Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

Effective date: 01-01-2025
Last updated: 08-10-2025

This Privacy Policy explains how The Homestead Group (“Homestead,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, discloses, and protects information about you when you use our websites, mobile experiences, chat and lead forms, marketing tools, social pages, and any services that link to this Policy (collectively, the “Services”).

If you are in the UK/EEA, our processing of your personal data complies with the UK GDPR/EU GDPR. If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA) section describes your rights. Other state-specific rights (e.g., VA, CO, CT, UT) are described below.

1) Who We Are & How To Contact Us

Controller: The Homestead Group
Legal name: Homestead Group, LLC
Postal address: Street, City, State/Province, Postal Code, Country
Email: privacy@migration.thehomestead.co

2) Scope

This Policy applies to:

  • Visitors to our website(s)
  • Buyers, sellers, and investors who submit inquiries or use our tools (e.g., home search, home value)
  • Prospective and current agents who apply to join our brokerage or use agent tools
  • Individuals who interact with our ads, emails, SMS, or social content

This Policy does not cover third-party sites/services you access via links from our Services.

3) Information We Collect

We collect information directly from you, automatically, and from third parties.

A. Information You Provide

  • Contact & Identity: name, email, phone number, postal address
  • Account & Profile: username, password, preferences, saved searches, saved homes
  • Property Details: address you own or are interested in, listing information, selling/buying timelines
  • Financial Context (optional): budget range, pre-approval status, lender preferences
  • Communications: forms, chat transcripts, emails, call recordings (where permitted), survey responses
  • Agent Applications: licensing info, brokerage history, resume/CV, background details you choose to share

B. Information Collected Automatically

  • Usage & Device Data: IP address, device type, browser, operating system, referring/exit pages, timestamps, page views, clicks, feature use
  • Location Data: derived from IP or device settings (with your permission)
  • Cookies & Similar Technologies: pixels, tags, SDKs for analytics, personalization, advertising, and security (see Cookies below)

C. Information From Third Parties

  • Real Estate Sources: MLS feeds, listing partners
  • Lead Providers & Marketing Partners: platforms that route inquiries to us
  • Service Providers: analytics (e.g., Google Analytics), ad networks (e.g., Google/Meta), payment processors, identity verification, scheduling systems
  • Public & Commercial Databases: property records, market data
  • Social Media: if you interact with us or sign in via social accounts

We do not seek to collect sensitive personal information (e.g., health data) unless you voluntarily provide it and it’s necessary for a specific purpose you’ve agreed to.

4) How We Use Your Information (Purposes)

  • Provide the Services: create/manage accounts, process inquiries, connect buyers/sellers with agents, schedule showings, deliver market insights
  • Customer & Agent Support: respond to requests, provide onboarding/training, maintain service quality
  • Personalization: save searches, tailor property recommendations, send relevant alerts
  • Marketing & Communications: send emails/SMS about listings, market updates, promotions, events (with appropriate consent/opt-out)
  • Lead Management & Referrals: route inquiries to agents, lenders, inspectors, stagers, or other partners at your direction or where appropriate to your request
  • Analytics & Improvement: measure performance, debug issues, run A/B tests, improve UX and features
  • Security & Compliance: detect/prevent fraud or abuse, verify identity, comply with legal obligations, enforce terms
  • Business Operations: bookkeeping, auditing, mergers/acquisitions or other corporate transactions

Legal Bases (UK/EEA)

  • Contract (Art. 6(1)(b)): to provide Services you request
  • Consent (Art. 6(1)(a)): for certain marketing, cookies, and location features
  • Legitimate Interests (Art. 6(1)(f)): personalization, analytics, security, B2B outreach (balanced against your rights)
  • Legal Obligation (Art. 6(1)(c)): recordkeeping, tax, regulatory requests

5) How We Share Information

We share information with:

  • Service Providers/Processors: hosting, CRM, analytics, email/SMS, advertising platforms, payment processors, customer support tools, identity verification, scheduling, document signing
  • Real Estate Partners: MLS, other brokerages/agents to facilitate buyer-seller matches and transactions
  • Transaction-Related Professionals: lenders, title/escrow, inspectors, appraisers, contractors (as appropriate to your request)
  • Advertising & Analytics Partners: to measure and improve ad performance; to personalize content/ads (subject to your choices)
  • Corporate Transactions: information may be transferred in connection with a merger, acquisition, or asset sale
  • Legal & Safety: to comply with law, enforce our terms, protect rights, privacy, safety, or property

We do not sell your personal information for money. Under some state laws, certain analytics or advertising disclosures may be considered a “sale” or “sharing” for cross-context behavioral advertising. See Your Privacy Rights for opt-out controls.

6) Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies, pixels, and similar tech to:

  • Remember preferences and saved items
  • Authenticate and secure accounts
  • Measure site performance and usage
  • Personalize listings and content
  • Deliver and measure advertising

You can manage cookies via your browser or our Cookie Preferences tool (if implemented). Blocking some cookies may limit functionality.

7) Data Retention

We retain information only as long as necessary for the purposes described, including:

  • Account data: while your account is active and for a reasonable period afterward
  • Transaction records: as required for legal, tax, and compliance
  • Marketing data: until you withdraw consent or opt out (and for limited periods thereafter to maintain suppression lists)
  • Agent application and onboarding records: for regulatory and contractual needs

We apply retention schedules and securely delete or anonymize data when no longer needed.

8) Security

We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect information (e.g., encryption in transit, access controls, monitoring). No method is 100% secure; please use strong passwords and keep credentials confidential. Contact us immediately if you suspect unauthorized access.

9) International Data Transfers

If you are in the UK/EEA and your data is transferred to countries without an “adequate” level of protection, we implement appropriate safeguards (e.g., Standard Contractual Clauses and the UK Addendum). Copies of relevant transfer mechanisms are available upon request where legally permitted.

10) Your Privacy Rights

A. UK/EEA Data Subject Rights

You may have the right to access, rectify, erase, restrict processing, object to processing (including direct marketing), and data portability. Where we rely on consent, you may withdraw it at any time without affecting prior processing. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority (e.g., ICO in the UK).

To exercise rights: email privacy@migration.thehomestead.co.

B. California (CCPA/CPRA)

California residents may have the right to:

  • Know/Access categories and specific pieces of personal information we collected
  • Delete personal information (with exceptions)
  • Correct inaccurate personal information
  • Opt Out of “sale” or “sharing” for cross-context behavioral advertising
  • Limit use/disclosure of sensitive personal information (if collected)
  • Non-Discrimination for exercising rights

Submit a request at privacy@migration.thehomestead.co.
We honor Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals where required.

Verification: We may need to verify your identity (e.g., match data, request additional details). Authorized agents may submit requests with proof of authorization.

C. Other U.S. State Rights (VA, CO, CT, UT, etc.)

Residents may have similar rights to access, delete, correct, and opt out of targeted advertising, sale, or profiling in furtherance of decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects.

11) Children’s Privacy

Our Services are not directed to children under 13 (or the relevant age in your jurisdiction), and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we learn a child has provided personal information, we will delete it. Parents/guardians may contact us to request removal.

12) Automated Decision-Making & Profiling

We may use automated tools to personalize listings, estimate home values, or rank content. These tools do not make decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects without human involvement. You can contact us to understand or contest significant outcomes and to request human review where legally required.

13) Third-Party Links & Integrations

Our Services may link to third-party sites or integrate third-party features (e.g., maps, chat, analytics). Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies. Please review those policies before sharing data.

14) Applicants, Agents, and B2B Contacts

If you apply to become an agent or partner:

  • We process application data, licensing, background details you provide, and training records
  • We maintain compliance and transaction records per regulation
  • We provide tools (CRM, marketing automations, lead routing) that process client data as necessary to deliver Services
  • We may send operational communications and training materials; you can manage certain preferences, but some operational notices are required

15) Your Choices

  • Marketing: Opt out of emails by using the unsubscribe link or emailing privacy@migration.thehomestead.co. For SMS, reply STOP.
  • Cookies/Ads: Adjust browser settings, opt out with platform tools (e.g., Google Ad Settings, YourAdChoices), or send a GPC signal.
  • Account: Update profile information in your account or contact us.

16) Changes To This Policy

We will update this Policy to reflect changes in practices, technologies, or laws. We indicate the Effective date at the top and may notify you by email, in-product notice, or posting on our site where required. Continued use of the Services after changes signifies acceptance.

17) How To Contact Us

Questions or requests about this Policy or your data rights:
Email: privacy@migration.thehomestead.co

18) Summary of Categories (CCPA/CPRA)

Category (Examples) Collected Sources Business/Commercial Purposes Disclosed To
Identifiers (name, email, phone, IP) Yes You, device, partners Provide Services, support, marketing, security Service providers, real estate partners
Customer records (address, account data) Yes You Provide Services, transactions Service providers, transaction professionals
Commercial info (saved homes, interactions) Yes You, analytics Personalization, marketing, improvement Service providers, analytics
Internet/device activity (pages viewed, clicks) Yes Device, cookies Analytics, security, personalization Analytics/ads partners
Geolocation (approximate) Yes IP/device Personalization, nearby listings Service providers
Professional info (agent licensing) Yes (for agents) You Onboarding, compliance Service providers, regulators where required
Inferences (preferences) Yes Analytics Personalization Service providers

We do not knowingly collect biometric, precise geolocation (unless you enable it), or protected classifications unless you voluntarily provide them for a clear purpose.

Accessibility

If you need this Policy in an alternative format, contact privacy@migration.thehomestead.co.