How does Orchard work?

With Orchard, homebuying and selling are simple and stress-free. Our service ensures you won’t miss out on your dream home because you haven’t sold your current one. We also take the hassle out of the closing process by helping you finalize mortgages, title, and insurance all in one place. 

Only looking to buy or sell? We can still help.

Let’s walk through some common questions about buying and selling homes with Orchard.

The homebuying and selling process with Orchard

You can get an Equity Advance to help buy your new home — without any contingencies — until we sell the old one for top-dollar.

Here’s how it works:

1. Fill out a form about your home and your goals.
2. Get a guaranteed offer on the sale of your current home, and an Equity Advance for the new one.
3. Sign a contract with Orchard.
4. Find your dream home with an experienced local agent.
5. Make a non-contingent offer on a new home, using the Equity Advance.
6. Move into your new home, while we prep the old one.
7. Sell your old home for top dollar.

You’ll start by answering a few questions about your current home and your homebuying goals. We’ll use this information, along with our virtual home assessment, to determine your guaranteed offer amount. This guarantee gives you the freedom to start house hunting — without the sale of your old home holding you back. 

You’ll also complete a mortgage application so we can determine your Equity Advance. (This also gets you preapproval for a mortgage with Orchard Mortgage, but you can choose any lender you like.) The Equity Advance is an interest-free lump sum that can be used to cover the down payment for your new home, as well as mortgage payments for the old one. 

Next, we’ll pair you with an Orchard real estate agent to tour homes that meet your criteria. (Many of our customers also use Orchard Home Match to search for properties in their area.) 

When you find your dream home, we’ll wire you the advance just before you close. Then our agents will handle listing the old home as you settle into the new one. Orchard can even upgrade or repair your home with minor renovations to make sure it’s in the best condition to attract buyers. (You can keep tabs on its performance, including showings and feedback, with your Orchard dashboard.)

After the original home sells, you’ll receive the proceeds and pay back Orchard for the Equity Advance.

Non-contingent and guaranteed offers

Orchard can guarantee your home sale with our optional cash offer, turning you into a non-contingent buyer. That means you can put in a stronger offer that homesellers prefer.

⇨ Learn about contingent offers

Where is Orchard available?

Orchard currently operates in:

• Atlanta, GA
• Austin, TX
• Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
• Denver, CO
• Houston, TX
• San Antonio, TX
• More to come

How does Orchard make money?

We charge a standard 5% to 6% fee on your home sale, making it similar to a traditional real estate transaction. We’re aligned with you — the more your home sells for, the more we make on commission. Orchard homes sell at or above list price 35% more than the market average.

⇨ Get started

Can I just buy or sell a home with Orchard?

People who are only looking to sell can list their home with Orchard. We’ll sell it on the market for top dollar, and we’ll give you a guaranteed back-up offer if it doesn’t. While 95% of our homes sell on the market, our cash offer is there so you have certainty throughout the process.

You can also opt for renovations with Concierge services to ready your home for showings and increase its value. You can start by getting a home value estimate — Orchards is 30% more accurate than leading estimates.

⇨ Find out how much your home is worth

Orchard also offers services for those just looking to buy. We’ll help you land your next home with the help of licensed local agents, unique home search tools, and convenient home tours.

⇨ Browse Orchard home listings