 5% of your home’s sale value (2.5% to the listing agent and 2.5% to the buying agent). Homeward’s 2.4% charge for Buy Before You Sell on top of those fees almost costs the same as a third agent.
If you want to offset some of the service fees, using Homeward Mortgage and looking into a low commission real estate agent in your area could save you significant cash.
Selling for cash eats into your profit
Opting for Homeward’s cash buying program sounds good on the surface — accept a cash offer AND make more money afterward — but you go through two real estate transactions.
That means you’re paying 7% on the first offer from Homeward. Then you pay your agent to sell your property again, typically at 2.5% plus buying agent commission.
If you want to sell your house fast, looking into an iBuyer or shopping around for a real estate investor might be a better route.
Carrying costs can add up
Selling on the open market can take time. If you choose to Buy Before You Sell, you may be stuck paying rent on your new home for an extended period before selling your old home.
It’s essential to choose a real estate agent with a proven track record of fast sales to ensure you don’t pay more than you need to in carrying costs.
How does Homeward make money?
Homeward makes money by charging service fees on the programs it offers. Depending on the program, these fees range anywhere from 1% to 7%.
Homeward fees
| Program | Fee | Approx. cost ($600k home) |
|---|---|---|
| Buy Before You Sell | 2.4% (1.9% with Homeward Mortgage) | $14,400 ($11,400 with Homeward Mortgage) |
| Get Cash Offer | 7% of your home's final sale price | $42,000 |
| Make a Cash Offer | 1–1.9% (0–0.9% with Homeward Mortgage) | $6,000–11,400 ($0– 5,400 with Homeward Mortgage) |
*Plus carrying costs calculated on the interest rate Homeward pays
**Fees are separate from realtor commissions and closing costs, which average 5–6% and 1–3%, respectively
Where is Homeward available?
Homeward is available in AZ, CO, FL, GA, OR, TX, and WA.
Bottom line: Is Homeward worth it?
Homeward’s number one benefit is convenience. For example, you can accept a cash offer on your home and still sell on the open market with a cash deal already in your pocket.
But that convenience comes at a price. In most cases, you’ll pay significant service fees that might offset any upside you make.
Before you choose Homeward, it’s best to look into different platforms. Other buy-before-you-sell platforms may offer lower fees, and requesting a quote is free with no obligation to move forward.
Your realtor may also know of lending programs that help minimize the stress of buying and selling, so ask a few agents before settling on a program! To save yourself some time shopping around for an agent and seeing what they can offer, you can start with a free agent matching platform like Clever Real Estate.
FAQs about Homeward
Is Homeward a legit company?
Yes, Homeward is a legit company that can help you buy a new home before you sell your old one. It offers home trade-in services in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.
Founded by Tim Heyl in 2018, Homeward has had several rounds of funding over the years, most recently getting $371 million in May 2021.
Homeward is headquartered in Austin, TX, and has three divisions: Homeward Cash Offers, Homeward Mortgage, and Homeward Title.
What does it cost to use Homeward?
Homeward charges 2.4% to use its Buy Before You Sell program, 1% for its Buy with Cash program, and 7% for its cash buying service.
The fee for the Buy with Cash program is offset to zero if you use Homeward Mortgage to finance your loan; the Buy Before You Sell fee is offset to 1.9% if you use Homeward Mortgage.
Once you consider closing costs and rent paid on your new home until the old one sells, we estimate that it will cost between 5.9% and 13%, all in, depending on your mortgage choices and agent commission. Find out how Homeward stacks up against the competition.
Can you buy a new construction home with Homeward?
Yes! Homeward will require information about the new home’s specifications, price, proposed completion date, and percentage of completion.
