Austin-based home buying startup expands into Charlotte, gives buyers “fixed pricing” and “self tours” on renovated homes from $250k-$775k

“We empower home buyers and their agents to search, instantly tour without an appointment, finance and close on our exclusive selection of move-in ready homes, all via a seamless online platform designed to guide buyers through every step of the experience,” Bungalo’s COO, Greg Stewart, said. “Every Bungalo home is meticulously renovated, inspected and Bungalo CertifiedTM before it’s listed. And, for added peace of mind, Bungalo includes post-move warranties so new buyers can rest easy knowing they’re covered even after move-in.”

How it works: You can head to their website or get the app to search the listings (just like Zillow or any other real estate platform). Once you find one you like, you can also request a tour, and you’ll be given a code to enter into the lock pad at the house. You can let yourself in any time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. any day of the week — you’ll never see a real estate agent (unless you feel like working with one). Then, you can put your offer in.

Fixed pricing: What you see is what you get — the listing prices are fixed and there’s no negotiating. Bungalo accepts the first qualified offer they receive. Oh, and they have an affiliate mortgage company to help with financing and same-day approval. If you’re approved, you can manage the closing process online, too.

Why their COO is excited: “We’ve talked to thousands of home buyers that have said navigating the offer price and negotiation strategy were very high on the list in terms of biggest stressors when buying a home,” Greg told me. “Bungalo removes that stress altogether, giving you everything you need to know about the home you’re submitting an offer on and pricing it fairly within comparable range.” He also said with the no-haggle model, there’s no way for them to give preference to all-cash buyers.

Perks: All of the homes are renovated, inspected and under a one-year warranty. The upgrades are clearly outlined for each listing, and I appreciate that all of the houses are truly turn-key (no weird colored carpets or horrifyingly old tile) — but the renovations aren’t so detailed that there isn’t room for you to add your own flare.

Why it matters: Houses in Charlotte are really expensive, and the ones that seem affordable often need a lot of work — which is exactly why Bungalo wanted to start selling here.

“Charlotte is an attractive and in-demand market for home buyers and generally has a limited inventory of high-quality homes available at approachable prices,” Greg said. “Most available housing inventory in most US metros is limited and in need of modernization, but many buyers don’t have the time, resources or know-how to renovate themselves.”

Current listings: The 11 houses available are spread all across the city, from Ballantyne to Huntersville, and about a dozen more are getting ready to come on the market or are undergoing renovation (to be listed at a later date).