# EasyKnock **Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/easyknock **Vertical:** Real Estate & Property Tech **Subcategory:** General **Tier:** Emerging **Website:** https://www.easyknock.com (defunct) **Last Updated:** 2026-04-14 ## Summary NYC residential sale-leaseback fintech permanently closed December 2024; $127M raised ($28M Northwestern Mutual Series D Feb 2024) before state AG enforcement actions in Michigan/Massachusetts and consumer lawsuits across 5 states led to closure. ## Company Overview EasyKnock was a New York City-based residential sale-leaseback fintech company — having raised $127 million in total venture funding over 9 rounds including a $28 million Series D led by Northwestern Mutual in February 2024 — that permanently closed in December 2024 following regulatory enforcement actions and consumer litigation. Founded in 2016 by CEO Jarred Kessler and Ben Black, EasyKnock pioneered the residential sale-leaseback model in the United States, allowing homeowners to sell their property to EasyKnock for immediate liquidity while remaining as tenants in their home — targeting homeowners seeking to access equity without moving, those facing potential foreclosure, or property owners seeking capital for investments. EasyKnock's sale-leaseback model addressed the home equity liquidity gap for homeowners with substantial equity but limited monthly cash flow: traditional home equity extraction (HELOC, cash-out refinance) requires sufficient monthly income to qualify for the new debt obligation — excluding homeowners who are equity-rich but income-constrained (retired homeowners, self-employed individuals with variable income, homeowners with credit challenges). EasyKnock's model (purchasing the home at assessed value, providing the homeowner with the sale proceeds as immediate liquidity, and collecting a monthly lease payment that may be lower than a mortgage payment) accessed the equity without requiring traditional mortgage underwriting. The model's growth into acquisitions — Ribbon (May 2023), Onder (September 2023), Balance Homes (December 2023), and HomePace (May 2024) — attempted to expand the product offering across the real estate transaction stack. EasyKnock's closure in December 2024 came after state regulators and consumer advocates raised concerns about the sale-leaseback model's impact on vulnerable homeowners: consumer lawsuits were filed in Texas, Maryland, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, with attorneys general in Michigan and Massachusetts pursuing enforcement actions, alleging that the transaction terms — including purchase prices below market value, escalating rent structures, and complex buyback provisions — were predatory toward financially distressed homeowners. The NPR-documented enforcement actions, combined with challenging conditions for real estate and fintech companies with high capital requirements, led to EasyKnock's permanent cessation of operations in December 2024. EasyKnock's closure serves as a case study in regulatory compliance risk for innovative financial products targeting financially vulnerable consumers. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What did EasyKnock do? EasyKnock provided residential sale-leaseback solutions that allowed homeowners to sell their property for immediate cash while simultaneously leasing it back to continue living in the home. This innovative product gave homeowners access to their home equity without moving, offering an alternative to traditional home equity loans, HELOCs, or reverse mortgages. The company permanently closed in December 2024. ### Who were EasyKnock's target customers? EasyKnock targeted homeowners seeking to access home equity without moving, including those facing financial hardship or potential foreclosure, individuals needing capital for business investments, homeowners with credit challenges preventing traditional loans, and those wanting to avoid monthly mortgage payments while staying in their homes. ### When was EasyKnock founded? EasyKnock was founded in 2016 (some sources cite 2015) in New York City by Jarred Kessler and Ben Black. The company operated for approximately 8 years before permanently closing in December 2024 following legal and regulatory challenges. ### Where was EasyKnock headquartered? EasyKnock was headquartered in New York City, New York. The company operated across multiple U.S. states offering residential sale-leaseback solutions to homeowners seeking alternative home equity access methods. ### How much funding did EasyKnock raise? EasyKnock raised a total of $127 million in equity funding over 9 rounds, including seed funding ($3.5M), Series A ($12M), Series B ($20M), Series C ($57.2M), and Series D ($28M led by Northwestern Mutual in February 2024). The company also secured hundreds of millions in debt funding to finance sale-leaseback transactions. ### Why did EasyKnock close? EasyKnock permanently closed in December 2024 after facing consumer lawsuits in Texas, Maryland, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, along with enforcement actions by attorneys general in Michigan and Massachusetts. Legal scrutiny, regulatory challenges, and difficult market conditions for real estate fintech companies led to the shutdown. ### What made EasyKnock different from competitors? EasyKnock was the first company to bring commercial real estate sale-leaseback structures to the residential market at scale. Unlike traditional home equity products requiring monthly payments or age restrictions (reverse mortgages), EasyKnock's solution provided immediate liquidity while allowing homeowners to remain in their homes as renters, creating a unique value proposition in the market. ### Who were EasyKnock's competitors? Competitors included other home equity fintech companies like Hometap and Point (home equity investments/shared appreciation), traditional lenders offering HELOCs and home equity loans, reverse mortgage providers like Finance of America, and alternative sale-leaseback providers that emerged following EasyKnock's market validation. ### What acquisitions did EasyKnock make? EasyKnock made five acquisitions: Ribbon (power buyer services, May 2023), Onder (property maintenance, September 2023), Balance Homes (home equity co-ownership, December 2023), and HomePace (home equity investment firm, May 2024). These acquisitions aimed to expand the company's product portfolio beyond traditional sale-leasebacks. ### What was the employee experience at EasyKnock? Employee reviews were mixed. Positive aspects included a fun startup environment, mission-driven work, and collaborative diverse teams. However, employees reported multiple rounds of layoffs every 2-3 months in 2023-2024, creating a toxic work culture with constant fear of job loss, benefit cuts including eliminated 401K match, salary reductions, and performance bonuses changed from cash to stock. ### Is EasyKnock still operating? No, EasyKnock is permanently closed as of December 2024. The sale-leaseback platform shut down following consumer lawsuits and regulatory enforcement actions. Customers who had transactions with EasyKnock should seek legal counsel if they have concerns about their agreements. Alternative companies offering similar services include Hometap and Point. ### What partnerships did EasyKnock establish? EasyKnock established strategic partnerships with iHeartMedia (advertising alliance in May 2024), New American Funding (to offer flexible homeowner programs), and secured backing from investors including Northwestern Mutual, QED Investors, Moderne Ventures, Gaingels, and Zillow co-founder Spencer Rascoff in its $28M Series D round. ## Tags b2c, fintech, north-america, proptech, saas --- *Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-14.*