Homebot offers two ways for Loan Officers to work with Real Estate Agents: co-sponsorship and preferred agent status through the Homebot Network. Both help strengthen your referral network but serve different purposes.
This article covers the differences between the two.
Category | Co-Sponsored Agent | Preferred Agent |
Cost | $25/month (shared 50/50 between loan officer and agent). | Free. |
Account Required | Yes — both loan officer and agent need active Homebot accounts. | No — the agent does not need a Homebot account to be part of the Homebot Network. |
Benefit for Loan Officers | A powerful way to nurture agent relationships year-round and increase visibility by being featured in all finance related modules of the Home Digest and Home Search experience. | A free way to provide added value to agents and strengthen referral relationships without formal co-sponsorship. |
Benefit for Real Estate Agents | Reduces the agents Homebot subscription cost while unlocking the full suite of Homebot features. | Keeps the agent in the loop when shared clients have real estate-related questions through the Home Digest and Home Search experience. |
Branding Visibility | Loan officer branding appears on the Homebot reports sent to the agent’s clients. | Agent branding appears on the Homebot reports sent to the lenders clients. |
To recap:
Co-Sponsorship is a paid partnership — both you and the agent are on Homebot, share the cost, and collaborate directly.
Preferred Agent Status is free — it highlights your client’s existing agent in their Homebot and keeps that agent engaged.
Both options help you build stronger agent relationships and deliver even more value to your clients.
Learn about preferred agents and the Homebot Network here.
Learn more about co-sponsorship here.
Have questions?
Send customer support a direct message using the pink icon at the bottom right corner of your account.
How do sponsorships, co-sponsorships, and partnerships work in Homebot?
Homebot allows users to enhance their client engagement and professional visibility by utilizing sponsorships, co-sponsorships, and partnerships. These features are designed to enable collaboration between agents, lenders, and clients. Understanding how these roles and functionalities differ can help users maximize their Homebot experience.
Key Differences Between Partners and Co-sponsored Agents
Partners: - Partners are included based on historical transaction data. Entries are generated from past completed transactions in the Homebot Network and may utilize contact information from those records. - Real Estate Agents Partners (only) are offered free Homebot Network accounts primarily for branding purposes. - Partners cannot add clients to Homebot databases.
Co-sponsored Agents: - Co-sponsored agents are paid, active subscribers of Homebot who can upload and manage their own client databases. - Agents in this role can actively connect with and co-brand messages sent to clients.
Because Partners rely on historical data and Co-sponsored Agents manage active client lists, the same person may appear in both roles if they are linked by past transactions and also manage an active subscription.
Visibility Rules for Partners and Clients
Preferred Pros:
A partner is only visible to a specific client as a "Preferred Pro" in Homebot if:
The partner is added to that client’s Team within the Homebot platform.
The client explicitly approves the introduction.
Visibility is client-specific, and approval is mandatory. After approval, the agent partner is co-branded on real estate-related communications.
Linking Preferred Partners and Your Preferred Lender:
If preferred agents are appearing connected to a lender other than your preferred choice, it's likely because you are on a free Homebot Network account. This type of account allows any lender to link your contact details to their client communications but does not ensure exclusive visibility or branding with a specific lender. To associate yourself with a preferred lender:
Upgrade to a paid Homebot plan via the "Account" → "Billing Info" menu.
Select the $25/month plan.
Once the plan is active, connect to your chosen lender as a co-sponsor for exclusive branding and communication benefits.
Upgrading also unlocks additional features, including enhanced account management and direct client database connection.
Summary
Homebot sponsorship features provide a versatile way for professionals to connect with clients and co-brand communications. Understanding the distinctions between Partners and Co-sponsored Agents, as well as the specific visibility rules, ensures users can effectively manage their professional relationships and maximize the value of the platform.