How to Find Cash Home Buyers in Sacramento for a Hassle-Free Home Sale
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Joseph Gordon EditorCloseJoseph Gordon Editor
Joseph Gordon is an Editor with HomeLight. He has several years of experience reporting on the commercial real estate and insurance industries.
Do you need to sell your Sacramento home quickly? You might want to consider a cash sale. Sacramento’s growing market has seen an uptick in cash sales, with 17.8% of homes purchased in March of this year purchased for cash.
Sacramento’s housing market is competitive, making it a prime location for quick, hassle-free sales. In this guide, we’ll walk you through finding cash home buyers in Sacramento and explain the process to help you make an informed decision.
How to find cash home buyers in Sacramento
A cash sale is a great alternative to the traditional market. Here are a few ways you can find reputable cash home buyers in Sacramento who may be willing to make a fair offer on your property.
Work with a reputable local real estate agent
Selling your home for cash doesn’t mean you have to skip out on working with a real estate agent.
Agents are often well-connected and can usually find viable cash buyers interested in your home. By partnering with an agent-recommended cash buyer, you can save time.
If you don’t already have an agent in mind, HomeLight can connect you with top agents in your area. While real estate commissions are a factor to consider, the expertise and connections agents bring can streamline the process.
Focus on investors rather than owner-occupiers
Investors, or “We Buy Houses” companies, can be a quick and easy way to sell your property for cash. Do an online search for We Buy Houses companies in your area, and you will likely find several that can purchase your home in a matter of days. The process is fairly simple compared to selling via the traditional market.
Do your research
While most companies purchasing your home for cash are legitimate, unfortunately, scams do exist. Before engaging in business with any company, do a quick search on Google or similar sites to get a sense of the company’s history and track record. Also, consult the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any pockmarks on the company’s past transactions.
You can also use a platform like HomeLight’s Simple Sale, which can provide you with an offer within 24 hours.
Before signing an offer, ask for proof of funds
Always choose a cash buyer with available funds. Ask the buyer for proof of funds, which confirms they have the necessary capital to complete the purchase. If the cash buyer hesitates or refuses to provide this proof, consider it a red flag and explore more trustworthy options.
Inside the Sacramento cash home buyers market
While real estate investors are some of the most common cash buyers, they aren’t the only option. Here are a few other examples of buyers who will pay cash for your Sacramento property.
New residents
Sacramento has seen a boom in transplants from San Francisco or other expensive Bay Area cities or those just looking to commute into the Bay Area from a cheaper city. These buyers are often willing to pay cash and move in quickly—particularly as mortgage rates increase and Sacramento home prices rise.
Baby Boomers
- In February 2024, 33% of U.S. homebuyers made all-cash purchases, the highest percentage in almost ten years, based on the Realtors® Confidence Index Survey.
- Younger Boomers (born 1955–1964) represented the largest group of home sellers last year, comprising 26%.
- Many older buyers are opting to buy homes without taking out mortgages.
- Over half of Older Boomers (born 1946–1954) paid cash for their home purchases in 2023.
- 53% of homebuyers from the Silent Generation (born 1925–1945) also bought their homes with cash.
- 32% of Younger Boomers used all cash for their home acquisitions.
- In your listing description, focus on features like a first-floor primary suite, low-maintenance outdoor spaces, or wide doorways and hallways to attract Baby Boomer buyers.
Property investors
Homeowners in Sacramento are more likely to find success selling to property investors rather than traditional buyers paying cash. These investors include institutional buyers, house flippers, buy-and-hold investors, wholesale investors, and iBuyers. Sacramento’s housing market attracts a large number of real estate investors, making it easier for homeowners to secure cash offers.
Pros of working with a Sacramento cash home buyer
Cash offers come with their own set of benefits. Here are some of the main reasons to sell your property for cash, rather than seek a traditional buyer:
- Quick closings: Cash transactions can close in as few as 10 days, allowing you to move on without the usual delays associated with mortgage approvals.
- No contingencies: Cash buyers often waive common contingencies like financing and inspections, simplifying the sales process and reducing the risk of the deal falling through.
- As-is purchase: Selling your home as-is means you won’t need to make costly repairs or renovations before the sale, saving you time and money.
- Simplified paperwork: With fewer parties involved and no mortgage documents to handle, the paperwork in a cash sale is often more straightforward, making the process easier to manage.
How to request a cash offer in Sacramento
If you’re looking for an easier way to secure a cash offer for your home, HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform can connect you with the largest network of vetted and 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 the offer, you can close the sale in as few as 10 days.
You can skip the repairs, prep work, and endless showings and choose a move-out date that works for you — up to 30 days from closing. Cash buyers usually offer less than what you might get on the open market, but selling the traditional way comes with fees that can take 9% to 10% of your sale price. So, depending on your needs, a cash buyer could still save you money in the long run.
How much are Sacramento cash home buyers willing to pay?
In exchange for speed and convenience, cash sellers often receive below-market value. The 70% rule in house flipping means buyers typically offer 70% of the home’s after-repair value minus repair costs. You will never receive market value for your home if you sell for cash, though the process is generally much faster.
Sacramento’s competitive housing market might lead to offers closer to market value when demand is high. However, in a slower market, expect cash offers to be lower.
What’s the process of selling to a Sacramento 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:
Complete any required disclosure statements
- Disclosure requirement: When selling your home in Sacramento, you are required to disclose certain information about the property’s condition through the California Transfer Disclosure Statement.
- Content: This document includes details about the structure, systems, and any known defects, ensuring transparency and protecting both parties during the transaction.
- We Buy Houses companies: If you’re working with a Sacramento “We Buy Houses” company, they will likely prepare all necessary documents for you, including this one. However, you can speed up the process by filling it out beforehand.
The buyer runs a title search on the property
- Title verification: The cash buyer will verify the property’s title to ensure you have legal ownership and to check for any liens or claims that could prevent a smooth sale.
- Common issues: Title issues can include boundary disputes, unknown easements, undisclosed heirs, public record errors, and forgery.
The seller pays any associated fees
- Fewer closing costs: A cash sale typically has fewer closing costs than a traditional home sale, but sellers may still have to pay some costs.
- Associated fees: These can include transfer taxes, title insurance, escrow fees, and attorney fees.
- California transfer tax: In California, the transfer tax varies but generally costs the seller based on the sale price.
- Avoiding closing costs: If you’re looking to avoid closing costs altogether, “We Buy Houses” companies often pay them for you in exchange for an offer that’s below market value.
Deciding to sell to Sacramento cash home buyers
Remember, selling for cash means getting a lower offer for your home than the traditional market. The trade-off is that your home can sell in less than a week rather than several months.
Homeowners have a good chance of selling for cash, as Sacramento remains a popular city for real estate investment. 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.
Header Image Source: (Aiden Frazier / Unsplash)