Most commonly known as the “We Buy Ugly Houses” company, Dallas-based HomeVestors of America Inc. is the largest professional house-buying franchise in the U.S., with more than 85,000 houses purchased since 1996. HomeVestors recruits, trains and supports its more than 1,000 independently owned and operated franchisees that specialize in building businesses based on buying, rehabbing, selling and holding residential properties.

Bonnie DePasse is HomeVestors’ vice president and general counsel.