A 70% upfront advance in the Cash Offer Plus category — funded against appraised value in qualifying markets. A mature partner-agent program and a waterfall share that's slightly less favorable than Zoom Casa's.
HomeLight was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in San Francisco with a major operations presence in Scottsdale, AZ. HomeLight acquired Accept.inc in 2021; Accept.inc powers much of HomeLight Cash Offer's transaction economics today. HomeLight also runs a separate Trade-In product (buy-before-you-sell). Available in roughly half the U.S., with current coverage across ~26 states.
HomeLight's Cash Offer is a primarily buyer-side product — a buy-before-you-sell / buyer-facing service — rather than a seller-side 100% advance program. For framing in the $525k sample, the 70% figure represents the upfront advance against appraised value (not a net-proceeds figure). HomeLight matches sellers with partner agents, advances 70% of appraised value at first close, lists the home through a partner agent, and forwards a share of any overage at second close. The trade-off vs. a full-waterfall Cash Offer Plus is a program fee (1%) plus the listing commission stack, and a waterfall true-up that defines “overage” more narrowly than Zoom Casa's: marketing carry, staging credit, and buyer concessions are deducted from the overage before the seller's share is calculated.
On the $525k sample transaction with a home selling right at appraised value, the HomeLight upfront advance lands at $367,500. The seller then picks up their share of any overage at second close. For sellers (and buyers) who prioritize a known, firm first-close number and don't expect their home to clear materially above appraisal, HomeLight is often the right call.
HomeLight matches you with a partner agent from its certified network (you can also bring your own, subject to approval). The home is appraised, HomeLight makes a firm advance offer at 70% of appraised value, and the first close happens within 21 days. The home is then listed through the partner agent; at second close, any overage above appraised value is split 75/25 between seller and HomeLight, minus the 1% program fee and standard commission structure.
6.8 / 10. HomeLight is the right choice in two scenarios: (1) the seller wants a firm, known 70% first-close number with a partner-agent listing on the retail leg, and (2) the home is not expected to materially exceed appraisal, so the 75/25 split doesn't cost much. In every other Cash Offer Plus decision, Zoom Casa's higher advance and 100% waterfall share wins the net-proceeds math.
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