Frequently asked questions

Dwellafy is an online marketplace for seller-financed real estate. Property owners publish listings with proposed financing terms; buyers browse, save favorites, and message sellers directly through the platform.

We provide software to connect buyers and sellers. We are not a broker, lender, escrow agent, or legal advisor. See How the platform works for a full overview.

No. Anyone can browse published listings without signing in. You need a free account to save favorites, set up saved searches, message sellers, or publish your own listings.

Click Sign up, enter your email and password, and confirm your address if prompted. Once signed in, you can access your dashboard to manage listings, messages, and account settings.

In many seller-financed transactions, yes — the buyer and seller agree on payment terms directly instead of the buyer obtaining a mortgage from a bank. The seller may carry a note secured by the property, or the parties may use another structure permitted in their state.

Not every seller offers financing, and not every buyer qualifies for the terms offered. Browse seller-financed listings on Dwellafy to see properties with terms posted upfront. Consult a real estate attorney before signing any agreement.

Owner financing (seller financing) usually means the seller extends credit to the buyer for part or all of the purchase price. Typical terms include purchase price, down payment, interest rate, payment schedule, and sometimes a balloon payment due on a future date. The buyer often takes possession while making payments under a promissory note and security instrument such as a deed of trust or mortgage, depending on the state.

Structures vary. Dwellafy shows terms that sellers enter on each listing — we do not draft documents or recommend a specific structure.

With a traditional mortgage, a bank or lender originates the loan, underwrites the buyer, and usually requires appraisal, credit checks, and standardized disclosures. With seller financing, the seller (or a related entity) is the lender — terms are negotiated between buyer and seller and may be more flexible, but the seller may also require a larger down payment or shorter term.

Seller financing does not replace due diligence. Buyers should still verify title, insurance, property condition, and the legal documents with qualified professionals.

Seller-financed properties are often advertised on classified sites, social media, and investor networks — sometimes with incomplete terms.Dwellafy is built specifically for this market: browse published listings, filter by location and price, save searches for new matches, and message sellers when you find a property that fits.

Some sellers are willing to work with buyers who do not qualify for conventional financing, but there is no guarantee. Each seller sets their own requirements — some care more about down payment, income stability, or the buyer's plan for the property than a credit score.

Dwellafy does not run credit checks or guarantee approval. Message the seller on a listing to ask about their criteria. Always review documents with an attorney before committing.

A balloon payment is a lump sum due at a specified date — often after a period of smaller monthly payments. For example, payments might be calculated on a 30-year schedule but the remaining balance is due in full after 5 or 10 years. Buyers may plan to refinance, sell, or pay off the balloon from other funds.

Balloon terms should be clear in writing before you agree to a deal. Many listings on Dwellafyshow balloon details when the seller provides them.

There is no single standard — down payments on seller-financed deals vary by property, market, seller goals, and buyer strength. Some sellers want 10–20% or more; others may accept less in exchange for a higher rate or shorter term.

Each listing on Dwellafy shows the down payment the seller proposes. You can negotiate directly with the seller through messaging.

Seller financing is used in many U.S. real estate transactions, but legality and required documentation depend on federal and state law, property type, occupancy, and whether the seller has an existing mortgage. Some sellers must pay off their bank loan at closing; others may need to comply with Dodd-Frank or state-specific rules when offering residential financing.

Dwellafy does not provide legal advice. Sellers and buyers should consult licensed attorneys in the property's state before structuring a transaction.

Seller financing generally involves a sale with the buyer taking ownership (or equitable interest, depending on structure) and making payments under a note. Rent-to-own (lease option or contract for deed variants) often starts as a rental with an option or obligation to purchase later — terms, who holds title, and what happens if the buyer defaults differ significantly.

The right structure depends on your situation and state law. Dwellafy focuses on listings where sellers advertise seller-financed terms; confirm the exact structure with the seller and your advisor.

It depends on the transaction structure and state practice. In many setups the buyer receives deed (or equivalent title transfer) at closing while the seller holds a security interest through a deed of trust or mortgage. In other arrangements title may transfer differently. Your closing attorney or title company should explain who records what and when.

Seller financing (also called owner financing) generally means the buyer pays the seller over time under a note and security instrument instead of getting a loan from a traditional bank. Terms vary widely — down payment, interest rate, amortization, and balloon payments are all negotiable between the parties.

Dwellafy displays terms that sellers enter. We do not verify those terms or recommend any structure. Consult licensed professionals before making commitments.

Open a listing and use the contact or message option. You must be signed in. Your conversation stays tied to that listing so you can refer back to the property and financing details while you discuss next steps.

Tap the heart on any listing to save it to your Favorites dashboard. Saved searches let you store filter criteria and get notified when new listings match. Manage saved searches from your dashboard.

No. Contracts, title work, disclosures, funding, and recording happen off the platform with your attorney, title company, or other professionals. Messages on Dwellafy are not legally binding offers or contracts.

Treat every listing as an advertisement subject to your own investigation. Before proceeding, consider verifying title, liens, taxes, insurance, property condition, occupancy, and the legal structure of the proposed financing with qualified advisors. Our platform guide includes a due diligence checklist for buyers.

Sign in and go to Create listing. Enter property details, photos, description, and your proposed seller-financing terms. Choose standard or featured visibility, complete checkout if a fee applies, and your listing goes live once payment is confirmed.

Yes. Open your dashboard, select the listing, and use the edit or archive options. Edits update the public listing immediately. Archived listings are removed from search and browse results.

Messages appear in your inbox and in each listing's conversation view. Reply from the dashboard or the messages area. You decide what information to share, whether to schedule showings, and whether to move toward a contract off-platform.

Rules depend on your jurisdiction, property type, and transaction structure. Federal and state laws may apply. Dwellafy does not determine whether you are permitted to offer owner financing — that is your responsibility with qualified counsel.

Start by deciding the terms you are willing to offer: price, down payment, interest rate, payment schedule, and any balloon. Consult an attorney to confirm the structure is permitted for your property and state. Then publish a listing on Dwellafy with those terms visible so buyers can find and message you.

Use Create listing to add photos, property details, and financing terms. Your first listing is free.

You can advertise on classified sites, social media, and local investor groups — but terms are often buried or inconsistent. Dwellafy is a dedicated marketplace: buyers search specifically for seller-financed homes, see your proposed terms on the listing page, and contact you through on-platform messaging.

Your first published listing is free. Each additional standard listing is $19.99. Fees are shown in the order summary before you pay. Buyers never pay to use Dwellafy to browse or message sellers.

Featured listings receive priority visibility on the homepage, at the top of browse results, and with a featured badge. A featured upgrade costs $29.99 and runs for 30 days. You can add featured placement when creating a listing or upgrade an existing listing from your dashboard.

Platform fees are processed securely through Stripe. Supported cards and payment methods are shown at checkout. We do not store your full card number on our servers.

No. Dwellafy charges only for optional platform features such as additional listings and featured placement. We do not take a commission on the property sale or on any seller-financed note between you and a buyer.

No. Messaging is a communication tool only. Any agreement to buy, sell, or finance a property must be documented separately with appropriate legal instruments and professionals.

Deals help you track conversations and progress related to a listing. They are organizational tools within the platform — not closed transactions and not legal contracts.

Yes. Many users move to email, phone, or in-person showings as discussions progress. Be alert to fraud — verify identity and wire instructions through independent channels before sending money.

Use Forgot password on the login page. We will email a reset link if an account exists for that address.

We use your account information to operate the marketplace — authentication, listings, messaging, notifications, and billing. Read our Privacy Policy for details on collection, retention, and your choices.

Contact contact@dwellafy.com from the email address on your account. We will process deletion requests in line with our privacy policy and applicable law.

We may review listings for obvious policy violations, spam, or suspected fraud, but we do not verify ownership, property condition, title status, or financing legality. Every listing is an advertisement from the seller, not a certified offering from Dwellafy.

Email contact@dwellafy.com with the listing URL, username if known, and a description of the concern. We review reports as capacity allows and may remove content or suspend accounts that violate our policies.

Disputes between buyers and sellers are handled between the parties and their advisors. Dwellafy is not a party to your transaction and does not mediate private disagreements.