HomeVestors (We Buy Ugly Houses) reviews
Franchise network of independently owned buyers · 14785 Preston Rd #750, Dallas, TX 75254 · Founded 1996
HomeVestors (We Buy Ugly Houses) is a franchise network of independently owned local home buyers. It was founded in 1996 and is based in 14785 Preston Rd #750, Dallas, TX 75254. Its Better Business Bureau rating is A+.
Is HomeVestors (We Buy Ugly Houses) legit?
Yes, HomeVestors (We Buy Ugly Houses) is a real, long-running franchise, and its local, independently owned franchisees do buy homes for cash. The caveat: offers are usually far below market value, and a 2023 ProPublica investigation documented some franchisees using pressure and legal tactics on vulnerable sellers. That led HomeVestors to change its policies, including adding a three-day cancellation period.
How HomeVestors (We Buy Ugly Houses) works
- Process
- A local property buyer schedules a free, no-obligation, in-person consultation and walks through the property; no repairs, updates or cleaning are required. After assessing the property and local market, the buyer may make a cash offer, sometimes on the spot; if accepted, the parties close on the seller's schedule, sometimes in as little as three weeks, and the company says it pays typical closing costs.
- Fees (per the company)
- The company says it charges sellers no commissions, real-estate fees or hidden fees, does not charge for the visit or offer, and pays typical closing costs.
- Where it buys
- Continental United States; the company says it currently has more than 750 independently owned and operated franchises in 46 states.
HomeVestors (We Buy Ugly Houses) complaints and praise: what sellers report
Recurring themes in BBB complaints, reviews and reporting, checked September 2026. Each links to its source.
Offers well below market value
ProPublica reported that franchises often pay far below market value, citing a seller who was paid $10,000 for a home that was resold months later for $55,000. Franchise Times cited reports that house flippers like HomeVestors generally offer about 50 to 70 percent of assessed value.
ProPublica: 5 lives upended after dealing with We Buy Ugly HousesFranchise Times: HomeVestors policy changes after investigation
Hard to back out once signed
ProPublica described franchisees suing sellers who tried to cancel, and recording documents that clouded a property's title. HomeVestors later banned title-clouding and added a three-day option period in which sellers can cancel without giving a reason.
ProPublica: 5 lives upended after dealing with We Buy Ugly HousesFranchise Times: HomeVestors policy changes after investigation
Experience depends on the local franchise
Each office is an independently owned franchise, and HomeVestors' own BBB responses say so. Franchise Times reported that the company disciplined or removed some franchisees and hired more auditors after the investigation.
BBB complaints for HomeVestors of AmericaFranchise Times: HomeVestors policy changes after investigation
Unwanted mailers and calls
Many BBB complaints come from homeowners who never sold, asking franchisees to stop sending postcards and letters. Trustpilot reviewers describe repeated calls and texts. HomeVestors' responses say it asks the franchisee to stop and removes the address from mailing lists.
BBB complaints for HomeVestors of AmericaTrustpilot reviews of HomeVestors
Speed and convenience for some sellers
ProPublica noted that some sellers it interviewed were satisfied, having chosen speed and convenience over getting full market value.
ProPublica: 5 lives upended after dealing with We Buy Ugly Houses
Compare HomeVestors (We Buy Ugly Houses)
Have a cash offer through HomeVestors (We Buy Ugly Houses)?
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Sources
- HomeVestors describes itself as a national network of real-estate investors and says it buys homes, condos, multi-tenant buildings, duplexes, townhouses and occasionally commercial property. company website
- The franchise company's stated business model is a network of independently owned and operated franchises; franchisees receive training, tools, leads and professional contacts, and the company helps them find properties and access lenders. company website
- The company's current consumer FAQ says We Buy Ugly Houses is a franchise corporation headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and that it is a network of real-estate investors. company website
- The live company site says it buys houses and offers a current get-a-cash-offer flow; the franchise corporate contact page says the corporate office does not buy or sell houses, supporting that local franchisees—not corporate headquarters—conduct the buying. company website
- The company says it has been in business since 1996. company website
- HomeVestors' corporate contact page lists its office at 14785 Preston Rd #750, Dallas, TX 75254. company website
- A 2017 acquisition announcement from Levine Leichtman Capital Partners describes HomeVestors as a real-estate investment franchisor, says it was headquartered in Dallas and founded in 1996, and describes the buyer as a private-equity firm; the company is not identified there as a listed issuer or by a stock ticker. other
- The company's FAQ says it currently has more than 750 independently owned and operated franchises in 46 states and serves almost anywhere in the continental United States. company website
- The company says it charges no commissions or real-estate fees, pays typical closing costs, and has no fees or obligation for requesting an offer; it also says the visit is free. company website
- The stated three-step process is: book a free, no-obligation consultation; receive a cash offer after a property walkthrough; and close fast, sometimes in as little as three weeks or later if the seller needs more time. company website
- For valuation, the company says it considers local market conditions, neighborhood comparable sales and what it learns from inspecting the home's exterior, rooms, utilities and major systems; it says sellers need not make repairs, updates or clean before the visit. company website
- The company says that after signing to accept an offer, the seller has three days to reconsider and may cancel during that option period by notifying the property buyer in writing. company website
Common questions about HomeVestors (We Buy Ugly Houses)
Is HomeVestors (We Buy Ugly Houses) legit?
Yes, HomeVestors (We Buy Ugly Houses) is a real, long-running franchise, and its local, independently owned franchisees do buy homes for cash. The caveat: offers are usually far below market value, and a 2023 ProPublica investigation documented some franchisees using pressure and legal tactics on vulnerable sellers. That led HomeVestors to change its policies, including adding a three-day cancellation period. HomeVestors (We Buy Ugly Houses) is a franchise network of independently owned local home buyers. It was founded in 1996 and is based in 14785 Preston Rd #750, Dallas, TX 75254. Its Better Business Bureau rating is A+.
What do sellers complain about with HomeVestors (We Buy Ugly Houses)?
Offers well below market value: ProPublica reported that franchises often pay far below market value, citing a seller who was paid $10,000 for a home that was resold months later for $55,000. Franchise Times cited reports that house flippers like HomeVestors generally offer about 50 to 70 percent of assessed value. Hard to back out once signed: ProPublica described franchisees suing sellers who tried to cancel, and recording documents that clouded a property's title. HomeVestors later banned title-clouding and added a three-day option period in which sellers can cancel without giving a reason. Experience depends on the local franchise: Each office is an independently owned franchise, and HomeVestors' own BBB responses say so. Franchise Times reported that the company disciplined or removed some franchisees and hired more auditors after the investigation. Unwanted mailers and calls: Many BBB complaints come from homeowners who never sold, asking franchisees to stop sending postcards and letters. Trustpilot reviewers describe repeated calls and texts. HomeVestors' responses say it asks the franchisee to stop and removes the address from mailing lists. Speed and convenience for some sellers: ProPublica noted that some sellers it interviewed were satisfied, having chosen speed and convenience over getting full market value.
What does HomeVestors (We Buy Ugly Houses) charge?
The company says it charges sellers no commissions, real-estate fees or hidden fees, does not charge for the visit or offer, and pays typical closing costs. Always check the final offer and settlement statement for every fee before you sign.
How does selling to HomeVestors (We Buy Ugly Houses) work?
A local property buyer schedules a free, no-obligation, in-person consultation and walks through the property; no repairs, updates or cleaning are required. After assessing the property and local market, the buyer may make a cash offer, sometimes on the spot; if accepted, the parties close on the seller's schedule, sometimes in as little as three weeks, and the company says it pays typical closing costs.