How we stack up against Opendoor and the competition

Unlike many other Opendoor competitors, HomeLight allows you to choose from hundreds of the top cash buyers and agents in your area. We are unique due to the following reasons:

Largest network of cash buyers: HomeLight has the largest network of cash buyers in the country who have made thousands of competitive offers to prospective home sellers.

No repairs or roadblocks: Our cash buyers can deal with your home no matter the conditions. Whether you have kids and pets, or are retired and don’t want to spend time prepping your home, we can help.

Simple and free: Best of all, you can get started receiving offers from both cash buyers and agents today just by taking our simple, 2-minute quiz. Plus, it’s 100% free!

How it worksExploring your options is free and easy

Step 1 Tell us about your home

Step 2 We find you the best offer

Step 3 You accept and decide when to move

Opendoor Competitors: Top Companies to Compare Offers

At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Therefore, we promote strict editorial integrity in each of our posts.

There are three “what if” scenarios that haunt most home sellers: What if I can’t get an offer? What if my home doesn’t sell in time? What if the sale falls through? House-buying companies like Opendoor and Opendoor competitors can remove all of these concerns.

In this post, we’ll share insights on selling your house to Opendoor for cash. We’ll also provide information about similar companies where you can compare offers and what benefits and drawbacks you can expect.

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It’s difficult to sell a house, especially under the pressure of a deadline. Use HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform to sell when you’re ready without the hassle of paying for repairs, prepping for listing, or dealing with showings.

Editor’s note: The specifics of house-buying programs listed below can frequently change. Please visit the company’s website for the most up-to-date information.

What is Opendoor?

Opendoor is a tech-driven real estate company that simplifies the home-selling process. Founded in 2014, it’s part of a category known as iBuyers (instant buyers) that offer to purchase homes directly from sellers, bypassing the traditional home-selling hurdles like showings, repairs, and uncertain timelines. Opendoor aims to make selling your home as straightforward as making an online purchase, offering a quick, competitive cash offer based on market data and the details of your home.

How does Opendoor work?

Selling your house to Opendoor involves a few key steps:

  1. Get an offer: You start by submitting details about your home on Opendoor’s website, including its location, condition, and unique features. Opendoor then uses its proprietary valuation model to generate a preliminary offer.
  2. Home assessment: If you’re interested in their offer, Opendoor typically schedules a home assessment to check for repairs that might be needed. This can influence the final offer.
  3. Closing: Once any necessary repairs are accounted for, you can choose a closing date that works for you, anywhere from a few days to a couple of months away. Opendoor takes care of the paperwork and pays you the agreed amount, minus any repair costs and service fees.

This streamlined process is designed for convenience, aiming to remove the uncertainties and delays often associated with selling a home. However, Opendoor is just one option with home-selling solutions.

What are the top Opendoor competitors?

As you consider selling your home, it’s wise to explore all your options. While Opendoor has simplified the selling process for many, several other companies offer comparable services, each with its unique advantages. Here’s a closer look at Opendoor and some of the top Opendoor competitors.

Editor’s note: The specifics of house-buying programs listed below can frequently change. Please visit the company’s website for the most up-to-date information.

Opendoor

Launched in 2014, Opendoor is considered the nation’s pioneering iBuying platform. It buys homes directly from sellers, and the company’s online process makes it easy to receive a no-obligation offer in minutes. According to the company’s FAQ page, Opendoor typically buys homes in the range of $100,000- $600,000, but depending on the market, it will go up to $1.4 million in some cases.

Opendoor buys homes of varying condition, but criteria like a short sale, unpermitted work, or dated materials may impact whether the company is willing and able to purchase a home. (Opendoor also sells homes.)

Locations: Opendoor has grown rapidly since its launch. It currently operates in more than 50 markets in 26 states, plus Washington, D.C. These include major metro areas such as Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Nashville, Phoenix, Portland, Raleigh-Durham, and Tampa.

Closing costs: Opendoor charges a service fee of 5% of the home’s sale price and estimates closing costs of 1%. But as an iBuyer, Opendoor typically pays closer to market value for properties than traditional house flippers.

Offerpad

Launched in 2015, Offerpad operates with a mission similar to Opendoor’s, providing homeowners with a quick and easy way to sell their homes. They make competitive, cash offers based on the details you provide about your property through an online questionnaire, aiming to streamline the selling process.

Inquiring homeowners have the option to upload photos or take Offerpad on a 15-minute virtual walkthrough. Sellers typically receive a no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours. If you’re moving locally, Offerpad will even pay a professional moving company to haul your furniture and belongings to your new home.

Locations: Offerpad operates in 14 states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

Closing costs: Offerpad charges a 5% service fee and estimates closing costs at 1%. However, iBuyers such as Offerpad usually pay closer to market value for homes than conventional companies that flip houses.

Simple Sale (A HomeLight platform)

Simple Sale, a solution from HomeLight, is an online marketplace where sellers across the country can request a cash offer for homes in almost any condition. Simple Sale has a network of cash buyers on its platform, and partner investors have a wide range of investment strategies, including fix-and-flip and buy-and-hold.

This enables Simple Sale to provide cash offers for an extensive array of properties, even those that need some or a lot of work. With Simple Sale, you can get an all-cash offer in 24 hours. The offer is commitment-free, so if the numbers make sense for your situation, you can sell your home in as few as 10 days, skipping the months it can take to sell the traditional way. HomeLight also offers a Buy Before You Sell program.

Locations: Available throughout most of the nation — input your address to see if Simple Sale provides cash offers in your area.

Closing costs: No prep costs, no agent commissions, and no fees charged by HomeLight. Individual investor fees may vary.

We Buy Houses

Since 1997, We Buy Houses has been helping homeowners quickly sell homes in any condition for cash. Not to be confused with We Buy Ugly Houses, the company is not a franchise business, but rather offers a license to its marketing and branding programs for professional real estate investors. The company says it is trusted by over 1 million homeowners and will provide a no-obligation cash offer in 24-48 hours.

Keep in mind that “We Buy Houses” is not a trademarked term, so not every company you see using “We Buy Houses” in its name or marketing is going to be associated with the WeBuyHouses.com brand we’re describing here. Make sure you’re aware of who you’re working with, and don’t assume “We Buy Houses” is the only indicator of a company’s legitimacy.

Locations: The company serves over 200 markets in more than 30 states and has local offices throughout the country. To connect with a licensee in your area, you can enter your ZIP code on the website and answer a few questions about your home.

Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; We Buy Houses covers them.

Clever Offers

Founded in 2017, Clever Real Estate describes its mission as “Making selling or buying a home easier and more affordable for everyone.” While its core service is helping people find qualified real estate agents, it also hosts Clever Offers, a home-buying platform that pairs sellers with local real estate investors, allowing users to compare multiple cash offers.

Their service is designed to maximize your sale price while minimizing hassle. The company also offers listing services and creative finance options to help home sellers.

Locations: Available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Clever Real Estate covers them.

EasyKnock

Unlike traditional iBuyers, EasyKnock offers a sale-leaseback option, allowing you to sell your home and then lease it back. The company also has options to let you repurchase your home later. While not a typical instant home buyer, we included EasyKnock in our Opendoor competitor list to highlight this unique option. This can be a great solution for those looking to access their home’s equity without moving immediately.

EasyKnock touts its “Sell & Stay” program as a way to bypass credit score or debt-to-income (DTI) ratio requirements when homeowners are looking for creative solutions. The program also lets you maintain the rights to any home value appreciation. The company also offers other programs, such as a MoveAbility option to convert your home equity to cash that you can use to make a more competitive offer on your next home.

Locations: EasyKnock’s programs are available in most U.S. states but are not cuttently offered in CA, DE, MA, MD, ND, NY, SD, VT, WA, and other select markets.

Closing costs: EasyKnock receives a processing fee from the initial home sale to EasyKnock and then monthly rent. Some programs also require an annual repurchase option fee.

Note: Easyknock should not be confused with Knock, a separate real estate solutions company that provides buy-before-you-sell bridge loan options. We’ve included Knock in our additional company list below.

Other Opendoor competitors

For those exploring further, here are additional companies to consider. These Opendoor competitor options have smaller service areas but may offer unique services to meet various selling needs in your market:

  • HomeGo: Provides a no-obligation cash offer to buy your house and close in as little as 7 days. HomeGo takes pride in on-the-spot offers. Serves key metro markets in 23 states.
  • Knock: Offers bridge loans and other creative financing options that allow you to use your current home’s equity to buy a new house. Serves housing markets in 19 states.
  • Homeward: Get a cash offer, buy before you sell, or get help making a cash offer. Serves locations in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, Tennessee, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and coming soon to California.
  • Orchard: Specializes in helping you buy your next home before selling your current one. Serves markets in Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington state
  • Keller Offers: Offers a direct buying service from one of the world’s largest realty brands. Serves select markets in Atlanta, Georgia, Texas, Nevada, Florida, Arizona, North Carolina, and Alabama.
  • Mark Spain: Known for cash offers, personalized service, and local market expertise. Serves Texas, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.
  • Flyhomes: Focuses on buy-before-you-sell and making you a cash buyer for your next home, increasing your buying power. Serves Washington, California, Oregon, Massachusetts, Texas, and Colorado.
  • Sundae: Targets homes that need work, offering cash deals without requiring repairs. Serves limited markets in California and Texas.
  • ExpressOffers: Connects sellers with a network of investors for quick, competitive offers. Serves select markets in Ohio and Florida.

Other websites, like iBuyer.com, act as a marketplace for house-buying companies in most major markets throughout the U.S.

How much do house-buying companies pay?

When selling to a house-buying company, you will likely receive less than market value. Generally, larger, well-funded iBuyers like Opendoor and Offerpad — which seek out homes in better condition — pay closer to market price, which might be 75%–90% of your home’s estimated value. Franchise or home-flip investors will pay less, often applying what’s known as the 70% rule.

The 70% rule is a guideline used by “we buy houses” companies and individual investors, which suggests that a flipper should pay no more than 70% of the after-repair value (ARV) of a property, minus the cost of necessary repairs and renovations

Here are some of the pricing factors at play:

  • Market value assessment: House-buying companies typically use automated valuation models (AVMs) to estimate your home’s worth based on market trends, recent sales, and your property’s specifics.
  • Condition of the property: The offer will also consider the age, condition, and any necessary repairs or renovations. Houses in better condition will fetch closer to market value, while those needing significant work will receive lower offers.
  • Speed and convenience: Remember, these companies provide a quick, hassle-free selling experience, which typically means a lower offer than what you would achieve on the open market. It’s the trade-off for convenience and speed.
  • Service fees: Some companies like Opendoor and Offerpad charge service fees (similar to commission), which can affect the net amount you receive.

Curious about what your home is worth?

Get a near-instant estimate from HomeLight for free. Our online tool analyzes the records of recently sold homes near you, your home’s last sale price, and other market trends to provide a preliminary range of value in under two minutes.

Pros and cons of house-buying companies

Using a house-buying company can be an attractive option for many sellers, but it’s important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages.

Pros

  • Quick sale: One of the most significant benefits is the ability to sell your home quickly, often within days or weeks, which is ideal for sellers in a hurry or facing financial pressures.
  • Convenience: These companies handle most of the selling process, from paperwork to closing, making it a hassle-free option for sellers.
  • No need for repairs: Selling through these companies usually means you don’t have to worry about fixing up your home or staging it for showings, saving you time and money.
  • Flexibility on closing: Many house-buying companies offer flexible closing dates, allowing you to choose a timeline that fits your needs.

Cons

  • Risk of lower offers: Because these companies aim to resell the property for a profit, their initial offers might be lower than what you could potentially get on the open market.
  • Service fees: Some companies charge service fees, which can reduce the final amount you pocket from the sale.
  • Less negotiation power: The process is designed for speed and efficiency, which often means there’s less room to negotiate the offer.
  • Limited to certain markets: Not all house-buying companies operate nationwide, so depending on your location, your options might be limited.

Selling to a house-buying company can be the right choice for many, especially those prioritizing speed and convenience over maximizing the sale price. However, it’s crucial to do your homework, compare offers, and consider your personal circumstances before deciding.

Which home-selling option is best for me?

Choosing the right path to sell your home depends on your specific needs, timeline, and the amount of effort you’re willing to invest. Below, we break down which option might be best for various seller circumstances.

iBuyers are best for:

  • Sellers seeking convenience: If you prioritize a quick, hassle-free sale over getting the highest possible price, iBuyers could be a great fit.
  • Homes in good condition: iBuyers typically prefer homes that require minimal work, making them ideal for properties in good to excellent condition.
  • Flexible timelines: While iBuyers offer speed, they also allow you to choose your closing date, which can be particularly helpful if you’re coordinating a move.

Buy-before-you-sell companies are best for:

  • Homeowners buying another property: If you have equity in your house and need to purchase a new home before selling your current one, these companies offer financial solutions to bridge the gap.
  • Those needing to avoid temporary housing: This option helps eliminate the need for short-term rentals or double moves, streamlining the transition from one home to another.
  • Sellers seeking financial flexibility: By securing your next home before selling, you gain financial and timing flexibility, reducing the stress of coordinating simultaneous transactions.

We buy houses groups are best for:

  • Sellers in urgent need: If you need to sell quickly due to financial distress, relocation, or other pressing circumstances, these groups can close in as little as a week.
  • Homes needing significant repair: These buyers are often willing to purchase properties as-is, ideal for sellers who cannot or do not want to invest in repairs.
  • Sellers looking for a direct, no-frills transaction: This option is straightforward, with no staging, showings, or market listing required.

Listing with an agent is best for:

  • Maximizing sale price: If your primary goal is to get the highest possible price for your home, listing with an agent is usually the best route.
  • Homes in competitive markets: An experienced agent can help you navigate the complexities of an active market, leveraging their expertise to attract multiple offers.
  • Sellers who can handle a longer timeline: While listing with an agent may take longer from listing to closing, it often leads to better offers and higher sale prices.

Know your options and get multiple offers

When you need to sell your home fast or desire simplicity, you have options:

The key is to understand your priorities and selling objectives. Before making a decision, explore multiple options and get offers from different types of buyers.

You can easily do this with HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform, which connects you to the largest network of cash buyers in the country. This no-obligation approach not only gives you a clearer picture of what your home is worth but also empowers you to choose the selling method that best aligns with your goals, timeline, and financial needs.

While you may be in a hurry to get your home sold and move on, taking the time to explore your options can help you make a more confident, informed decision. The best choice is one that fits your unique situation.

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