How to Find Real Estate Cash Buyers for a Quick Sale
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Julie Guthmann, Contributing AuthorClose
Julie Guthmann Contributing AuthorJulie Guthmann is an experienced writer and editor living in New Jersey. Her diverse background includes real estate, travel, healthcare, and other industries.
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Taryn Tacher, Senior EditorClose
Taryn Tacher Senior EditorTaryn Tacher is the senior editorial operations manager and senior editor for HomeLight's Resource Centers. With eight years of editorial and operations experience, she previously managed editorial operations at Contently and content partnerships at Conde Nast. Taryn holds a bachelor's from the University of Florida College of Journalism, and she's written for GQ, Teen Vogue, Glamour, Allure, and Variety.
Whether you’re an investor looking for a speedy sale so you can move on to your next deal, or a homeowner trying to unload a property quickly to avoid financial strain, real estate cash buyers are your ideal buyers. They can purchase your property efficiently, without the lengthy and uncertain processes often associated with traditional sales.
With the slower real estate market of 2024 — at least compared to the previous few years — the average days on market between listing and accepting an offer has risen. Plus, according to ICE Mortgage Technology, it takes 44 days on average to close a home purchase loan. If you are selling a house for a job relocation or want to move on with your life after a divorce, how long it takes to sell a house can certainly feel like an eternity.
Dan Colofranson, a top real estate agent in Cape Coral, Florida, says cash buyers can eliminate uncertainty, whereas mortgage-backed home purchases can come with delays or even deal-breakers, such as a home appraisal coming in low.
Find Real Estate Cash Buyers Near You
Simple Sale, a solution from HomeLight, has a network of real estate cash buyers on its platform. Our partner investors have a wide range of investment strategies, including fix-and-flip and buy-and-hold. Get started by requesting a cash offer today.
Benefits of real estate cash buyers
- Reduce the time it takes to close your sale. Turnaround time for a cash sale typically takes as little as two weeks because you bypass the most time-consuming steps of a buyer getting a mortgage and appraisal.
- Take away risks of your sale falling through. According to National Association of Realtors (NAR)’s August 2024 Confidence Index Survey, 5% of recent real estate contracts were terminated. Inspection, appraisal, and financing issues are all common reasons deals fall through, which are less likely with cash buyers pursuing an as-is home sale.
- Save money on repairs and commission. Investors making a cash offer are more likely to purchase a house as-is, so you can cut costs for renovations, staging, and curb appeal projects. Moreover, you can steer clear of paying agent commissions.
- Sell your home without the headaches and hassle. You’ll avoid the inconvenience of showings, open houses, and renovations.
- Move according to your time frame. Since you don’t have to wait for a third party to approve a loan or appraisal, you’ve got flexibility on your closing date and move when it suits your schedule.
According to NAR’s Confidence Index Survey, cash purchases comprised 26% of transactions in August 2024. In January 2024, all-cash buyers represented 32% of home sales, the highest since 2014. The number of cash buyers is expected to rise to avoid high interest rates, submit competitive offers, and gain stronger negotiating power.
So how can you cash in on the opportunity to sell your house quickly and reduce upfront costs? Top agents and experienced investors recommend these seven strategies to find cash buyers for houses.
1. Keep it simple with HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform
If you’re too busy to search for cash buyers on your own, let HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform do the work for you.
Simple Sale is among the largest real estate cash buyer networks in the U.S. connecting sellers with cash buyers actively seeking homes in their area. We’ll handle all the details to find qualified cash buyers so you can get a competitive offer.
Follow the ‘Simple’ route with these steps:
- Answer a few questions online about your home, location, and selling timeline.
- Let HomeLight evaluate which cash buyer is the best fit.
- Receive a competitive cash offer in as few as 24 hours.
- If you accept the cash offer, choose the move date that works for you, and start packing. It’s that simple.
Cash offers typically come at a discounted rate in exchange for the convenience of a quick closing — which can range between 85% and 95% of market value for a home in fairly good condition. However, you’ll save time and money by avoiding home preparations, repairs, agent commissions, and closing costs.
Whether you’ve experienced a major medical issue or financial hardship, or you need to move in two weeks for a new job, Simple Sale provides the solution.
Sell 'As Is' With a Cash Offer
HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform will provide a full cash offer for homes in almost any condition. Skip repairs and close in as few as 10 days.
2. Work with an investor-savvy real estate agent
A well-connected real estate agent who is active in the local investor community can be a valuable asset, even if your goal is to avoid a conventional listing process.
By networking with house flippers and landlords who rely on agents to hear about new deals, they have the inside track to finding cash buyers. They’ll also know if your property aligns with an investor’s buy box, which refers to their parameters around the condition, price point, and location of homes they prefer to buy.
Agents can also scan tax records to find LLCs that signal investor-owned houses. “If the same LLC owns multiple homes nearby, they might likely be a good prospect for the seller’s home,” says Greg Kurzner, CEO of Resideum, an Atlanta house buying company. He adds that agents have access to PropStream and other industry tools for finding investment properties.
Investors are looking for a good deal, so be prepared to accept a lower price if you want a quick cash sale, Colofranson cautions. However, working with a top agent who lists your house on the MLS attracts nationwide investment firms with deeper pockets, as well as buyers who may have searched a long time and can outbid the competition with a cash offer.
If you’ve inherited property that you need to sell quickly or have a home in a popular destination that would be an ideal vacation rental, get in touch with an agent experienced in the investment arena to find real estate cash buyers in your vicinity.
3. Check public records for cash sales
Find cash buyers by searching property sales entered into public records. You can conveniently access sales history online because many agencies house their records this way with limited options for in-person visits.
Follow these tips on how to find cash buyers via public records:
- Contact your county clerk recorder’s office, county courthouse, or city hall for guidelines on searching public records in your area.
- Pay particular attention to houses that were bought and sold within a year, especially ones that were bought low and sold high. These are most likely flip transactions, so contact the owner to find out if they are looking for new investment properties.
- Search for other clues that a cash buyer made the purchase, such as no mortgage lien or the owner is an LLC.
If you prefer doing online research instead of hiring contractors to make repairs, check public records to find investors eager to purchase your home as-is.
4. Show up at property auctions
When a homeowner stops paying the monthly mortgage, the house could eventually go into foreclosure and be sold at auction. Buyers who attend these auctions have cash to spend on foreclosed or distressed properties.
Here’s your game plan:
- Find out when auctions are scheduled in your area and choose which to attend. Websites such as auctionadvisors.com provide information about upcoming auctions. Look for in-person bidding events rather than those that are online for networking opportunities. Contact your county’s sheriff’s department or visit their website for a list of foreclosures.
- Arrive early and come prepared to pitch your property.
- Introduce yourself to potential buyers, share your contact information, and request theirs.
- Follow up with an email restating your interest in working with them on investment deals. Those investors who don’t win their bid may be particularly interested in hearing from you, especially since they can avoid paying a sizable auction fee.
5. Join a local real estate club
Join a local real estate investment (REI) club to meet cash buyers. Small, privately run groups and nationally accredited REI associations (REIAs) provide opportunities to connect with investors face to face.
When you attend meetings, introduce yourself to investors and explain that you’re looking for cash buyers. Exchange contact information and follow up on any leads with a phone call or email.
However, do your homework before joining a REI club. Some clubs have membership fees or ulterior motives, such as asking members to crowdfund real estate investments.
If you enjoy meeting new people, a local real estate club could open doors to potential buyers with cash to invest.
6. Connect with landlords on Craigslist
While you might be familiar with Craigslist to find a garage sale or sell furniture, real estate investors use the classified ads website to hunt for their next fixer-upper. Investors who promote homes for sale or rent are often in the market to buy new investment properties.
But proceed with caution when using Craigslist and don’t sign any documents until you’ve done your due diligence. Because the site is free, not every listing and lead will be legitimate or worthwhile.
Make the most out of Craigslist as an investor search tool by following these tips:
- Post advertisements for your home in the real estate section. Keep it short and to the point, focusing on the property’s key benefits for the buyer. Include a call to action, such as following a link to the listing, visiting a social media page, or sending you an email.
- Search for qualified buyers. Find cash buyers, house flippers, and landlords in your area by entering search terms like “real estate investors,” “I buy houses,” “sell house for cash,” and “sell my house quickly.” Then browse the results and contact promising leads.
For computer-savvy homeowners who don’t want to put their savings into home renovations, browsing online classifieds could generate leads for cash buyers without spending a dime.
7. Attend open houses at nearby fixer-uppers
Kurzner suggests checking the MLS to find fixer-uppers for sale in your area. Then show up at open houses where you’re likely to run into cash buyers who are actively seeking investment opportunities.
Introduce yourself to investors and obtain their contact information or business cards. Follow up with them later to make your pitch.
If you’d rather attend open houses than spend the time and money to prep, stage, and hold your own open house, consider networking with investors scouting out nearby fixer-uppers.
Where’s the cash?
An all-cash deal means a quick, hassle-free sale that’s not contingent on financing approval or subject to roadblocks presented by a low appraisal. This results in much faster closings, often in less than two weeks instead of two months.
Sellers have various reasons for seeking cash buyers, such as needing a speedy sale without contingencies to resolve a financial dilemma or not wanting to disrupt their lives with staging, showings, and open houses.
While cash offers will tend to beat out offers with financing, this isn’t always the case. Colofranson explains that the agent helps sellers evaluate all offers to determine which is best for them and their situation.
FAQs for Real Estate Cash Buyers
A real estate cash buyer is an individual or entity that has the financial means to purchase a property without relying on mortgage financing. They typically have readily available funds and can close transactions quickly.
Selling to a cash buyer can offer several advantages, including a faster and more streamlined selling process, reduced risk of the deal falling through due to financing issues, and the potential to negotiate a quicker closing date.
You can find legitimate cash buyers through various channels, including real estate investment companies, online platforms, local real estate networking events, and referrals from real estate agents. It’s important to research and vet potential buyers to ensure they are reputable and financially capable.
Cash buyers often seek discounts on properties because they offer the benefit of a fast and hassle-free transaction. However, the extent of the discount can vary. It’s essential to consider the convenience of a quick sale against the potential difference in sale price when considering offers from cash buyers.
Selling to a cash buyer can significantly expedite the process. In many cases, a cash transaction can close in as few as 10 days to a couple of weeks, depending on the buyer’s readiness and any required inspections or paperwork. This timeline is much faster compared to traditional sales, which may take several weeks or months.
Header Image Source: (Clay Banks / Unsplash)
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