Homeward Reviews: Pros, Cons, and Alternatives (2026)

Homeward provides combined buying and selling services. In addition to making fast cash offers for your home, they can help you buy a new house before you sell your current one.

However, Homeward might offer only up to 80% of your home’s FMV (Fair Market Value). On top of that, their fees can be as high as 7%. If you choose to sell with Homeward, you might end up paying a high fee for low cash offers.

✍️ Editor’s Take: We recommend you opt for a cash buyer marketplace like Clever Offers. They help you connect with multiple local and national cash buyers. This can increase your chances of getting a higher value for your property.

Is Homeward Real Estate Legit?

Yes, Homeward is a legitimate and reputable company founded by Tim Heyl in 2018. They are headquartered in Austin, Texas, and cover different states depending on the type of service you choose.

The company has three services: Homeward Offer, Mortgage, and Title. Homeward Mortgage company operates in 8 states. Although we could not find Homeward Offer and Title’s coverage, they are generally available in the 13 states where Homeward Inc. operates.

✍️ Note: Homeward’s website mentions that choosing these affiliated services are completely optional.

Homeward Real Estate Reviews

We compiled Homeward’s ratings from Google, Trustpilot, and Better Business Bureau. A weighted average of their ratings shows that the brokerage holds a 3-star rating based on 1391 total reviews.

Homeward has 3.9 stars based on 349 reviews on Trustpilot. Meanwhile, they have a 1-star rating from 6 customer reviews on BBB. Additionally, from 1036 Homeward Google reviews, they have a 4.7-star rating.

Homeward’s positive reviews highlight that many homeowners appreciate their fast and hassle-free selling process. However, with our research, we evaluated the negative reviews of their different programs that highlight:

1. Excessive fees and repair costs
2. Lowball offers
3. Misleading information from representatives

Homeward Reviews: Praises

✅ Araceli Gonzalez had an easy home-selling process with Homeward. The company handled everything and helped the seller avoid stress. As a result, the seller recommended their services to people looking for a simple and seamless home sale.

✅ Drew Walker, a real estate agent, introduced their clients to Homeward’s ‘Buy Before You Sell’ program. Their clients who did not have the funds to buy a new home before selling their current one were able to secure the property they wanted.

✅ Steven‘s home-selling experience with Homeward was excellent throughout. The company’s representatives were professional and kept the communication clear. The seller had a smooth and stress-free selling process with Homeward.

Homeward Reviews: Complaints

❌ Amethyst Turner closed their home one day late and was charged 1% additional fee. The seller stated that the company made them lowball offers and added fees on top of that. Additionally, their agent also provided them with misleading information.

❌ Tiffanie Bowman was levied excessive charges by Homeward. The company deducted $20K from their offer as a fee and added $3500 to cover repairs. The seller was offered $30K less than their mortgage and was also told that they would have to pay $17K in listing fees.

❌ Homeward made an offer to A. Brown, but they cut 8% from the amount as a fee. The company also charged the seller a $15K for maintenance, but did not undertake any repairs. Additionally, the seller accused Homeward of intentionally lowering the asking price.

Homeward Pros and Cons

We analyzed reviews of Homeward’s services and found both benefits and drawbacks.

✅ Pros

• Quick Loan Processing: With Homeward Mortgage, you can apply for both the cash offer and Homeward home loans. Patrick McPhee found working with them very easy and got help from loan officers throughout.
• Guaranteed Sales: Homeward Offer helps sellers to avoid the stress of selling in an uncertain market. If your home doesn’t sell in 180 days, the company will purchase it.
• Quick Closings: Homeward promises cash offers within 24 hours. Additionally, you can close the deal in as little as 21 days.
• Seamless Moving Process: You can avoid the hassle of moving into a temporary home with the ‘Buy Before You Sell’ program. Seller P. Mann found this helpful since the conventional way of selling a home and relocating would have stressed out their pets.

❌ Cons

• Limited Coverage: Homeward covers only 13 states, while Homeward Mortgage covers 8 states. Steve Lantz complained that after 2 weeks of hard work, Homeward’s representative realized that they were not licensed to conduct business in their state.
• High Fees: Like many Homeward review complaints state, Homeward might deduct around 7% from your home sale to cover the program fee.
• Lowball Offers: Despite the excessive fees, homeowners received lowball offers from Homeward. You may end up paying more than you would get from the home sale.
• Repair Costs: Sellers had to undertake expensive repairs to sell their home with Homeward. Seller Tiffanie Bowman was charged $15K for repairs.

How Does Homeward Work?

» Jump to: Sell to Homeward | Buy Before You Sell | Make a Cash Offer

Homeward works in 3 ways. You can either sell with Homeward, buy before you sell, or make a cash offer.

1. Sell to Homeward

The Sell to Homeward program is for sellers who want up-front cash. Homeward extends a cash offer of up to 80% of the FMV. However, if your home later sells for a higher price, they will transfer the upside to you.

This is unlike most iBuyers and cash buyers. Most of them will purchase your home with a lowball offer, typically 50% to 70% of your home’s FMV. Then they try to resell it at a higher price and make a profit.

We found that since Homeward transfers the profit from the resale to you, they make money through the program fees. As a result, sellers like Brittany complained that Homeward initially charged an upfront fee of $20K, and also asked them pay $17K for repairs.

How Much Do You Pay?

We assessed Homeward’s pricing to evaluate how much you will have to pay. Reviews highlight that you might have to pay around 5% to 8% of the sale price. Additionally, their website mentions that you will have to pay agent commission, listing costs, closing costs, etc.

✍️ Important: If your home sells for less than what Homeward paid, you don’t have to pay them back. This takes away the stress of dealing with a loss on the property.

2. Buy Before You Sell

Homeward’s Buy Before You Sell program helps you buy a new house for cash before selling your existing property. They do this by making a cash offer on your behalf.

Moreover, Homeward lists the existing property on the MLS with your agent to secure top-dollar deals. You can use the proceeds from your old property’s sale to buy back your new home from Homeward Inc.

Buy Before You Sell program reviews from sellers like Stacey suggest that the experience isn’t seamless or stress-free. The transactions, paperwork, and transition from one home to another were significantly delayed for the seller.

How Much Do You Pay?

You will have to pay 3.5% of your current home’s FMV, which can be lowered to 2.5% if you opt for Homeward Mortgage. However, the 2.5-3.5% fee only applies to the first 90 days. If your home doesn’t sell within this time-frame, you will have to pay 1% extra on top of the fees for an extension of 3 months.

✍️ Note: When you move into the new house, you need to pay Homeward prorated rent for the number of days you stay.

3. Make Homeward Cash Offers

The Make a Cash Offer program is very similar to the Buy Before You Sell Program. However, with this program, you don’t need to sell your home to buy a new one. They make a cash offer on your behalf while you make arrangements for the mortgage.

Homeward promises that you can move immediately into your new home after closing. Then, after you are ready, you can buy the home back from them at the same price.

Sellers reported frustration with Homeward’s poor communication. Saida Nairobi stated that the company’s representatives were not honest. Additionally, they also stopped picking up the seller’s call during the final crucial stages of the transaction.

How Much Do You Pay?

You pay a 1.9% standard program fee at closing to use this service. Additionally, you will have to pay rent for the number of days they hold the house until you buy it from them. The company charges rent as per the local market standards.

Other Homeward Finance Services

Apart from Homeward Offer, they provide two other optional services.

• Homeward Mortgage: Homeward provides financing solutions to home buyers. Instead of hunting for a mortgage lender, you can opt for Homeward Mortgage. You also get a more streamlined process with one application for both the cash offer and mortgage.
• Homeward Title: Homeward buys a home with cash, and then you buy the home from them using your mortgage. So, there should be two contracts and two closings. However, with Homeward Title, you are only charged once, and there are no duplicate fees.

Homeward Locations

Homeward Inc. offers their services in 13 states. However, Homeward Mortgage operates only in 8 states.

Homeward Competitors

We evaluated various real estate companies on metrics of essential features such as profit, coverage, and repair costs. Our research led us to Clever Offers, Houzeo, and We Buy Houses as top options based on these features. Here’s how they compare to Homeward.

1. Profit: Homeward vs. Clever Offers

The convenience of Homeward’s programs might be appealing to many sellers. However, it could come at the cost of your home sale. You may not get your property’s full worth while having to pay excessive charges for repairs.

Meanwhile, Clever Offers can push your property in front of multiple buyers and encourage competition. You can choose the option that suits you the best. Moreover, their wide network of buyers are typically comfortable with extending offers to homes in need of repairs.

2. Coverage: Homeward vs. Houzeo

Homeward’s services have a geographical limitation. The company focuses only on 13 states. If your home is located beyond these states, you will have to seek other options.

Meanwhile, Houzeo’s coverage spans across all 50 US states and DC. Additionally, you can access Houzeo’s online services anytime and anywhere.

3. Repair Costs: Homeward vs. We Buy Houses

Seller reviews highlight that you will have to pay around 7% program fee if you choose to sell with Homeward. On top of that, complaints also reveal that many sellers had to pay exorbitant amounts of repair costs.

We Buy Houses, on the other hand, will buy your home as-is for cash. So, you don’t need to undertake any repairs. Additionally, We Buy Houses offers their service without any service fee or agent commission.

“We Buy Houses for Cash” Companies Near You

There are other “We Buy Houses For Cash” companies in the market. You can request offers from multiple cash companies and pick the one that suits you the best.

Other Options You Should Consider

• Sell with a Flat Fee MLS Service: Flat Fee MLS companies list your home on the MLS for an upfront fee. You can avoid paying the agent’s commission while ensuring that your home gets exposure to buyers and major real estate platforms.
• Sell FSBO: For Sale By Owner websites help you list and sell a house yourself. This way, you save thousands in agent commissions and retain complete control over the selling process. Many FSBO websites will also help you with the paperwork.
• 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 1% and 2.5%.

Is Homeward Worth It?

Yes, Homeward is worth it if you want a cash offer, but with high fees and repair costs. They can help you get around 80% of the FMV for your property with their ‘Sell to Homeward’ program. They can also help you buy a new home before selling your current one.

However, Homeward’s services come with a costly price tag. Their program fee can be as high as 7% of your home sale. With added repair costs, you may lose a substantial amount of money from your final payout.

We suggest opting for a cash buyer marketplace where you’ll receive multiple cash offers. They can help your home get maximum exposure, increasing your chances of securing better deals. Moreover, they won’t charge you any hidden fees.

Homeward Reviews: Frequently Asked Questions