Program Matching Is a Skill, Not a Lookup Table
When builders first start working with equity unlock programs, the instinct is to pick one and use it for everything. One lender relationship, one set of disclosures, one script. Clean and simple.
The problem is that these programs are not interchangeable. HomeLight Buy Before You Sell, CrossCountry's bridge loan product, and NAF Cash each serve a different buyer profile. A buyer who qualifies perfectly for one program may not qualify for another at all. A buyer who is best served by HomeLight's managed sale approach may not have the income profile for a CrossCountry bridge. A buyer in a competitive resale market may need the power of NAF Cash's all-cash offer even if the fee structure is higher.
The builders who convert the most contingent buyers into clean contracts are the ones who can quickly assess which program fits the buyer in front of them. This guide gives you the framework to do that.
HomeLight Buy Before You Sell: The Managed Sale Approach
HomeLight Buy Before You Sell (BBYS) is the most widely known equity unlock product in the market. Its core mechanic is a managed sale: HomeLight partners with the buyer's agent, values the existing home, and advances up to 75 to 80 percent of the home's equity, net of the outstanding mortgage, so the buyer can make a non-contingent offer on the new purchase.
The timeline is fast. Approval typically comes back in 24 to 48 hours. Equity access is available within 5 to 7 business days. For a buyer who needs to move quickly, that speed is meaningful.
The "managed sale" element means HomeLight takes an active role in the disposition of the existing home. They work with the buyer's agent, set a target sale timeline, and in some cases provide a backstop: if the home does not sell within a defined window, HomeLight may purchase it directly to ensure the advance is repaid. This backstop is what allows them to approve buyers quickly without requiring traditional income qualification.
Best for: Buyers with $150,000 or more in home equity, homes in metro or suburban markets with reliable comparable sales data, and buyers who want a fast, low-friction path to removing their contingency without managing the bridge mechanics themselves.
Watch-outs: HomeLight BBYS has geographic and property type restrictions. Rural properties, homes with limited comparable sales, and properties with unusual physical characteristics may not qualify. The program's valuation methodology is conservative by design, since they are accepting disposition risk, so buyers with significant equity may receive a lower advance than expected.
CrossCountry Mortgage Bridge: The Income-Qualified Option
CrossCountry's bridge loan product operates on a traditional lending model. The buyer borrows against their existing home equity, typically up to 80 percent of the loan-to-value ratio, repays the loan when the home sells, and maintains full control of the listing and sale process.
Because this is a traditional loan product, it requires full income qualification. The buyer needs to demonstrate the ability to carry both the bridge loan and the new mortgage simultaneously. In the 2026 rate environment, that income threshold is real: carrying two mortgages plus a bridge loan at current rates requires meaningful income.
The timeline is longer than HomeLight. Expect 2 to 3 weeks from application to funded bridge. The loan term is typically 6 to 12 months, giving the buyer adequate time to list and sell their existing home without emergency pricing pressure.
Best for: High-income buyers who want to control their own listing and sale process, buyers with strong W-2 income who can easily qualify, and buyers who are uncomfortable with the managed sale model and want full agency over their home disposition.
Watch-outs: Income qualification disqualifies a meaningful portion of buyers. Self-employed buyers with complex income may struggle. Buyers whose debt-to-income ratio is already stretched by the new construction purchase may not qualify for the bridge loan on top of it.
Key Insight
CrossCountry's bridge is the right tool when the buyer has strong income, wants control, and has a realistic 3-week window before the new construction closing. HomeLight BBYS is the right tool when speed matters most and the buyer prefers to offload the complexity of the existing home sale. NAF Cash is the right tool when the buyer's existing home is in a competitive market where a cash offer wins deals. These are not competing products. They are tools for different situations.
NAF Cash: The All-Cash Offer Structure
New American Funding's NAF Cash program works differently from the other two. Rather than advancing equity from the buyer's existing home, NAF purchases the new home on behalf of the buyer with an all-cash offer, then sells it back to the buyer once their existing home sells and their financing is in place.
The all-cash structure is valuable in competitive markets where sellers or builders strongly prefer cash offers. In new construction, this is less of a differentiator since builders typically control their own contract process, but in situations where the buyer is competing with other buyers on a limited inventory home or a quick move-in, NAF Cash can be decisive.
The fee structure is typically 1 to 2 percent of the purchase price. On a $600,000 home, that is $6,000 to $12,000 in program fees, which is meaningful but often worth it in the right competitive scenario.
Best for: Buyers in competitive markets, buyers who do not need to sell their existing home to fund the purchase (they just want the cash offer advantage), and situations where the new construction builder is competing with resale for the buyer's attention and the all-cash framing helps close the deal.
Watch-outs: NAF Cash fees are higher than the other programs on a percentage basis. Buyers who are sensitive to transaction costs may prefer HomeLight or a CrossCountry bridge. The program also requires that the buyer eventually qualify for a traditional mortgage, so financing pre-qualification is still a requirement.
Not Sure Which Program Fits Your Buyer?
ClearClose reviews buyer profiles and matches them to the right equity unlock program, then manages the conversion process end-to-end so your sales team stays focused on selling.
Talk to ClearCloseSide-by-Side Program Comparison
| Program | Best For | Equity Access Timeline | Typical Fees | Who Qualifies | Main Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HomeLight BBYS | Buyers wanting fast, managed path to non-contingent offer | 5-7 business days | Service fee on home sale (varies) | $150K+ equity, metro/suburban property | Conservative valuations, rural property restrictions |
| CrossCountry Bridge | High-income buyers who want full control of their home sale | 2-3 weeks | Standard loan origination + interest | Full income qualification, 80% LTV max | Income qualification disqualifies many buyers |
| NAF Cash | Competitive markets, buyers wanting all-cash offer power | Varies by transaction | 1-2% of purchase price | Must qualify for permanent financing | Higher fees, less useful in builder-controlled contracts |
How ClearClose Approaches Program Matching
ClearClose operates as a program-agnostic partner for builders. Rather than advocating for any single equity unlock product, the approach is to review each buyer's financial profile, identify which programs they qualify for, and recommend the option that best fits their situation and timeline.
In practice, this means buyers are not being pushed into a program because it is convenient for the builder. They are being matched to the program most likely to actually work for their specific equity level, income profile, property type, and timeline. That matching precision is what drives the 70-plus percent conversion rate that well-implemented ClearClose partnerships deliver.
For builders, the value is simple: instead of managing one lender relationship with one set of qualification criteria, you have access to the full spectrum of equity unlock options and a partner who handles the buyer qualification and program introduction on your behalf.
Watch Out
Builders who commit to a single equity unlock program and apply it universally will see lower conversion rates than builders who match buyers to the right program. If a buyer gets declined by HomeLight because of a rural property restriction and your team has no other option to offer, that contingency stays in the contract. Program breadth directly translates to higher conversion rates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between HomeLight BBYS and a bridge loan?
HomeLight Buy Before You Sell is a managed sale program, not a loan. HomeLight advances equity against the buyer's existing home and takes an active role in facilitating its sale. A bridge loan, like CrossCountry's product, is a short-term loan secured by the existing home's equity that the buyer repays when the home sells. The key practical differences are qualification (HomeLight does not require full income qualification, CrossCountry does) and control (bridge loan buyers manage their own sale, HomeLight buyers work within HomeLight's managed sale process).
Which program is easiest for buyers to qualify for?
HomeLight BBYS has the lowest qualification barrier because it does not require traditional income qualification. Eligibility is primarily based on the equity level in the existing home and the property's location and marketability. CrossCountry's bridge requires full income underwriting, making it harder to qualify for. NAF Cash requires the buyer to eventually qualify for a permanent mortgage, which is a standard qualification bar. For buyers with equity but limited income documentation (self-employed, retired, commission-based), HomeLight is typically the most accessible option.
What does HomeLight Buy Before You Sell cost the buyer?
HomeLight charges a service fee that is deducted from the proceeds of the existing home sale. The fee varies based on the home value and market conditions, but it typically runs in the range of what a traditional listing commission would cost. There is not a published flat fee rate, so the actual cost varies by transaction. Buyers should request a full program disclosure from HomeLight that shows the fee structure and how it compares to the proceeds they would receive from a standard sale without the program.
Can a buyer use NAF Cash if they don't need to sell their existing home?
Yes. NAF Cash is designed to provide all-cash offer power, and it is not contingent on the buyer having an existing home to sell. Buyers who want the competitive advantage of an all-cash offer but plan to convert to a traditional mortgage after closing can use NAF Cash regardless of whether they own another property. In new construction, this use case is less common because builders control their own contract process, but it can be relevant for buyers who are also considering resale alternatives.
What happens if a buyer gets rejected by one equity unlock program?
A rejection from one program does not mean the buyer is out of options. Each program has different qualification criteria, and a buyer who does not qualify for HomeLight (perhaps due to a rural property or below-threshold equity) may qualify for a CrossCountry bridge. A buyer who cannot qualify for a bridge loan due to income may still be eligible for NAF Cash if they have solid employment and can qualify for a permanent mortgage. The goal is to assess the full range of options before concluding that a buyer cannot remove their contingency. That is exactly what ClearClose does.
How does ClearClose decide which program to recommend?
ClearClose evaluates each buyer against a standard set of criteria: equity level and property location (HomeLight eligibility), income and debt profile (CrossCountry eligibility), and financing qualification and competitive context (NAF Cash fit). The recommendation is based on which program the buyer is most likely to qualify for and which best serves their timeline and preferences. In cases where multiple programs apply, ClearClose presents the options and lets the buyer make an informed choice. The goal is always the fastest, most reliable path to a non-contingent contract.
Let ClearClose match your buyers to the right equity unlock program. Get started today.