How a busy modern couple breezed through every step of their first home purchase like total pros.

As a young married couple, Sarah and Zaid were craving an upgrade from the cramped apartment life (and their cramped kitchen). Instead of paying high rent for a small space, they wanted to invest their hard-earned money toward a nicely renovated home they could call their own. They wanted an open layout where friends and family could easily hang out, a backyard built for entertaining, and a renovated kitchen where Sarah could take recipes for her healthy food website to the next level. 

But since Sarah and Zaid were first-timers, the road ahead of buying a home — and then owning one — looked unclear, and filled with obstacles and uncertainty. “We didn’t know what to look for,” says Sarah. “You hear all these stories about… you’re going to go live in your first house and have to deal with all these problems,” says Zaid. “And we’re like… alright, so what do we do?” 

Well, as fate would have it, one impromptu home tour was about to bring all the puzzle pieces together.

A home tour that changed the game. 

Sarah and Zaid kicked off their home search by browsing homes online and working with their real estate agent to scope out MLS listings. But when they started touring houses in person, the inconveniences started to pile up. 

“We tried to schedule appointments… it’s after work, we’re taking time out, we’re moving dinner aside and plans to go do it… and sometimes people would cancel,” says Sarah. When the appointments did pan out, Sarah and Zaid never really got the time they needed to get a good feel of the home. “We had 15 minutes to view one home. We didn’t really have time to envision ourselves in it,” says Sarah. After all that, it’s safe to say Sarah and Zaid were tired of touring on someone else’s schedule. And then one night after work, while they were in the area for a home tour appointment with their agent, Sarah and Zaid spotted a Bungalo ‘For Sale’ sign from the car. “We were excited when we saw that we could go in right then and there even though it was getting close to 7pm,” says Sarah. “I really liked the fact that, with Bungalo, you could tour on your own time. With our schedules that was really convenient… and necessary.”

I really liked the fact that, with Bungalo, you could tour on your own time. With our schedules that was really convenient…and necessary.

Until this point, Sarah and Zaid had found themselves sacrificing big items on their wishlist like an open kitchen. But that all changed when they toured their Bungalo home for the first time. “We walked in here and it started to check off all the things we were starting to give up,” says Sarah. “It’s all renovated. Everything was new and redone. We loved all the touches.” And with our inspection reports ready to view right there in the house, Sarah and Zaid knew exactly what they were looking at. “That was one thing that was really helpful for us with the 3rd party inspection,” says Sarah. “If there was something that they had mentioned, we were able to look and see… was that actually fixed… and have it right in front of us instead of having it hidden.”

Cruising through closing day. 

After touring, Sarah and Zaid were sure they found a home they could be confident in, so the next day, they made a first-come, first-served offer at Bungalo’s set price. “Once we were putting the offer in I was jumping up and down in that kitchen. I was so excited,” says Sarah. According to the couple, the Bungalo offer process went off way easier than expected. “A lot of the other homes we looked at… it was a guessing game.

Let’s get you to closing day. Manage the entire closing process like a pro with Bungalo’s digital closing checklist.

I loved that it was transparent and constant communication. We knew we were going to have a sure bet here.”

The closing process was surprisingly straightforward too. “We started the process at the Bungalo website and we basically went through the steps. It was…easy,” says Zaid. Using Bungalo’s online closing checklist, Sarah and Zaid were able to knock out one step of the closing process after another, no problem. “It was really cool to be able to track the status of it.” says Sarah. “To know we’re one step closer to closing and we’re on the right track and this is the due date for each item… that was really convenient.”

Only one thing left to do. Celebrate! 

The day their movers came, Sarah and Zaid popped open a bottle of champagne in their Bungalo home to celebrate. Now, Sarah and Zaid are all moved in, unpacked, and enjoying their new home to its fullest potential. Sarah’s favorite feature is the renovated kitchen. “I love having space. Everything has a place. It’s just so open,” says Sarah. “I run a Keto website on the side. I focus on low-carb recipes and healthy eating, and this kitchen allows me to not only plate things beautifully…but it’s also inspired a lot more options for cooking.” Zaid loves that their home has a great backyard for entertaining friends and a private gaming room for him, but his FAVORITE feature just happens to be the kitchen as well. Why? “Because I get to try my wife’s great food!” says Zaid. Welcome home, you two. 

This article is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as financial, tax, legal, real estate, insurance, or investment advice. Bungalo always encourages you to reach out to an advisor regarding your own situation.

How a Dallas area family found a house where they could immediately feel at home.

Three years after starting a life in their first home, Alyson and Derek were ready to move on from their small Texas town of less than 5,000 people to a more desirable location for them near better work opportunities, dream schools, and lots of fun family activities. First, the couple felt like being closer to Dallas-Fort Worth would broaden their career horizons. But there were other deciding factors too. “There was not very much to do before. It was… boring. We wanted to be closer to family and wanted to have stuff to do.” And with two kids and a dog to come home to, a short commute — and as much time together as possible — was perhaps their biggest motivator of all. 

Alyson and Derek weren’t just looking for the right location, though. They needed the right location, the right price, and most importantly, the right home.

The right home looks different to everyone.

Top item on their wishlist? Derek’s dad had recently passed down the ultimate family heirloom: his high school car  — a 1974 Z28 Camaro. But Derek knew the one condition for hanging on to this prized classic ride. “For a house we were going to buy, we had to have a garage,” says Derek. “He wouldn’t let me have [the Camaro] if we didn’t have a garage, so that was very important.” Alyson wanted a big yard for the kiddos and the dog, and a renovated master suite with a walk-in closet and standalone bathtub to relax in after a busy day of teaching high school Spanish. Other priorities were separate bedrooms for the kids so they could have their own space, and a home office where mom and dad could get some work done (working in technology, Derek needed way faster internet then they had in the country). 

When fixer uppers and cookie cutters just don’t cut it.

Alyson and Derek kicked off their home search by looking at some new construction houses with their realtor. But with cramped backyards and “cookie-cutter” stylings, none of these houses felt like the one. “I was looking for a house that I could see myself and my family living in,” says Alyson. “I imagined where we would put all of our furniture, how we would arrange different rooms and bedrooms, and how it would be to host parties and family get-togethers there. Sometimes, based on this alone, I would rule out a house.”

We didn’t want to move in and have to redo the house and fix things. 

Finding a pre-owned home that checked off all Alyson and Derek’s boxes proved to be a not-so-easy task itself. Especially since they wanted something within their budget that didn’t need ANY work done. “We didn’t want to move in and have to redo the house and fix things,” says Derek. “It was important for us to have a house that was as complete as possible.” After nearly four months of searching, the couple eventually made an offer on a house, but the inspection uncovered a lot of issues. “It was a terrible experience. They had original air conditioning units that were on the verge of death,” says Derek. “It needed a ton of work.” Having watched her fair share of home renovation shows, Alyson was just as weary of taking on a fixer upper. “I personally am not the type of person who can live in a construction zone. I can’t live in clutter, I can’t live in disorganization.”

A move-in ready home too good NOT to be true.

When it was time to tour their Bungalo home, Alyson and Derek knew almost immediately. “The moment for me when I realized that I wanted to make an offer on this house was… as soon as we unlocked the door and came in,” says Alyson.

We inspect so you know what to expect. Every Bungalo home is thoroughly inspected before it’s listed, so you can be confident in what you’re looking at. Learn more about Bungalo Certified™ quality.

They especially loved the modern light fixtures, and the charm of the penny tile in the half bath. “The homes within our budget that we were seeing… they still had like carpet from the 1970s or the popcorn ceilings. And then we came in here, and everything was shiny and new,” says Alyson. They almost couldn’t believe what they were seeing. “It was like, there has to be something wrong with this house,” says Derek. But Bungalo made sure everything was pre-inspected from the smallest details to the big ticket items. “We don’t have to worry about the A/C going out,” says Derek. “We don’t have to worry about the brand new water heater… the roof… everything is DONE.” The couple was pleasantly surprised, and ready to make the home theirs. “It’s a testament to the way Bungalo works,” says Alyson. “You pick a place that has good bones and good structure, and you make sure it’s going to last for years like a new house would.”

The moment for me when I realized that I wanted to make an offer on this house was… as soon as we unlocked the door and came in.

And just like that, a house becomes a home.

As soon as Alyson and Derek got their financing in order with their bank, they made an online offer, and boom, closing time. “It was emailed, it was signed, everything’s official,” says Derek. “Everything from start to finish was so smooth and easy and comforting,” says Alison. “There was not one moment of regret or uncertainty once we chose this house.” From there, pretty much all they had left to do was move in — which was about as stress-free as you’d expect. “We didn’t have to do anything,” says Alyson. “Our Bungalo home was a really great find for us because we were able to just come in, bring in the boxes, unpack, and really turn this place into a home.” 

There was not one moment of regret or uncertainty once we chose this house.

Now, being at home in their Bungalo means there’s a perfect place for everyone and everything that matters. Derek’s classic Camaro rests easy in its garage. Alyson can breeze home from work and get that bubble bath up and running in no time. The kids each have their own bedrooms with space for all their toys. And the family dog, Leisl, even has a spacious backyard where she can comfortably run and play. 

This article is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as financial, tax, legal, real estate, insurance, or investment advice. Bungalo always encourages you to reach out to an advisor regarding your own situation.

How a young Tampa family avoided the usual home buying struggles and found the perfect fit.

Shortly after bringing their daughter Nora into the world, Tampa area homeowners Samantha (Sam) and Corey quickly realized that their starter home wasn’t going to cut it for this next big stage in life. With a newborn needing all of their spare attention and increasingly hectic work schedules, they were tired of all the time-consuming maintenance projects that came with their old home. “We had so many things to do to the old house. And with having a new baby, the time wasn’t there,” says Sam. Instead, they wanted a home that was project-free, with plenty of space to raise Nora, play with their goldendoodle, Marcona, and host visiting friends and Grandparents. Finding the right, move-in ready home was only half the battle, though. With so little time on their hands, Sam and Corey also needed a way to buy their next home while barely lifting a finger.

“We had so many things to do to the old house. And with having a new baby, the time wasn’t there.”

Finding an (actually) move-in ready home.

At first, Sam and Corey’s home search was fairly casual. For about a year after Nora was born, the couple looked at homes for sale online and visited a few in person. Their initial home search, however, didn’t give Sam and Corey much confidence. “We didn’t see the value out there. We saw some nice houses that were overpriced, and we also saw houses where we had to do work. We were trying to avoid that situation,” says Corey. The two eventually started working with a realtor, finally found a home they wanted, and made an offer. Unfortunately, there was a contingency in the contract that required Sam and Corey to sell their old house by a certain date in order to officially buy the new home. This was just one more hurdle for the new parents — and almost impossible within the contract’s timeframe. So the offer was denied, and Sam and Corey were back at square one. They had pretty much decided to stay put when Sam found a home online that checked all their boxes. They figured, why not check it out?

A home tour and a turning point.

Sam first visited the Bungalo home on her own (with baby Nora along for the ride). She was immediately impressed by the home’s design. “It was completely redone the way we would want it redone, which you don’t find in new construction,” says Sam. Featuring bright white cabinets, quartz countertops, and sleek chrome finishes, the renovated Bungalo kitchen was similar to their own, which they had recently updated to fit their tastes. Corey joined Sam on a second tour and was equally blown away, especially by the new wood flooring, since their old home’s floors “always felt old and dirty,” according to Corey. Both liked that the home was move-in ready, but still had character, which they hadn’t found in new build homes.

“It was completely redone the way we would want it redone, which you don’t find in new construction.”

Taking advantage of our convenient self-tours, Sam loved the fact that she could visit on her own schedule without an appointment. “We saw the Bungalo house and it was so easy to come check it out, so we came back probably like 20 times,” says Sam. “I’m walking around imagining my stuff in different places… it gave me more assurance that this was the one.” Sam would even feed baby Nora her snack on the patio — almost as if they were already home.

Securing a stress-free mortgage.

After their first tour, Sam and Corey got ready to make an offer (before someone else could jump on the home they wanted). At this point, they hadn’t talked with a mortgage lender yet so financing was still a big item on their home buying checklist. When the couple found out they could apply for a mortgage pre-approval with our affiliate company, Bungalo Mortgage, they jumped on the opportunity, knowing it would make the purchase faster and easier than if they used another lender. “I would definitely recommend Bungalo Mortgage to a friend,” says Sam. “The people we worked with were very transparent and trustworthy, and we felt like they had our backs throughout the process.” Another perk that sold them on Bungalo Mortgage? The cost savings. Since they would be buying a Bungalo home, Sam and Corey were eligible for $1000 off of their closing costs, and an additional $1000 by using the preferred title company. That $2000 savings was more than enough to seal the deal. Guided by an expert Bungalo Mortgage Loan Specialist, Sam and Corey were pre-approved for a mortgage within minutes of submitting the right documents, and ready to buy their Bungalo home.

Owning every step, all the way to Closing Day.

From there, Sam and Corey brought in a realtor to help them get to the finish line. They thought the price was more than fair for the high quality of the home. And they especially liked the fact that Bungalo’s No Hassle price point meant they wouldn’t have to get involved in bidding wars, which was another time-saver for everyone. Bungalo’s easy online process was a huge win for Corey too. “I loved it. It was just extremely easy,” says Corey. “It almost felt as if I didn’t have to invest that much time and knowledge into how this all works, which was really nice.” Sam and Corey submitted an offer online and Bungalo accepted it the next day. With every step of the process broken down into manageable steps, Sam and Corey breezed through closing day stress-free. Now move-in day was just around the corner.

No more surprises, way more free time.

Corey was tired of spending weekends (and weeknights!) on house projects. So the fact that the couple’s Bungalo home was certified and backed by a warranty was a game changer. “I don’t have to repair it all the time. It’s just nice to relax in our house,” says Corey. Even after moving into their home, though, Bungalo still had their backs. Shortly after they moved in and started getting settled, Sam and Corey took advantage of the Bungalo Post Close Protection that was included with their Bungalo home.

“I don’t have to repair it all the time. It’s just nice to relax in our house.”

Like with any house, a few small things came up here and there (for example: the shower head would run a little bit when they turned the bath on). No biggie. All Sam had to do was reach out to Bungalo. Local Project Manager, Ryan, was in contact in minutes. “I reached out to [Ryan] at 9pm and he responded at 9:02pm,” says Sam. After a few thorough fixes, Sam and Corey were more at ease than ever and ready for whatever comes next.

Looking back and moving forward.

Now, reflecting on their experience with Bungalo, the young family plans to never go back to the old ways of home buying. “The process was incredible. I still tell people about it,” says Sam. “What you guys are doing is very innovative. I’d definitely recommend a Bungalo home” says Corey. “Everybody’s eventually going to buy a house, so if you give somebody an opportunity to do something a lot simpler and easier… I think that’s pretty cool.”

This article is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as financial, tax, legal, real estate, insurance, or investment advice. Bungalo always encourages you to reach out to an advisor regarding your own situation.

*Same day pre-approval is contingent upon receipt of your required documents.

Buying a home is hands-down the most important purchase you’ll ever make. Shouldn’t it come with the same stress-free guarantees as every other purchase in the digital age? It does now, thanks to Bungalo, a home buying site that has the real estate industry buzzing. 

The days of buying a house—entirely online—have arrived. — The Real Deal

Bungalo brings the pitfall-laden process—so many steps, so little guidance—of buying a home into the 21st century. Finally. A one-stop-shop for anyone buying a home, the platform makes finding your dream home easy—even enjoyable—with a fully digital, transparent and streamlined experience from tour to close.

Bungalo is the first all-in-one experience that guides you through every step of buying a home.

How does it work? First, browse an inventory of certified and warrantied homes before they’re listed anywhere else and tour on your schedule with easy smartphone access. Then, get pre-approved for a mortgage the same day* through Bungalo Mortgage by uploading all of the necessary documents digitally. When you fall in love with a home, put in an offer you feel confident in with no-haggle pricing—no more bidding wars. Get your offer reviewed within 48 hours and, once accepted, sign closing documents digitally. It’s as easy as point, click, move in.

Bungalo promises to revolutionize home buying — Yahoo! Finance

Bungalo is dedicated to making the home buying process a total delight. Let’s take a tour:

Certified Homes, Certified Peace of Mind

A house is a big investment. But it doesn’t have to be a scary one. That’s why all Bungalo’s homes undergo a rigorous inspection and certification process before being listed on bungalohomes.com. For added peace of mind, Bungalo homes are backed by one-year warranty. Have any minor issues in the first 30 days after closing? Bungalo homes also come with Post Close Protection, which means they’ll send out a team member to personally get you all fixed up.

Exclusive Listings, Just For You

Bungalo’s homes are exclusively listed on its platform for a full 48 hours before they are published on sites like ZIllow and Redfin, allowing buyers the ability to tour homes before anyone else. In a buyer’s market, where people are vying for homes, this exclusive inventory takes the stress out of fighting for a showing.

No more calling an agent to book a tour or waiting for the current owners to vacate the property so you can take a look. Because Bungalo owns and renovates all of the homes it sells, you can tour anytime. Easily access the home with your smartphone on your own schedule.

Agents who monitor Bungalo can tip their clients off to listings that they can’t yet find elsewhere. — Inman

Frictionless Financing

Get same day pre-approval* with Bungalo Mortgage, our affiliate company, which is valid for 90 days. Learn more.

Get pre-approved for a mortgage in 48 hours or less. Financing your dream home doesn’t have to be a nightmare and Bungalo Mortgage offers competitive rates and ease-of-use. Upload all of your documents online and work with one of Bungalo Mortgage’s loan officers to get all of your questions answered—at any time, from anywhere. Plus, save $1,000 off your closing costs when you finance your Bungalo home with Bungalo Mortgage.

Bungalo empowers buyers to search, tour, finance, make an offer and close on a home all in one place. Talk about streamlined! — Candy’s Dirt

Bidding Wars Be Gone

Say goodbye to bidding wars. Bungalo’s no-haggle pricing means you can confidently submit an offer online without worry of hitting the right price—the right price is the listing price. Bungalo accepts the first qualified offer that comes through and doesn’t give preferential treatment to cash offers.

Close From Anywhere and Move Right In

Bungalo’s qualified team guides you through the home buying process every step of the way. Once you’re ready to move in, you can sign your closing documents from anywhere and get the keys when you want. And when you partner with one of Bungalo’s preferred title partners you can get $1,000 off of closing costs. Just a few clicks and you’re home.

Bungalo is truly home buying the way it should be.

This article is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended to be construed as financial, tax, legal, real estate, insurance, or investment advice. Bungalo always encourages you to reach out to an advisor regarding your own situation.

*Same day pre-approval is contingent upon receipt of your required documents.