How to Find Cash Home Buyers in Georgia for a Hassle-Free Home Sale

Inside the Georgia cash home buyers market

Georgia’s cash home-buying market is driven primarily by real estate investors, but those aren’t the only groups that will purchase your shotgun house mortgage-free.

Here are a few of the most common cash home buyers you can expect to encounter in the Peach State.

New residents

With Georgia offering a relatively low cost of living compared to other parts of the country, it has become a popular destination for new residents, particularly those relocating from higher-cost states.

Many newcomers—often retirees or remote workers—seek affordable homes and may be willing to purchase properties with cash to avoid the lengthy financing process. If your home is priced attractively and located in areas popular with new residents, such as Savannah or Macon, it may appeal to these cash buyers looking to settle in Georgia without the burden of a mortgage.

Baby Boomers

In February 2024, 33% of U.S. homebuyers made all-cash purchases, the highest share in nearly a decade, according to the Realtors® Confidence Index Survey. Baby Boomers, especially those flush with cash from downsizing or selling previous properties, account for a large portion of these buyers.

In 2023, more than half of Older Boomers paid cash for their homes, as did 32% of Younger Boomers. If your Georgia home includes features that appeal to this generation, such as a first-floor primary suite or low-maintenance outdoor space, be sure to highlight them in the listing description to attract these cash buyers.

Property investors

While cash sales are becoming more common for traditional buyers nationwide, homeowners are still more likely to find success selling to property investors. Beyond institutional buyers, other common types of investors include house flippers, buy-and-hold investors, wholesale investors, and iBuyers.

Realtor.com’s 2023 Investor Report identified Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC as a metropolitan area with a high proportion of investor purchases. The report found that 16.60% of homes sold in Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC were acquired by investors. In Greensboro-High Point, NC, investor purchases accounted for 15.60% of total sales, placing the city at 10 on the list.

Pros of working with a Georgia cash home buyer

Cash offers can be an attractive option for Georgia homeowners seeking an efficient and streamlined sales process. Let’s explore the key benefits of working with a cash home buyer:

• Fast closings
  Cash sales typically close much faster than traditional sales, as they don’t require waiting for mortgage approval. In many cases, you can close in as little as a week or two, which is ideal if you need to sell quickly.
• No contingencies
  Cash buyers often skip the contingencies that can slow down a sale, such as financing or appraisal requirements. This eliminates common roadblocks and gives you more certainty that the deal will close on time.
• An “as-is” purchase
  When selling to a cash buyer, they’re usually willing to purchase the property as-is, meaning you don’t have to make repairs or upgrades. This saves you time, money, and stress in preparing your home for sale.
• Simplified paperwork
  Cash offers involve less paperwork than traditional home sales since there are no mortgage documents to deal with. This makes the transaction smoother and reduces the chances of delays due to missing forms or approvals.
• Fewer to no fees
  With a cash sale, you may be able to avoid some of the fees associated with financed deals, such as lender fees or mortgage insurance. This can result in more money in your pocket at the closing table.

How to request a cash offer in Georgia

If you’re looking for an easy way to secure a cash offer for your home, HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform can connect you with the largest network of vetted, pre-approved investors in the U.S. After answering a few basic questions about your home, you’ll receive a no-obligation, all-cash offer within 24 hours.

If you accept, you can close in as few as 10 days, and you’ll have the flexibility to choose a move-out date up to 30 days from closing. This streamlined process lets you skip the hassle of repairs, staging, and multiple showings.

While cash buyers often offer less than what you might get on the open market, selling traditionally can come with costs that eat up 9% to 10% of your sale price. For some homeowners, a quick cash sale may still make financial sense in the long run.

How much are Georgia cash home buyers willing to pay?

Cash investors and home-buying companies often look for deals where they can buy properties for less than what they’re worth on the market. In return, sellers get the benefit of selling their homes quickly and with less hassle. House flippers usually follow the 70% rule, meaning they try not to pay more than 70% of a home’s after-repair value (ARV), including repair and upgrade costs.

Georgia’s housing market has slowed down in recent months, though supply has seen an increase.

Pending sales showed a 6% dip year-over-year but the median sales price increased by 1% to $365,000 year over year.

Given the current conditions, offers from house-buying companies might be lower than what you could get on the open market.

During periods with high demand and low inventory (seller’s markets), cash buyers often come closer to a home’s market value. Offers in this scenario can sometimes range from 80% to 85% of the ARV of the property.

What’s the process of selling to a Georgia cash home buyer?

If you’re looking for speed and simplicity, a cash home sale may be right for you. Here’s a breakdown of how the process generally works:

If you’re working with a Georgia “We Buy Houses” company, they will likely prepare all of the necessary documents for you, including this one. However, you can speed up the process by filling it out ahead of time. These companies conduct their own inspections and purchase homes in any condition, so filing the disclosure statement is more of a legal obligation from their perspective.

The buyer runs a title search on the property

The cash buyer will also verify the property’s title. This ensures you have legal ownership and checks for any liens or claims that could prevent a smooth sale. Some of the most common reasons for title issues include boundary disputes, unknown easements, undisclosed heirs, public record errors, and forgery.

The seller pays any associated fees

While cash sales typically involve fewer fees compared to traditional sales, you may still incur some closing costs, like transfer taxes, title insurance, escrow fees, and attorney fees. For example, Georgia sellers typically pay the transfer tax at a rate of $1 per $1000 on the purchase price of the property.

If you’re looking to avoid closing costs altogether, “We Buy Houses” companies will often pay them for you in exchange for an offer that’s below market value.

Deciding to sell to Georgia cash home buyers

Homeowners have a good chance of selling for cash, as Georgia remains a popular state to invest in real estate. Whether you decide to compare buyers yourself, enlist the help of a real estate agent, or request an offer from Simple Sale, HomeLight can connect you with top professionals and valuable resources.

We’re here to help you streamline your selling experience, leveraging Georgia’s investor-rich market to find a fast and efficient solution for your home sale needs.

Header Image Source: (Mark Stuckey / Unsplash)