How to Find Cash Home Buyers in Peoria for a Hassle-Free Home Sale
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- 7 min read
- Alexandra Lee Junior Associate EditorCloseAlexandra Lee Junior Associate Editor
Alexandra is a junior associate editor of HomeLight.com. Previously, she served as a writer and social media manager at Santa Barbara Life & Style Magazine, in addition to interning at the nonprofit honors society Phi Beta Kappa. Alexandra holds a bachelor's degree in communication and global studies from UC Santa Barbara, and she has three years of experience reporting on topics including international travel, luxury properties, celebrity interviews, fine dining, and more.
Are you a Peoria, Illinois, homeowner seeking a quick and efficient home sale without the challenges of listing on the open market? Selling to a cash buyer could be your ideal solution. Both local and out-of-state investors are keenly interested in Peoria’s competitive housing market, range of industries, and relatively affordable cost of living.
Especially if you value speed and convenience, now could be the ideal time to consider getting a cash offer for your property. In this brief guide, we’ll outline the steps for a successful cash sale and assist you in identifying trusted cash home buyers in the Peoria market.
How to find cash home buyers in Peoria
If you’re in search of a fast, straightforward way to sell your home, working with cash buyers could be the perfect fit. Here are some helpful strategies for connecting with reputable cash home buyers who might be interested in your Peoria property.
Work with a reputable local real estate agent
Even in an all-cash transaction, collaborating with a qualified real estate agent can streamline the home-selling process. Agents often have pre-established connections with cash buyers in the Peoria area, saving you the time and effort of finding and evaluating them on your own time.
Buyers recommended by agents are typically reliable, highly rated, and prepared to make serious offers. If you’re looking to get in touch with a seasoned real estate agent, HomeLight can connect you with top professionals in your area. While agents charge a fee, their unparalleled knowledge and vast networks can prove invaluable throughout your selling experience.
Do your due diligence
When opting for a cash offer, it’s in your best interest to thoroughly research any home-buying company first. You can start by checking online platforms like the Better Business Bureau or reading reviews on Google, Yelp, and Trustpilot. For more detailed information, you can also reach out to your local office, the Better Business Bureau of Central Illinois.
Be sure to examine the company’s history, double-check its licensing, and carefully browse through customer feedback. In addition, always ask for proof of funds, like a bank statement, to verify the company’s financial means to buy your property. If any investor is hesitant to provide this, it’s a warning sign to consider a more trustworthy option.
Inside the Peoria cash home buyers market
Peoria’s cash home-buying market includes a diverse range of buyers, each with unique priorities and motivations:
- New residents: Despite a 0.72% annual population decline, new residents are drawn to the city’s below-average cost of living, prime location within Central Illinois, and thriving healthcare and manufacturing industries. Some buyers may prefer to pay cash to streamline the homebuying process.
- Baby Boomers: In December 2024, 28% of all U.S. home sales were cash transactions. Among Older Boomers and Silent Generation buyers, more than half paid cash for their properties (as of 2023), reflecting a generational preference for avoiding mortgages.
- Property investors: This group includes institutional investors, house flippers, buy-and-hold investors, wholesale buyers, and iBuyers – each aiming to capitalize on opportunities in Peoria’s housing market.
- iBuyers: These companies typically offer higher prices that are closer to market value than other investors. However, iBuyers charge service fees and operate within specific criteria that can limit their practicality for some sellers.
Pros of working with a Peoria cash home buyer
Selling your home for cash is typically simpler than a traditional sale. Here are some ways that working with cash home buyers in Peoria can benefit you:
- Rapid closings: Without mortgage approvals and their common delays, cash sales can be finalized in a matter of days or weeks.
- Fewer contingencies: Cash offers usually come with few to no contingencies, minimizing the risk of financing or inspection-related complications.
- Sell as-is: Most Peoria cash buyers accept properties as-is, allowing you to avoid the time and expenses associated with significant repairs.
- Simpler transactions: With less paperwork involved, the process is typically much more straightforward than a traditional Peoria home sale.
How to request a cash offer in Peoria
For an easier way to obtain a cash offer for your property, consider exploring HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform. Simple Sale connects you directly to the country’s largest network of pre-approved and vetted investors, offering added peace of mind.
By answering a few basic questions about your property, HomeLight can provide you with a no-obligation cash offer in just 24 hours. If you accept, the sale can close in as few as 10 days, allowing you to select a convenient move-out date — up to 30 days post-closing. With Simple Sale, you can skip the stress of repairs, staging, or hosting open houses.
While cash offers are typically below market value, traditional home sales are accompanied by closing costs and fees that drain between 9% and 10% of the sale price. Depending on your needs and priorities, a cash sale could still save you time and money in the long run.
How much are Peoria cash home buyers willing to pay?
Home-buying companies and cash investors often purchase homes for less than market value but provide sellers with the advantage of a fast and convenient process. For example, property flippers usually follow the 70% rule, meaning they pay up to 70% of a home’s after-repair value (ARV), accounting for renovation costs.
The state of the market can also affect cash offers. In a hot market (or seller’s market), cash offers may approach 80% to 85% of a property’s ARV, due to increased competition. However, in a cooling market, cash offers can be much lower.
Peoria’s current real estate market is competitive, with limited inventory and rising home prices. Because sellers currently have the upper hand in Peoria, cash offers may range closer to market value.
What’s the process of selling to a Peoria cash home buyer?
If your goal is a swift, seamless transaction, selling for cash could be the most practical solution. Below, we’ll provide a quick overview of how selling to cash home buyers in Peoria typically works.
Complete the Illinois Disclosure Statement
- What it is: Sellers are required to disclose any known material property defects by completing the Illinois Residential Real Property Disclosure Report.
- Why it matters: Sellers must comply with mandated disclosure laws to provide buyers with accurate property details. Even in cash sales, these laws can serve as a legal safeguard against unexpected complications.
- How cash buyers help: Many We Buy Houses companies in Peoria help sellers complete the disclosure paperwork. While disclosures are largely formalities in as-is sales, preparing them in advance can speed up the process.
The buyer runs a title search on the property
- What it involves: Cash buyers will conduct a property title search to verify ownership and identify potential issues like liens, undisclosed heirs, or boundary disputes.
- Why it’s important: Proactively addressing title issues can help prevent unnecessary delays.
The seller pays any associated fees
- Typical costs: Cash sales usually come with minimal closing costs, but sellers may still need to cover transfer taxes, title insurance, escrow, or attorney fees.
- Illinois’ transfer tax: In most states, transfer taxes are paid at closing. Illinois charges a state transfer tax of $0.50 for every $500 of property value. However, the City of Peoria imposes a municipal transfer tax of $2.50 for every $1,000 of property value, for which the seller is liable.
- Minimizing fees: Many “We Buy Houses” companies shoulder these fees, but their offers typically fall below market value.
Deciding to sell to Peoria cash home buyers
Selling to cash home buyers in Peoria can be a strategic move for many homeowners, especially those seeking a fast and convenient selling process.
Whether you choose to research buyers independently, collaborate with a local real estate agent, or consider an offer through Simple Sale, HomeLight can provide access to valuable resources and highly qualified professionals. By tapping into Peoria’s dynamic investor market, we aim to streamline the selling process and help drive your home sale toward a quick, successful conclusion.
Editor’s note: As a friendly reminder, this blog post is meant for educational purposes, not legal or tax advice. HomeLight always encourages you to consult your own advisor.
Header Image Source: (Curtis Adams / Pexels)
- "REALTORS® Confidence Index," National Association of Realtors® (January 2025)
- "Cash Rules," National Association of Realtors, Jessica Lautz (April 2023)
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- "Single-Family Attached & Detached," Peoria Area Association of Realtors (January 2025)