HomeFinder Reviews: Are Their Listings Legit?

HomeFinder is an online real estate marketplace. They connect home sellers and home buyers. You can also compare mortgage lenders in their network to find one that fits your requirements.

Editor’s Rating

2.3

User Rating

1

(2 Reviews)

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Pros

• HomeFinder has diverse property options available.
• You have access to neighborhood statistics.
• Their website and mobile app are user-friendly.

Cons

• HomeFinder doesn't show enough details of foreclosed properties.
• They lack enough ratings on reputable websites.
• You may get spam calls from HomeFinder's partnered vendors.

HomeFinder.com is an online platform for real estate. They offer multiple services to home sellers and buyers. You can search for a property, connect with a real estate agent, or compare different mortgage lenders.

HomeFinder has partnered with mortgage lenders. You can compare the rates of these lenders on their website and find the one that suits you the best. However, their services are more buyer-oriented. Sellers can only find a real estate agent. HomeFinder redirects sellers to Realtor.com.

You will likely be connected with an agent via Realtor.com who will charge 3% for listing your home on the MLS. Instead, if you opt for the FSBO route, you can save thousands in commissions.

✍️ Editor’s Take: We recommend listing your home on the MLS For Sale By Owner via Houzeo. Houzeo’s tech-centric tools will make your FSBO journey simple. Compare HomeFinder vs. Houzeo.

Is HomeFinder Legit?

Yes, HomeFinder Real Estate is a legitimate company. They are based in Irvine, California. HomeFinder was known as homescape.com. The company was founded in 1999 by James Nightingall and is a subsidiary of Teacup Real Estate Media.

Though HomeFinder is legit, many HomeFinder reviews raise concerns about the authenticity of their listings. Customers complain that their listings are either samples or are categorized incorrectly.

How Does HomeFinder Work?

» Jump to: Buyers | Sellers

For Buyers

HomeFinder has a user-friendly platform to search for homes. You can also use their filters to narrow down the search results. Here’s how the buying process with HomeFinder works:

• Select Preferred Property Type: Visit HomeFinder.com’s homepage. Input your zip code and set preferences such as property type, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, minimum and maximum price, etc. 
• Explore Properties: Go through the listings and read the details of the properties. You can also use a map to see the available properties in your preferred neighborhood.
• Contact the Agent: Once you’ve decided on the property, HomeFinder will connect you with a local agent. This agent will help you throughout the process until you close on the house.

👉 Important: To connect with an agent, you need to fill out the form. You can find this form on the property listing page. You need to enter your contact information, mortgage status, and expected time of purchase.

For Sellers

HomeFinder advertises that they help sellers connect with a Realtor. However, when sellers use HomeFinder’s platform, they are redirected to Realtor.com to compare agents and finalize one.

HomeFinder Coverage

HomeFinder covers the following states in the USA:

HomeFinder Pricing

HomeFinder doesn’t charge any fees to browse or list properties on their website. However, home sales through HomeFinder’s platform are similar to traditional ones. So, sellers spend the same 5% to 6% on commissions.

For example, if the property’s sale price is $150,000, sellers spend $7,500 to $9,000 only in commissions. So, you will have minimal opportunity for savings.

Additionally, most companies offer buyer rebates of up to 2%, which is about $3,000 for a home worth $150,000. As HomeFinder doesn’t offer any rebates, buyers lose this amount. So, even if HomeFinder is free, they are not the most economical option.

How HomeFinder’s “Rent-to-Own” Works?

You can also search for rent-to-own properties. HomeFinder shows you photos and virtual tours of these homes. You also get information about local schools, employment opportunities, cost of living, etc.

If you opt for a rent-to-own home, you come to an agreement with the homeowner. Under this contract, you need to make a down payment and pay monthly rent to the owner. You gain the home’s title upon payment of its full value.

HomeFinder.com Customer Reviews

Based on 8 reviews, HomeFinder has 2.3 out of 5-star ratings on Trustpilot. None of these reviews are positive. On Customer Affairs, we found some positive reviews. However, these reviews are 7 years old. So, their relevance to current services may be limited.

Here is what some of the recent HomeFinder reviews state:

❌ Emanuela highlighted the listings on HomeFinder.com are just samples.

❌ Fafa was furious with HomeFinder and advised customers to keep the proofs of payments.

Pros & Cons of HomeFinder

Let’s evaluate the pros and cons of HomeFinder to see if they are an ideal choice for you.

👍 Pros

Here are the benefits of working with HomeFinder:

• Free Browsing: HomeFinder.com doesn’t charge any fees to browse properties on their website.
• Extensive Information: HomeFinder’s listings include information like local schools, employment opportunities, cost of living, etc.
• Diverse Listing Catalog: You can search for a home to rent or purchase. Additionally, you can also search for rent-to-own and foreclosed properties.
• Excellent Technology: HomeFinder’s web portal is smooth and easy to navigate. They also offer their services on the go with a mobile app.

👎 Cons

Here are some limitations to working with HomeFinder:

• No Opportunity for Savings: Unlike other companies, HomeFinder doesn’t provide any scope for savings.
• Incorrect Categorization: As per HomeFinder.com’s customer reviews, the properties listed in rent-to-own are FSBO listings. Some reviews also highlight that the listings are only sample properties.
• No Positive Reviews: HomeFinder does not have positive customer reviews on credible websites like Trustpilot.

HomeFinder Competitors

» Jump to: HomeFinder vs. Houzeo | HomeFinder vs. Trulia | HomeFinder vs. Sundae

HomeFinder vs. Houzeo

HomeFinder works as a platform that showcases available properties. Moreover, their listings contain great insights to help you find your dream house. However, for home sellers, they don’t do much. Sellers spend the same old 6%.

On the other hand, Houzeo can help you save thousands. You can get on the MLS for a flat fee – so no listing commission. Additionally, your home is also displayed on Houzeo’s marketplace. This provides additional market exposure.

HomeFinder vs. Trulia

Trulia is a subsidiary of Zillow and works as a real estate marketplace. They offer a comprehensive guide to the local real estate market, just like HomeFinder. Most of the services of Trulia and HomeFinder are similar.

As Trulia is associated with Zillow, they have a vast number of listings. So, you have more options to compare. You can also find foreclosure or rental properties on Trulia.

HomeFinder vs. Sundae

Sundae is a real estate marketplace. But, they are primarily focused on sellers. Sundae helps sellers advertise their distressed properties to investors. As their listings are visited by multiple investors, it creates a bidding war. Hence, sellers get better offers.

Other Options You Should Consider

• Sell For Sale By Owner: For Sale By Owner websites help you list and sell a house yourself, saving thousands in agent commissions. Around one-third of home buyers pay in cash. Hence, selling FSBO helps you to get 100% FMV of your house in cash.
• Sell Through a Realtor: Traditional Realtors list your property on the MLS and help you at every step of home selling. However, you have to pay them 3% of the home’s sale price for this convenience.
• Sell Through Discount Realtors: Discount real estate brokers reduce their commissions to offer affordable services. Their commission varies between 0.5% and 2%.

Should You Use HomeFinder?

If you are a home buyer, you can browse the properties listed on HomeFinder. You may find something appropriate. However, for home sellers, we don’t recommend HomeFinder.

Your sale will be similar to a traditional home sale. Also, the only addition you’ll get is a listing on HomeFinder.com. However, we can’t guarantee the exposure your listing will get on their platform.

We recommend selling your home with Houzeo. Houzeo provides both real estate marketplace and MLS listing services. Additionally, Houzeo’s technology will make your home-selling process easy and efficient.

» Houzeo Reviews: Here’s why more than 6,700 home sellers have rated Houzeo 4.9 stars out of 5.

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