HomeVestors of America, Inc. is a privately owned U.S. real estate franchise company that sells franchises to investors who provide real estate services by buying homes in need of repair and homes that owners need to sell more quickly and easily than typically can be done via a realtor. HomeVestors franchisees then typically renovate and sell them or rent them. Founded in 1989 and franchising since 1996, the company consists of more than 600 independently owned and operated franchises located in 49 states. Acting on approximately 160,000 leads, franchisees buy an average of 8,000 homes within a year, holding them about six months on average. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, HomeVestors is the largest homebuyer in the United States.