Internal index from Local Home Buyers USA — powered by the research of PropTechUSA.ai. All values below are anonymized ranges and do not constitute a personal pricing recommendation.
FOS is calibrated on anonymized, first-party transaction data and public records. It is an index for comparing scenarios, not a guarantee of outcome.
Friction-to-Offer Score (FOS)
Updated • Tech memo
A research-backed index that quantifies the transactional friction that causes retail sales to fall apart—so sellers can rationally price the Cost of Certainty in an instant, as-is cash offer.
- 0–100 score that rolls DOM, appraisal denials, repairs, and financing complexity into one number.
- Quarterly recalibration from real, observed fallout—not gut feel.
- Seller-facing output you can explain in plain English in under a minute.
FOS turns retail friction into one number. Higher FOS = higher risk of re-trades, delays, and fallout. That’s where a certainty premium in a guaranteed cash offer makes financial sense.
Live FOS Calculator
For demo purposes we normalize each input to a 0–100 scale. Repairs are mapped from $0–$20,000 → 0–100. Adjust weight assumptions as needed; the live production model uses richer micro-market features.
Your FOS profile
Score: — —
Suggested certainty premium: —
Input contributions
Illustrative only; calibrate with your own micro-market data. For advanced modeling, see PropTechUSA.ai.
What is the Friction-to-Offer Score (FOS)?
The FOS is a proprietary, auditable index that estimates the probability a traditional retail sale will stall or fail. It captures the core frictions that derail closings—protracted Days on Market, appraisal denials, inspection re-trades, and financing complexity—and distills them into a single 0–100 score.
Use cases: pricing the Cost of Certainty, setting expectations with sellers, and deciding whether to pursue a retail path or accept a guaranteed cash offer.
Related research: RVI · PropTech Valuation · Research Blueprint 2025
How FOS is calculated
Inputs & normalization
- DOM — percentile-normalized by micro-market.
- Appraisal denial rate — local monthly % scaled to 0–100.
- Inspection repair asks ($) — bucketed by age/type, then mapped to a percentile.
- Financing complexity — FHA/VA mix, condo warrantability / HOA risk, and borrower stress proxies.
Composite formula:
FOS = 0.30·DOM + 0.30·Appraisal + 0.25·Repairs + 0.15·Finance
(all inputs on a 0–100 scale). We recalibrate weights quarterly against observed
fall-through and re-trade events by segment.
Interpreting your FOS (0–100)
| FOS Band | Retail Fall-Through Risk (Est.) | Suggested Certainty Premium |
|---|---|---|
| 0–29 | 0–10% | 0–1% |
| 30–44 | 10–18% | 1–2% |
| 45–59 | 18–28% | 2–3% |
| 60–74 | 28–40% | 3–5% |
| 75–100 | 40%+ | 5–8% |
Swipe horizontally on smaller screens to see the full band table. Bands are illustrative and tuned per market with backtesting.
Seller-facing message: “Your property’s FOS is high, indicating a meaningful chance of delays or retail fallout. Choosing our guaranteed as-is cash offer prices in certainty—saving time, repairs, and carrying costs.”
See also: As-Is Cash Offer Guide 2025–2026 · Who is PropTechUSA.ai? · Local Home Buyers USA
Worked example (hypothetical)
Inputs:
DOM 70th percentile → 70; Appraisal denials 8% → 65; Repair asks ≈ $9,500 → 80;
Finance complexity (condo + HOA litigation) → 75.
FOS = 0.30×70 + 0.30×65 + 0.25×80 + 0.15×75 = 72.
Interpretation: high-friction retail; a 3–5% certainty premium
is defensible relative to “headline” retail net—especially when time and carrying costs matter.
Data integrity & ethics
- Rolling 12-month windows with ≥30 comps per micro-market.
- Quarterly weight recalibration against observed fall-throughs and re-trades.
- Guardrails: cap any single input at ≤50 points to avoid outlier domination.
- Fairness by design: exclude features that proxy protected classes; focus on transactional risk only.
FAQ
Does a high FOS mean my home is bad?
No. FOS reflects market mechanics (financing, appraisal, buyer behavior), not a judgment on your home.
Can my FOS go down?
Yes. As micro-market conditions improve or you reduce visible risk (select pre-list repairs, fresh documentation), friction can ease and the score can move lower.
Is FOS the same everywhere?
No. It is calibrated to hyperlocal data. Two similar homes in different ZIP codes can score differently because the underlying appraisal, repair, and financing dynamics differ.
Know your FOS. Price your certainty.
Skip the re-trades, repairs, and delays. Get a guaranteed, as-is offer you can bank on, built on the same research engine behind FOS, RVI, and our Cost of Certainty Index.
Your scroll pattern says FOS risk matters. Prefer certainty over another month of showings and re-trades?
Real-World Seller Insights
Fresh how-tos and market tips from Local Home Buyers USA.
