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Largest network of cash buyers: HomeLight has the largest network of cash buyers in the country who have made thousands of competitive offers to prospective home sellers.
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Mark Spain Real Estate Reviews: Getting Cash for Your Home
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Richard Haddad Executive EditorClose
Richard Haddad Executive EditorRichard Haddad is the executive editor of HomeLight.com. He works with an experienced content team that oversees the company’s blog featuring in-depth articles about the home buying and selling process, homeownership news, home care and design tips, and related real estate trends. Previously, he served as an editor and content producer for World Company, Gannett, and Western News & Info, where he also served as news director and director of internet operations.
If you’re looking for a quick home sale, you’ve likely seen “we buy houses for cash” ads from local investors displayed on billboards, telephone poles, and in your social media feeds. One house-buying company growing in prominence in the Southeast and Texas is Mark Spain Real Estate.
While the Mark Spain team offers a wide range of traditional real estate services, for the purpose of this post, we will provide an overview of its popular house-buying business and how it functions. We’ll also share insights about Mark Spain Real Estate reviews and alternatives so you can compare cash offers.
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Editor’s note: The specifics of house-buying programs listed in this post can change. Please visit the company’s website for the most up-to-date information.
What is Mark Spain Real Estate?
Mark Spain Real Estate stands out as a leading name in the home-buying industry, especially for sellers eager to close quickly. Unlike traditional real estate transactions that can take months, Mark Spain Real Estate specializes in making competitive, guaranteed cash offers, enabling homeowners to sell their properties swiftly and without the usual hassle.
This approach appeals to those who value speed and convenience in their selling process.
The Wall Street Journal and Real Trends have named the company the #1 Real Estate Team in the country for five consecutive years. Inc. Magazine has also recognized Mark Spain Real Estate as one of the fastest-growing companies in America each year since its inception in 2016.
How does Mark Spain Real Estate work?
The process with Mark Spain Real Estate is streamlined to ensure efficiency and ease for the seller. Here’s a breakdown of the typical steps in the company’s “Guaranteed Offer” request process:
- Initial inquiry: Homeowners interested in selling start by providing details about their property through an online form or direct contact.
- Preliminary offer: If your home meets the initial requirements, a no-obligation guaranteed offer will be extended, contingent upon a walkthrough visit.
- Home evaluation: The company sends a licensed Realtor to your home to conduct an onsite evaluation, which includes an interior assessment.
- Cash offer: If your home still qualifies, the company will present a final no-commitment guaranteed cash offer to the homeowner.
- Sale completion: If the homeowner accepts the offer, they can often choose the closing date, completing the sale in as little as 21 days.
Does Mark Spain serve your area?
Mark Spain Real Estate’s services cover a wide geographic area, focusing on major metropolitan regions in the following states:
- Georgia: Alpharetta, Buford, Atlanta, Marietta, Athens, and Stockbridge
- Tennessee: Chattanooga and Nashville
- North Carolina: Raleigh, Charlotte, and Greensboro
- Florida: Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville
- South Carolina: Greenville
- Alabama: Birmingham
- Texas: Fort Worth and Dallas
If your home doesn’t meet Mark Spain’s Guaranteed Offer program parameters, the company will offer to pair you with one of its experienced listing agents.
What is the cost of using Mark Spain?
Mark Spain Real Estate does not provide specific information on its website about fees associated with using its Guaranteed Offer home-buying program. Many cash-for-home companies will cover closing costs and handle most of the paperwork for sellers using this type of service.
It’s important to keep in mind, however, that this is a business transaction, and Mark Spain Real Estate will need to make a profit on the home for the transaction to be successful. This means that you can expect a lower offer than what you’d typically get if you listed the house on the open market.
What type of homes does Mark Spain buy?
Unlike many other “we buy houses” companies which often seek out distressed or damaged properties, Mark Spain Real Estate typically looks for homes in good condition.
To qualify for Mark Spain’s Guaranteed Offer program, a home must:
- Be located within the company’s service areas
- Be a single-family house built after 1950
- Be valued between $50,000 and $1.5 million
- Be owner-occupied or vacant
- Not be a distressed property (pre-foreclosure)
- Not be bank-owned (under the control of the lender/bank)
- Not be located in or near flood zones
- Not have any unpermitted additions or significant foundation issues
Mark Spain Real Estate reviews
When evaluating reviews for Mark Spain Real Estate, it’s important to keep in mind that each location may have its own customer review pages on sites like the Better Business Bureau and Google. This means that the reviews you see in one location could be very different from the reviews in another. This is especially true with the company’s BBB ratings and customer reviews.
Google reviews for Mark Spain are very positive for all the locations where reviews were posted. Nearly all offices currently hold a Google customer review rating of 4.6 stars out of 5 stars or higher.
In the table below, we’ve included direct links to Google review pages we located so you can see how customers have rated the locations near you.
Mark Spain Google review ratings by location
| Alpharetta, Georgia 1 | 4.6 stars | Watkinsville, Georgia | 4.4 stars |
| Alpharetta, Georgia 2 | 5.0 stars | Charlotte, North Carolina | 4.7 stars |
| Plano, Texas | 4.6 stars | High Point, North Carolina | 4.8 stars |
| Southlake, Texas | 4.9 stars | Raleigh, North Carolina | 4.7 stars |
| Chattanooga, Tennesee | 4.7 stars | Greenville, South Carolina | 4.9 stars |
| Franklin, Tennesee | 4.8 stars | Jacksonville, Florida | 4.8 stars |
| Buford, Georgia | 5.0 stars | Maitland, Florida | 4.8 stars |
| Marietta, Georgia | 4.8 stars | Tampa, Florida | 4.8 stars |
| Stockbridge, Georgia | 4.8 stars | Birmingham, Alabama | 4.8 stars |
Google review pages available as of April 2024
On the BBB website, the company’s headquarters in Alpharetta, Georgia, has a customer review score of 3.34 out of 5 stars and an A rating. (The listing does not show as BBB accredited.) Other locations, like Buford, Georgia, have a 4.57 BBB customer review rating and an A+ grade.
On Yelp, Mark Spain Real Estate has a customer review rating of 3 out of 5 stars. Positive reviewers on Yelp use phrases like, “an absolute pleasure to work with,” and “you will not be disappointed.” One customer expressed that the Mark Spain team made their transition “exciting rather than stressful.”
Most of the posted reviews on all these platforms refer to Mark Spain’s traditional real estate agent buying and selling services, with many clients praising representatives by name. However, such praise can also be seen in some of the company’s cash offer transactions.
Examples of positive reviews:
James H: “The final offer was very fair, and we closed within 2 weeks of accepting the offer. [Team member] took care of all of the details, and we had to do very little to get ready to close. We are very pleased with the sale.”
Harshavardhana K: “I always hear about Mark Spain on the Radio — about him and his success. [Team member], one of their associates, visited my house and explained the process…I was very tense, but everything went smooth. They gave me the best offer. We are very happy. Thank you.”
The few negative reviews we found were primarily complaints about the offer prices being lowered.
Examples of negative reviews
Darlene D: “I was very disappointed in my Mark [Spain’s] ‘guaranteed offer’ experience. After agreeing to their offer, I was told the investor wanted to lower it by $20K.”
Jessica M: “We were given an offer and told we had until Sunday at 5 p.m. to accept…When we reached out to the agent on Tuesday morning to accept the offer, it was then lowered [by] $50,000 and changed to a cash investor.”
Pros and cons of using Mark Spain Real Estate
When considering selling your home to Mark Spain Real Estate or any house-buying group, weighing the advantages and drawbacks is essential to make an informed decision. Here’s a look at the key points:
Pros
- Quick sales: The most significant advantage is the ability to sell your home quickly, often within days, which is ideal for those in a hurry.
- Cash offers: You receive a cash offer, which can be more reliable than dealing with buyers who need financing.
- Less home preparation: Mark Spain and other cash-offer companies buy homes as-is, meaning you don’t have to spend time or money on repairs or staging. However, as noted above, Mark Spain focuses on homes in good condition and has stricter qualifications than other “we buy houses” businesses.
Cons
- Lower offers: The convenience can come at a cost, with offers typically below market value to account for the company’s risk and the speed of the transaction.
- Limited negotiation: The negotiation process is generally straightforward, leaving less room for back-and-forth on the offer price.
- Availability: Their services are not available in all areas, which might limit options for some sellers.
Vet cash buyers and know your home’s worth
Before accepting a cash offer for your home, it’s crucial to vet the buyer and understand your home’s worth. Mark Spain has established a solid reputation in the areas where it operates. If you are comparing other cash offer companies, here are some tips:
- Research the buyer: Look into their reputation and track record. Reviews and testimonials can provide insight into other sellers’ experiences.
- Understand your home’s value: Consult a local real estate agent for a competitive market analysis (CMA) or get an independent appraisal to ensure the offer is fair.
- Consider the terms: Beyond the price, review the terms of the offer. Understand any conditions or fees involved in the sale.
Before committing to a house-buying company, HomeLight suggests you compare cash offers to what a top agent might be able to get for your home. HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing agent in your market.
You can also use HomeLight’s free Home Value Estimator right now to get an initial ballpark estimate in less than two minutes.
Alternatives to Mark Spain Real Estate
If Mark Spain Real Estate doesn’t seem like the right fit, You have options. Perhaps Mark Spain doesn’t serve your area, or your home doesn’t qualify for their cash offer program. Or maybe you are wisely requesting multiple cash offers to compare your options. Below are some examples of other popular services to sell your home with speed and convenience:
In addition, don’t rule out partnering with a seasoned real estate agent. For those not in a rush, selling through a real estate agent can almost always secure a higher sale price, though it usually takes longer.
How does HomeLight Simple Sale work?
Simple Sale is an all-cash offer platform created by HomeLight that takes the stress and uncertainty out of selling your home. Our online platform connects you with the largest network of trusted cash buyers in the country.
With Simple Sale, you’ll receive a no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours. Our platform also compares your cash offer amount with an estimation of what you might receive if you decide to list your home on the market instead. So you can see all your options in one place.
Here is the easy 3-step Simple Sale process:
As an added value, Simple Sale also recommends top-rated real estate agents in your area based on transaction data and customer reviews. You’ll know which agents sell the most homes in your city and price range, empowering you to make a more informed decision.
HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform can provide cash offers for homes nearly anywhere in the U.S. and in almost any condition. You can close your sale in as little as 10 days.
Simple Sale testimonial
Karen S. from Olive Branch, Mississippi: “Thanks to HomeLight, I was able to sell my home quickly and without any hassle. I was very skeptical at first because of all the many ‘we buy houses for cash’ [companies] that are out there nowadays, but I am thankful that I decided to give them a try. I didn’t need to do any repairs, and we closed on my timeline. This was the absolute best decision that I could have made. Thank you HomeLight, and I will recommend you to my family and friends.”
Other tools offered by HomeLight
Is a cash offer right for you?
Deciding on a cash offer for your home, especially from companies like Mark Spain Real Estate, hinges on your specific needs and circumstances. If speed and convenience top your list of priorities and you’re willing to trade potentially higher profits for certainty and rapid closure, then a cash offer might be the perfect route for you.
On the other hand, if you aim to maximize your home’s selling price and have the flexibility to navigate the traditional real estate market’s timelines, exploring other avenues might be more beneficial. Mark Spain Real Estate reviews often highlight the seamless experience of selling for cash, but remember, every homeowner’s situation is unique. Evaluate your options carefully to make a choice that fits your goals and timeline.
Header Image Source: (Roger Starnes Sr/Unsplash)
At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Therefore, we promote strict editorial integrity in each of our posts.
