We researched HomeLight to find us an agent to fight for us as we buy our home. I'm a Disabled Veteran also suffering from PTSD. We decided to buy our home using my Veteran's Benefit. If you are familiar with a VA loan, we ask the sellers to pay all closing costs. You add my OCD and I wanted the best of the best, and that is what I was looking for in our search for an agent.
Buying a home using the VA in a seller's markets is a challenge. A market where multiple offers drive the price up and sellers are demanding every penny. Being a Disabled Veteran, our budget is very right, and it's very difficult for us to compete with people who are bringing in a large amount of cash/all cash offers and share closing costs equally. In the real world of sellers, VA loans are the least likely accepted offers. We get turned down for better offers or even similar offers, because the sellers pay all closing costs.
That is where I realized that I needed the best of the best, an agent who will fight for me and allow us to own our dream of homeownership. I used HomeLight as one site to do my research. Now to be honest, I didn't know one site from another and how reliable they are, but I figured if I research many different sites, maybe I'll come up with 2-3 agents that I can interview.
Many similar sites just seemed to send me agents that don't have any substance behind them, just disappointed. However, with HomeLight, and another two honorable sites, I was surprised that the list of agents each site provided. These agents had substance behind them and skills under their belts. The list I gained from HomeLight and the other two, was very familiar. From the three sites, there was one name which appeared on all lists, another name appeared on HomeLight and another site. Then what I called miscellaneous names.
With each reference, I read all the reviews and researched each agent in detail. I was extremely impressed that all these agents were actually top-notch agents who know their business and will fight for their clients. I took the top agents (those who were listed from multiple sites). To make a long story short, I made contact with those agents and they both responded very quickly. After interviews, I choose my agent. The agent I chose happened to be the one who was listed on all three sites. I felt that they understood my frustration as a Disabled Veteran and using VA loan. They focused on our positive attributes and created a strategy for the areas we lacked. This agent did everything we were hoping for and believe me, went far above the call duty. They made me feel as if I was the only client or really made me feel like family.
HomeLight was an excellent tool in finding an agent to fight for us so we can achieve the "American Dream" of home ownership. Any agent can show you homes and write an offer. These days, agents send offers electronically to the seller's agent and there is nothing personal, except maybe if the buyer writes a letter. However, my agent took my situation and honored my requests. Not only did they have us write a letter to the sellers, they fought for me. They went in person to meet with the sellers to tell my story, sell them on us and sell our offer.
After our first offer, we didn't win. The flipper went for the better money. However, the next home we offered was also an investor who was selling their rental property. My agent went to meet directly with the seller again and fought for us. With multiple offers on the house, we couldn't compete. However, as the only buyer who's agent met the seller directly and sold them on us and our offer; even when there were better offers on the table. At the end of escrow, I had the opportunity to thank the seller as we passed by (in the escrow office), and I asked him why he accepted my offer over the others. His response was, "Your agent was the only one who fought to meet me in person to present the offer. That stood out, and your agent sold me on you and your offer." With that, I forever owe my agent, because they (husband/wife team) did exactly as I needed and HomeLight was part of my success.
The bottom line here is:
All sites are similar. A few sites are reputable, and when you cross-reference and research, you will know that. No matter what site you think of using, use HomeLight to get your final list and interview those agents to find the one who will fight for you!
Bottom Line: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
