How Does EasyKnock Work?
EasyKnock is a financial product that lets homeowners get cash from their home equity without moving. EasyKnock buys homes, and then allows sellers to stay as tenants.
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Accessible Home Value
Up to 100%
Remain in Home?
Yes
Time to Fund
Less than 30 days
EasyKnock is a New York City-based company founded in 2016. It offers the first commercialized residential sale-leaseback program in the United States, which allows homeowners to access their home value without moving.
EasyKnock differs distinctly from reverse mortgages and home equity lines of credit. With its model, homeowners sell their houses to EasyKnock and stay in their homes as renters. EasyKnock says its mission is to help homeowners achieve financial freedom by accessing the value of their home through their innovative programs: MoveAbility, Sell & Stay, and ReLease.
If you are looking to learn more about a specific product offered by EasyKnock, you can click on the product below to jump down to that review. If you are interested in learning about all of EasyKnock’s products to see which one can help you, continue to the next section.
Compare EasyKnock’s products
EasyKnock offers three sale-leaseback programs to homeowners, each offering a solution for different problems. The list below outlines the core details of each product and how they can help you.
- MoveAbility: The MoveAbility program is for homeowners looking for a bridge solution while transferring between homes. EasyKnock buys your home and pays off any outstanding mortgage and you’ll receive up to 75% of the cash value with the rest remaining in the program until you sell the house. After EasyKnock buys your home, you’ll begin a lease of up to 12 months where you pay rent. Eligibility requirements are flexible and typically more lenient than if applying for a loan. Costs include a 2.99% processing fee and any rent you pay. Learn more about the MoveAbility program by clicking here.
- Sell & Stay: The Sell & Stay program is for homeowners looking to convert their equity into cash, but with the flexibility to repurchase their home. EasyKnock buys your home and pays off any outstanding mortgage and you’ll receive up to 75% of the cash value with the rest remaining in the program until you sell. After your home is purchased, you can renew a 12-month lease as long as you’d like. Eligibility requirements are flexible and typically more lenient than if applying for a loan. Costs include a 2.99% processing fee, any rent you pay, and an annual lease renewal fee. Learn more about the Sell & Stay program by clicking here.
- ReLease: The ReLease program is for homeowners looking to convert the maximum amount of equity in their home to cash. EasyKnock will buy the home and you’ll receive the full value of the home. Under this program, you will have to commit to a lease for a minimum of 24 months, with no repurchase option. Eligibility requirements are flexible and typically more lenient than if applying for a loan. Costs include a 2.99% processing fee and any rent you pay. Learn more about the ReLease program by clicking here.
What makes EasyKnock different than a traditional home sale?
Prior to home sale-leaseback programs like those offered by EasyKnock, the traditional way for homeowners to convert the maximum amount of equity in their home into cash was through selling the home.
Now, with these programs, homeowners are able to remain in their home while utilizing the equity they have built in that home.
Here is a direct comparison between EasyKnock and a traditional sale.
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Can you remain in home? | No moving required | Move before closing |
| Accessible home value | Up to 100% | 100% |
| Option to receive future home appreciation | Yes | No |
| Transaction costs | 2.99% + closing costs | 5% – 6% + closing costs + moving costs |
| Find out if an EasyKnock program is right for you | ||
Reviews of EasyKnock’s programs
Below, you will find in-depth reviews of each of EasyKnock’s programs.
MoveAbility
- A bridge solution for those transitioning into a new home
- Get up to 75% of your home’s value upfront and the rest once you sell your home
- While you wait to sell, pay rent to remain in your home for up to 12 months
The MoveAbility program from EasyKnock is a solution for homeowners looking for a bridge solution to eliminate the stresses of selling your home while at the same time trying to buy a new one.
How MoveAbility works
Through the program, EasyKnock buys your house and leases it back to you for up to 12 months until you are ready to move. Here’s how it works:
- An EasyKnock specialist will create a plan that purchases your home and gives you up to 75% of your home value in cash upfront and provides a lease for up to 12 months to keep you in the home as you search for your new house.
- Once due diligence and appraisal are completed, closing documents are signed and you’ll receive your money.
- You’ll be able to stay in your home during the 12-month lease and work with your realtor to sell your home.
- Once the sale is finalized, you’ll move to your new home and receive the remaining home value plus any appreciation accrued during the lease.
Program details
- Credit Requirements: None
- Fees: 2.99% processing fee
- Purchase Price: EasyKnock purchases the property at its full appraised value and gives you up to 75% cash at closing, and the remaining amount is received once the home is sold.
- Who It’s Good For: People who want to sell their home quickly but aren’t ready to move.
- Lease Lengths: Up to 12 months
- Rent deferral options:
- Defer 100% of the rent for a 1% cash funding fee
- Defer 50% of the rent for a 0.5% cash funding fee
- Defer 22% of the rent for a 0.22% cash funding fee
Pros and cons
Benefits
- Getting money out of your home is easy: You aren’t taking out a loan with EasyKnock, so you don’t have to meet typical qualification requirements necessary for a cash-out refinance loan or other home equity products.
- Your debt-to-income ratio and credit score are less important factors: You can access your home’s value even if you aren’t an ideal borrower.
- Funds can be accessed quickly: It normally takes a long time to sell your house. But you don’t have to worry about this with EasyKnock. Most people get their money in less than 30 days.
- You don’t have to move out once you sell the house to EasyKnock: Since you’ll no longer be an owner, you don’t have to worry about all the costs of homeownership, such as property taxes and insurance.
- Share in appreciation of your home: If your home appreciates during your lease, you’ll receive that appreciation once the home is sold.
Downsides
- You must pay rent: While you were previously an owner and building equity, you’re now a tenant. If you want to stay put in your home and rent, the money you pay each month goes to your landlord.
>> Find out if EasyKnock’s MoveAbility program is right for you
Sell & Stay
- A sale-leaseback program that lets you get the money you need while staying in your home
- Get up to 75% of your home’s value upfront and the rest once you sell your home
- You can lease your home for as long as you’d like, with the option to buy back the house at any point
The Sell & Stay program from EasyKnock lets homeowners get the money they need while staying in their home. There is no cap on the length of time in which you can lease your home. You’ll have the option to buy back the house or move at any point.
How Sell & Stay works
Through the program, EasyKnock buys your house and leases it back to you with no limit on how long you can stay in the home. Here’s how it works:
- An EasyKnock specialist will create a plan that purchases your home and gives you up to 75% of your home value in cash upfront. The remaining amount can be received if you decide to move.
- Once due diligence and appraisal are completed, closing documents are signed and you’ll receive your money.
- You’ll be able to stay in your home for as long as you like while you pay rent to EasyKnock under the agreed-upon lease.
- When ready, you can either buy the house back or work with a realtor to sell it on the market. Once the house sells, you’ll receive the remaining percentage of your home’s value plus any appreciation that occurred during the leasing period.
Program details
- Credit Requirements: None
- Fees: EasyKnock’s processing fee is 2.99%
- Cash Out Value: Ranges from $60,000 to $450,000.
- Required LTV Ratio: Sell & Stay does have a maximum LTV ratio, contingent upon home value. For most individuals, if your LTV is 50% or less they can offer a plan for you. You can calculate your LTV ratio by dividing your current mortgage balance by the current value of your house.
- Who It’s Good For: The company touts its program as an option for people looking to access the value of their home without moving, but don’t qualify for or want to deal with loans.
- Lease Lengths: EasyKnock offers renewable 12-month lease terms with the option to terminate at any point.
- Pricing: Homeowners can negotiate the sale price, the length of the lease, and the price of their rent.
Pros and cons
Benefits
- Lenient Eligibility Requirements: One of the main benefits of Sell & Stay from EasyKnock is that you may be eligible for it even if you don’t qualify for a home equity loan or reverse mortgages. Since EasyKnock takes into consideration you and your house, unlike banks and lenders who have strict requirements for types of income and credit score, they are able to open their opportunities up to a broader range of customers.
- Short Time to Close: EasyKnock says it can take less than 30 days to deliver funds.
- Educational Website: EasyKnock’s website makes it easy to understand the products offered and it is user-friendly and simple to navigate.
Downsides
- Have to Pay Rent: The main downside of EasyKnock’s product is that you become a renter in the house that you previously owned.
>> Find out if EasyKnock’s Sell & Stay program is right for you.
ReLease
- A sale-leaseback program that lets you get the money you need while staying in your home as a renter
- Get the full value of your home in cash
- You must lease the home for at least 24 months, with no repurchase option
The ReLease program from EasyKnock provides the most cash upfront of any of EasyKnock’s programs. Once EasyKnock buys your home, you’ll receive the full value of your home and remain as a renter for at least 24 months.
How ReLease works
Through the program, EasyKnock buys your house and you remain as a renter for as long as you’d like, but for a minimum of 24 months. Here’s how it works:
- An EasyKnock specialist will create a plan that purchases your home and gives you up to 100% of your home value in cash upfront.
- Once due diligence and appraisal are completed, closing documents are signed and you’ll receive your money.
- You’re required to commit to a 24-month lease while you pay rent to EasyKnock under the agreed-upon lease. Once the lease is complete, you can continue renting for as long as you’d like.
Program details
- Credit Requirements: None
- Fees: EasyKnock’s processing fee is 2.99%
- Who It’s Good For: The company touts its program as an option for people looking to access the full value of their home without moving, but don’t qualify for or want to deal with loans.
- Lease Lengths: A minimum of 24 months.
- Pricing: Homeowners can negotiate the sale price and the price of their rent.
Pros and cons
Benefits
- Lenient Eligibility Requirements: One of the main benefits of ReLease is that EasyKnock takes into consideration you and your house, making them able to open their opportunities up to a broader range of customers.
- Receive 100% of your home’s value: Receive 100% of your home’s value to use for your personal finance needs.
- Short Time to Close: EasyKnock says it can take less than 30 days to deliver funds.
- Educational Website: EasyKnock’s website makes it easy to understand the products offered and it is user-friendly and simple to navigate.
Downsides
- Must commit to a 24-month lease: In order for EasyKnock to provide you with 100% of the value of your home, you are required to commit to a 24-month lease as a renter.
- Have to Pay Rent: The main downside of EasyKnock’s product is that you become a renter in the house that you previously owned.
>> Find out if EasyKnock’s ReLease program is right for you.
How home equity works
Home equity is the value of your home that you fully own and cannot be claimed by a lender. It is calculated by subtracting any outstanding loan balances from the home’s market value. If the property value of a home increases or if the outstanding loan balances are reduced, then the home equity increases.
Home equity is an asset. If you have equity and you sell your home, you can use the equity toward buying a new one. Of course, you could also borrow against your home’s equity through a reverse mortgage or line of credit.
Using a loan to tap your home equity does come with risks. In these situations, your home is your collateral, and if you can’t repay your loan, you could lose your home.
Bottom line
EasyKnock’s MoveAbility, Sell & Stay, and ReLease programs are alternatives for people who want to access their home value without dealing with banks or lenders. It provides fewer risks compared to traditional options like a reverse mortgage. However, it does come at a cost and it might not be the right option for everyone. For other options, check out the best home sale-leaseback companies.
Ready to learn more about EasyKnock’s sale-leaseback programs?
Accessible Home Value
Up to 100%
Remain in Home?
Yes
Time to Fund
Less than 30 days