(What you’ll see when you select a “Guide” through House Karma)
Experience & Performance Excellence
- Minimum 5 years of full-time real estate practice.
- Minimum 100 closed transactions.
- Must rank in the top 5% of agents in their local market (by sides or volume).
- No participation fee required — qualifying is based purely on merit and performance, not pay-to-play.
Specialized Certifications & Training
Each Guide has completed the following:
- House Karma Specialty Agent Training (focus: first-time buyers, affordability programs, sustainable homeownership)
- HUD Housing Counselor Course Completion – With Passing Exam Grade
- Certified Short Sale Expert (CSSE) Certification
- HUD Homes Sales Training (either completed as a student or taught as an instructor)
- Approved Local Listing Broker with a valid NAID Number for HUD/REO assignments (if applicable in that market)
- Completion and Instructor Rating for H.O.M.E “Home Ownership Made Easy” First-time homebuyer course.
Market Coverage & Responsiveness
- The agent specifies their primary service territory (ZIP codes or county) and backup coverage network.
- Commitment to respond to consumer outreach within 5 minutes when notifications are assigned.
- Commits to first live or video meeting within 10 calendar days of introduction.
- Weekly progress updates are communicated via House Karma’s client portal or direct email until the contract is signed.
Rigorous Client Service & Outcomes
- Minimum 80% acceptance rate on client introductions offered by House Karma.
- Minimum 100% of referred leads contacted within 24 hours.
- Client-rated average satisfaction of 4.8/5 or higher on post-transaction surveys.
- Zero substantiated fair-housing, consumer-protection, or licensing complaints in the last 5 years.
Ethical Standards & Alignment
- Signed House Karma Code of Conduct: transparency, no hidden fees, full disclosure of affiliations.
- Use of House Karma-approved tools: affordability calculators, DPA program library, home-inspection network referrals, and transaction-management software (e.g., RIO Genesis).
- Committed to promoting affordable & sustainable homeownership (aligning with House Karma’s mission).
- Annual refresher training is required to remain active in the Guide network.
No Entry Fee – Merit-Based Access
- Guides do not pay to join or maintain status in the network.
- Selection is strictly based on meeting and maintaining these standards.
- House Karma retains the right to remove or pause a Guide whose performance or behavior falls below standards.
