I Need to Sell My House Fast in San Diego: What Are My Options?

Who else will buy your San Diego house for cash?

• Investors: Usually, investors will purchase property to resell or hold as a rental
• iBuyers: Also known as instant buyers, these companies typically purchase properties based on automated valuation model estimates (AVM)
• Flippers: Generally, flippers buy distressed properties to renovate and resell in a short period of time

All investors, iBuyers, and flippers will buy houses for cash. Flippers and “we buy houses” companies will often look for houses that need renovation. They’ll buy them at a discounted rate, repair them, and make a profit once the property is sold or rented.

According to Brian Cane, a top San Diego agent who works with over 71% more single-family homes than the average agent in his market, sellers typically focus on three things:

• Getting the most amount of money for their home
• Minimizing hassles
• Wanting a timeline that is convenient for them

Cane says that for speed and convenience, a cash investor or house-buying company is hard to beat. “I could personally bring 25 cash buyers to their door, and I’m just one agent who would come in, no hassles, buy it in any condition, as-is.” But Cane adds, “They’re probably going to buy that property at a ten to twenty percent discount on whatever the current market value is.”

Cane gave an example of a home that needed tenants to be removed and put on the market for $750,000, which generated 14 cash offers, and all the buyers were willing to remove the tenants. Once that house is spruced up, Cane said it would likely be worth around $925,000.

Cash buyers in San Diego

There are quite a few cash buyers in the San Diego area, and all require getting initial information about the condition, financial situation, and timeline for selling. Some examples of these local cash buyers include:

Any House Any Price San Diego: Any House Any Price San Diego provides a 100% no-obligation cash offer to purchase homes in any condition and can close in as little as two weeks. They often buy homes that are facing foreclosure, tax liens, or need repairs. Better Business Bureau Rating = A+

BeHomefree: BeHomefree specializes in the local San Diego market and will assess the property value based on the repairs needed. They can close in as quickly as 72 hours, and cash payment is typically received after the title has cleared. No fees or repairs are needed. Better Business Bureau Rating = A+

I Buy SD: I Buy SD will typically buy houses in any condition, including to alleviate stressful financial situations. The company was founded in 2014 and is family-owned and operated. I Buy SD typically closes deals within seven days and they don’t require any fees or preparation of the property by the seller. Better Business Bureau Rating = A+

Gordon Buys Homes: Gordon Buy Homes purchases homes in any condition, including unfinished properties and houses full of stuff, and will usually present a cash offer the same day. They can close in as few as seven days, and the seller doesn’t have to pay any fees or costs. Better Business Bureau Rating = A+ (not accredited)

Trusted House Buyers: Trusted House Buyers is a local company that purchases homes in any condition and advertises closings in less than seven days. They have helped homeowners who are in financial distress and can usually provide a cash offer within 24 hours. Better Business Bureau Rating = A+

We Buy Houses San Diego: We Buy Houses has real estate investors who purchase homes in San Diego and the surrounding areas. They will buy homes, condos, and land in any condition and any price range. Homes purchased by the company typically close within seven to 14 days without requiring repairs. Better Business Bureau Rating = A 

Pros and cons of selling your San Diego house for cash

As with anything, there are pros and cons to selling your house for cash.

Option 2: Work with a top agent to sell fast in San Diego

If you want to sell your home quickly but not immediately, opting for a traditional listing with a top agent usually results in a higher sale price compared to accepting a quick cash offer.

HomeLight’s data also shows that the top 5% of agents sell homes for 4.8% more than average agents. Also, their turnaround time is often 10%–50% quicker, along with the ability to maximize your home sale. This can be a better option in times of divorce or when you need to reduce debt or increase an inherited estate. 

How fast are homes selling in San Diego?

Cane says he has seen San Diego become what he calls the “Silicon Valley of biotech.” Due to the city’s popularity and the growth that comes with it, San Diego’s housing market continues to experience high demand and low inventory rates.

“We have the Pacific Ocean to the west, we have Camp Pendleton marine base to the north, we’ve got the desert to the East and Mexico to the South,” he says. “So we’re just out of land.”

The lack of available has also limited the development of new construction housing, according to Cane. To meet its state-mandated goal of 108,000 new units by 2029, housing production in the city must increase by more than three times the current rate, according to reporting by The San Diego Union Tribune.

San Diego is the second largest city in California, with a current population of 1,394,518. The city gained residents last year (the total population is up 0.48%), while other major cities like Los Angeles and San Jose saw their populations decline.

Market data from the Greater San Diego Association of Realtors (SDAR) suggests that the housing market remains competitive despite the slowdown in sales that occurred in 2023. Single-family home sales plummeted 21.5% in December 2023 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to SDAR. The median sales price of a single-family home hit $949,000, a 9.7% annual increase.

The typical home in San Diego County spent 20.5 days on the market before going under contract. Add that figure to 47, the median number of days to close a conventional home loan, and you can estimate that it takes about 68 days to sell a home in San Diego.

*Does not include time for buyer to close the loan 

Data sources: SDAR, St. Louis Fed, ICE Mortgage Technology

A balanced housing market typically has 5 to 7 months of supply, making San Diego a seller’s market. Cane says there are approximately 3.3 million people who live in San Diego County and only 2,619 homes currently for sale (as of December 2023), which include single-family houses, townhomes, and condos. For context, current inventory is about half of what it was in December 2019.

Cane says that the majority of current buyers are high earners who are 35 to 55 years old. “So, we’re seeing multiple offers, we are seeing homebuyers compete up to maybe one, two, three, four percent over list price or over perceived current market value, but we’re not seeing the type of overbid that we saw in 2021 and 2022.”

8 strategies to sell a home fast in San Diego

Use these expert tips to boost the timeline for your home sale:

1. Set your price competitively

In any market, pricing correctly is key to generating interest in a property and bringing in competitive offers. It’s even more important when you’re trying to sell quickly but want to balance proceeds with speed.

An experienced top agent will perform a comparative market analysis (CMA) to help you set the best price to sell a house fast in your market.

If you’re curious about your home’s current value, try HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator. While it shouldn’t dictate your final pricing strategy, an online home value estimate can give you a ballpark price range. You can get a preliminary estimate in less than two minutes.

2. Do the brunt work upfront

Oftentimes, sellers are eager to get their house on the market and will forgo essential repairs and renovations. According to HomeLight’s Top Agent Insights Survey for End of Year 2023, an updated kitchen is the biggest selling point of a house (67%), followed by a home office space (37%), and a larger or improved outdoor area (31%). Experienced agents agree that new listings get the most exposure, so make sure your house is in optimal shape when you put it on the market.

3. Make the home stand out

It’s important that you make your home seem “special” before you list it. Add fresh paint where needed, update outdated trends in the home, and do a deep clean to make sure the home is in top condition. Staging is another way to highlight your home’s best features and helps homebuyers envision themselves living in the space. A professionally staged home can sell for up to 13% more than an unstaged home, according to HomeLight’s most recent survey of top agents.

4. Hire a professional photographer and videographer

According to a survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 100% of homebuyers used the internet to search for a home in 2023. That means buyers will likely be introduced to your property via the photos and videos you post in a listing. A study by real estate photography company VHT Studios suggests that high-quality photos and videos can accelerate the sale of your house by 32% compared to homes featuring low-quality or average pictures.

5. Showcase your outdoor area

Useable outdoor space has become more important to homebuyers since the pandemic. Outdoor improvements, such as adding a deck or patio, ranked second in HomeLight’s survey of top features sellers can add to make their homes more appealing, earning 58% of the agent vote. If you want your home listing to stand out, consider staging an outdoor seating area or adding a cozy fire pit that’s included in the sale.

6. Advertise your neighborhood’s walkability

Many buyers value walkability, so sellers should emphasize nearby parks, coffee shops, and local restaurants to attract potential buyers. You can use a website like Walk Score to evaluate your neighborhood’s walkability.

7. Promote additional space for lodging

If your property has an auxiliary dwelling unit (ADU), or there’s enough land for a buyer to build one in the future, make a note of it in your listing. If you are selling a home with large square footage, leverage this.

8. Take advantage of market timing

Along with the recommendations above, it can be helpful to know the level of market activity in your area during different times of the year. HomeLight’s Best Time to Sell Calculator uses housing market data for your area to show you the best and worst months to sell your home. Discover the best month for maximizing your profits when selling a house, as well as the months that lead to a quick home sale.

Are all home improvements necessary?

With the current market conditions, Cane advises sellers to be selective when considering large improvements, such as a new roof.

“I would take value off for a broken roof or a leaking roof that needs immediate repair. But an old roof, for example, doesn’t necessarily lessen the property value in a market where there’s more demand than there is supply,” says Cane.

If an issue compromises the integrity of the property, like soil erosion for example, Cane says it would need to be addressed before the home hits the market. If the homeowner is unable to repair the issue, for financial reasons or otherwise, a cash buyer would be a better option in that case.

Ready to sell your San Diego home?

Overall, Cane says the best way to sell fast in San Diego is to consider how urgent the seller’s timeline is and price appropriately for the condition and location of the home.

“It will sell their property in under three weeks, as far as getting an accepted offer.”

As you can see, a top real estate agent in San Diego can help you navigate the many nuances that you might not otherwise discover until you’re swamped in the process. Leveraging a seasoned agent’s organizational skills and marketing expertise can expedite the sale of your North Park bungalow or downtown condo.

If you need an even faster sale, HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform provides cash offers for homes in almost any condition in San Diego and across the country. If you don’t have the time or the means to prepare your home or move through the traditional listing process, you can skip the repairs and showings and close in as few as 10 days. Complete a short questionnaire and receive a no-obligation cash offer in just 24 hours.

Writers Amna Shamim and Emma Woodward contributed to this story.

Header Image Source: (Vita Vilcina / Unsplash)