Need to sell your house fast in Tennessee
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No repairs or roadblocks: We specialize in helping Tennessee sellers move quickly, even if a house needs repairs or you’re going through a difficult situation such as divorce, death in the family, or financial troubles.
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How to Sell My House Fast in Tennessee: Cash Offer Options
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Richard Haddad, Executive EditorCloseRichard Haddad Executive Editor
Richard 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.
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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 Tennessee homeowner seeking strategies to sell your house fast? Whether it’s an unexpected life change or a planned strategic move, circumstances often dictate a need for speed in the real estate market. This guide was crafted with you in mind, detailing effective ways to expedite the selling process in the Volunteer State.
From comparing cash offers and hiring a top real estate agent to understanding the pros and cons of house-buying companies, our guide will help navigate your quick sale.
Why you might need to sell your Tennessee house fast
Let’s explore some reasons why you may need to sell your Tennessee house fast:
- Job relocation: Your new job starts soon, and you need to make a swift sale to minimize the stress of moving and start your new position with ease.
- Financial hardship: Whether due to job loss, health issues, or unforeseen expenses, rapid home sales often provide an immediate financial solution.
- Divorce or separation: Navigating through marital turbulence, you may need to sell your shared property quickly to facilitate a clean break.
- Inherited property: You’ve inherited a house that you can’t maintain or simply don’t need, making a fast sale a practical choice.
- Upsizing or downsizing: Your current home no longer fits your lifestyle or family size, necessitating a swift move to a more suitable property.
- Retirement: As you transition into this new phase, selling your home quickly can help kickstart your retirement plans.
- Avoiding foreclosure: To protect your credit and relieve financial burdens, a rapid home sale can be a viable route to bypass foreclosure.
If you’re nodding your head to one or more of the above situations, one option to consider is receiving a no-obligation all-cash offer for your Tennessee home.
Option 1: Request a cash offer for your Tennessee home
Selling your house in Tennessee doesn’t have to be a drawn-out process. For those seeking a quick, convenient option, obtaining a cash offer is becoming a common alternative. Bypassing the traditional route, platforms like HomeLight’s Simple Sale connect Tennessee homeowners directly with cash buyers, effectively fast-tracking the selling process.
With Simple Sale, the control is in your hands. You set your own move-out date and can potentially close the sale in as few as 10 days. By providing some details about your Tennessee home and your intended selling timeline, you can receive a no-obligation all-cash offer in as little as 24 hours.
The process of a cash offer in Tennessee
In a cash sale, the buyer brings funds to the table immediately, bypassing the delays associated with mortgages. Once your home’s condition and market value are evaluated, the cash buyer presents their offer. Upon acceptance, the sale can close promptly, bypassing the hold-ups of mortgage approvals or inspections.
Here’s a breakdown of the straightforward three-step Simple Sale process:
Who else buys houses for cash in Tennessee?
As a Tennessee homeowner, you have several options at your disposal when looking for companies that buy homes for cash. These companies and investor groups have an established presence in the state, and could potentially facilitate a swift, straightforward sale of your home.
Here are a few examples of Tennessee-based house-buying companies:
- Tennessee State Home Buyers (Murfreesboro area)
- East Tennessee Home Buyers LLC (Knoxville area)
- Nexus Homebuyers (Knoxville area)
- TN HomeBuyers (Nashville area)
- Chris Buys Houses (Nashville and Murfreesboro areas)
- Middle Tennessee Home Buyers (Middle Tennessee)
- GGI Home Buyers (Middle Tennessee)
- New Horizon Home Buyers (Memphis and Chattanooga areas)
- We Buy Houses Memphis (Memphis area)
- Volunteer Homebuyers (Memphis area)
While the internet can provide you with a myriad of additional cash-for-home companies, it’s crucial to thoroughly research and vet each one to ensure you’re making a confident choice. Or, to simplify the process, you could leverage HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform, which connects you with the largest network of trusted cash buyers in the U.S., offering an efficient and reliable way to sell your Tennessee home for cash.
Pros and cons of selling to a Tennessee house-buying company
If you’re contemplating selling your Tennessee home to a house-buying company, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve compiled a comparison of notable benefits and potential drawbacks of this arrangement.
Pros
- Sell fast: Accelerate the selling process, sometimes closing in as little as a week.
- Skip repairs: No need to fix up your home; most house-buying companies in Tennessee will buy “as is.”
- Easy process: Selling to a house-buying company streamlines the process, sparing you from handling complex paperwork.
- No staging or showings: No need to stage your home or schedule showings, saving time and reducing stress.
- Flexible move-out dates: You often have the freedom to choose your move-out date.
- No financing delays: Bypass financing delays with a cash buyer.
- Reduced or no closing fees: Many house-buying companies cover closing costs.
- Sale is guaranteed: Once the offer is accepted, there are no contingencies that can delay or kill the deal. The sale is almost always guaranteed.
- Can be a foreclosure solution: If you’re facing foreclosure, this could offer a quick resolution.
- Less work than a FSBO sale: Selling to a house-buying company is typically less work than selling your home by yourself.
- Peace of mind: With a quicker, more straightforward sale, enjoy peace of mind knowing your Tennessee home is sold.
Cons
- Lower offers: House-buying companies typically offer below market value for homes.
- Less competition for your home: Your house won’t be listed on the market, potentially limiting competition.
- You give up control: The house-buying company generally dictates the terms of the sale.
- No negotiations: Most house-buying companies provide a take-it-or-leave-it offer with no room for negotiation.
- Can face hidden fees: Some companies may charge unexpected fees.
- Not all companies are reputable: As with any industry, not all house-buying companies operate ethically.
- A potential risk for scams: It’s crucial to research each company thoroughly to avoid scams.
Sarah Brogdon, a top-performing real estate agent in Tennessee who sells homes 55% faster than the average Chattanooga agent, cautions sellers to carefully vet the cash buyer. “People get those ‘we buy houses’ postcards, and they even maybe sometimes see ads on local media, and those folks are often real estate wholesalers.”
A wholesaler is a middleman who will convince you to sign a contract and then try to pass the sale off to a real investor for a fee.
“Usually, [a wholesaler’s] contract will say something like ‘Bob Smith’ is assigned or named as the purchaser, so they’re not actually the end buyer,” Brogdon explains. “The wholesaler makes money on the spread at closing. They’re trying to secure that property at a price way below market value.” They’re seeking a price low enough for both the wholesaler and the investor buyer to profit.
Researching the buyer and keeping the pros and cons in mind will help you decide whether selling to a house-buying company is the right choice for you.
Option 2: Hire a top Tennessee real estate agent
For Tennessee homeowners looking to secure a swift sale without sacrificing value, hiring a top real estate agent could be the winning strategy. These experts are deeply versed in the Tennessee housing market, providing you with the guidance you need to sell your house swiftly and profitably.
“The role of an agent is to really be a trusted advisor,” Brogdon says. “It is our job to work with sellers to understand the value of their home in today’s market and to ensure that they are getting the strongest price for that property that the market can bear.”
Let’s explore some of the current market conditions in Tennessee.
How fast are homes selling in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, home-selling speed and pricing trends can vary, but an overview of the market can provide a snapshot of the state’s current real estate landscape. Median days on market (DOM), which refers to the period from when a property is listed to when the seller and buyer sign a contract, is one valuable measure. We’ll review the DOM data below.
Additionally, it’s important for sellers to take into account the typical additional 43 days it can take to fully complete the sale — the time a buyer needs to close on a purchase loan in Tennessee.
Over the past year, we’ve observed some interesting shifts in the DOM for Tennessee homes. In 2023 and 2024, homes in Tennessee have been spending more time on the market as compared to the previous two years. Additionally, the number of closed home sales in June 2024 was down 20.9% from a year prior. This is likely due to a slower sales pace brought on by higher interest rates, or buyers unwilling to adjust their price expectations to match the shifting market.
“The average days on market is kind of a tricky metric because in any market, you have some properties that, for any variety of reasons, are sitting on the market for a long time,” Brogdon says. “So they’re either overpriced, or there is too much deferred maintenance. Or, there’s a very limited pool of prospective buyers because of the type of property it is.”
Additionally, the median sale price in Tennessee has experienced fluctuations throughout the year, showcasing the dynamics of the market. The following data table can help paint a picture of DOM and sale price trends in Tennessee.
Tennessee real estate conditions and trends
Here is a snapshot of current real estate conditions in Tennessee:
As of June 2024 | |
Days on market (median time from list to contract) | 43 days* |
Median home sale price | $378,000 |
New listings | 39,709 |
Supply of inventory | 4.79 months |
Number of closed home sales year over year | -20.9% |
*Does not include the additional 43 days a buyer needs to close on a purchase loan.
Source(s): Tennessee Realtors, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED).
“In Chattanooga, if your home is in good condition or if it’s even just priced appropriately for the condition that it’s in, it should be selling within a couple of weeks,” Brogdon says. “I would say 14-15 days is pretty standard right now [to get a signed contract]. If you start to get beyond about three weeks, you’re probably overpriced, or there’s something else going on in terms of the show-ability, access, or how it’s being marketed.”
Benefits of selling with a top Tennessee agent
Selling your Tennessee home quickly can be a complex task, but partnering with a top real estate agent can significantly streamline the process and lead to a swift sale.
Here are the benefits that a top Tennessee real estate agent can provide, particularly in terms of accelerating your home sale:
- Ability to sell for more: A top agent knows the Tennessee market inside and out, which can lead to a higher sales price, often compensating for their commission.
- Can generate a speedy sale: By leveraging their extensive network and marketing strategies, a top agent can attract the right buyers quickly.
- Accurate, effective pricing: Agents have the expertise to price your home appropriately for the Tennessee market, avoiding overpricing that could lead to prolonged time on market.
- Professional negotiation skills: An experienced agent can negotiate on your behalf, potentially shortening the time to contract agreement.
- Expert partner by your side: Having a seasoned professional guiding you through the selling process can expedite each step, making for a faster sale.
- Will know what to fix and not fix: An agent can advise on essential repairs or improvements that could expedite the sale, while helping you avoid unnecessary expenditures.
- Elevated marketing: With professional staging and photography, plus targeted marketing strategies, an agent can attract serious buyers faster.
- Contract savviness: An experienced agent can swiftly navigate contracts, avoiding potential delays and speeding up the process.
- Can manage documents and disclosures: An agent’s expertise in managing the required paperwork can avoid hold-ups and ensure a smooth process.
- Network of skilled professionals: From contractors to home inspectors, an agent’s network can expedite necessary repairs and requirements for a quick sale.
“One big benefit of working with an experienced, seasoned agent in the Chattanooga market is that they are going to understand how to navigate current market conditions, which are frankly unusual and a little different than anything we’ve seen recently,” Brogdon says. “The market has shifted, and you need somebody who has been around for a while to help navigate what we’re currently experiencing.”
How to find a top Tennessee real estate agent
Finding the right real estate agent in Tennessee is key to a successful and swift home sale. With HomeLight’s Agent Match platform, you can access a database of top-rated agents in the Tennessee market. Our platform analyzes over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to connect you with the best agent for your specific needs. Whether you’re selling or buying in the Volunteer State, let HomeLight guide you to the perfect real estate professional.
Expert agent tips to help sell your Tennessee house fast
As a homeowner in Tennessee looking to sell quickly, taking some expert advice from top real estate agents can give you an upper hand. The following are some insider tips that are tailored specifically to the Volunteer State’s unique real estate market:
- Offer a seller-paid rate buydown: This is when a seller pays down points to lower the mortgage rate for the buyer. “A rate buydown is the kind of thing that can get a buyer off the fence and make the house more affordable to them in the long-term,” Brogdon says. “Buyers are paying attention to that, so if I was in a big hurry to sell, I’d offer an interest rate buydown.”
- Highlight environmentally friendly, energy-efficient features: Brogdon notes, “We see buyers increasingly asking about sustainability as part of their home search.” In Tennessee, where energy costs can fluctuate with the seasons, homes with environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient features, and lower utility costs can be a significant selling point.
- Stage a home office: With the rise of remote working, especially among the young professionals flocking to Tennessee, Brogdon suggests, “Work-from-home is definitely a huge trend… This makes home office space increasingly important.” Stage a dedicated workspace to appeal to this demographic.
- Capitalize on local charm: Tennessee is known for its historical charm and scenic landscapes. If your home has any unique features or a captivating view, highlight those in your listing.
- Promote your accessory dwelling unit (ADU): Extra dwelling units, like a mother-in-law unit, can help your Tennessee house sell fast. As Brogdon explains, “Having an ADU is a big deal and could potentially be a great selling feature that also — as our property values come up — can help owners offset the cost of their mortgage [by renting out the ADU].”
- Make your home weather-ready: Tennessee experiences varied weather, from hot summers to occasional heavy rain. Features like energy-efficient windows can make buyers more comfortable.
- Leverage professional photography: In Tennessee’s competitive market, high-quality photos can make your listing stand out. Showcase all the special features of your home in the best light.
- Use social media reach: Share walkthrough videos or photos on popular social platforms to increase visibility. An engaging post could attract multiple offers in a short time.
- Consult on timing: The housing market in Tennessee can be seasonal. Consult with your agent to pick the optimal time to list. You can also check out HomeLight’s Best Time to Sell Calculator for data-backed insights.
Brogdon adds, “Make sure you’ve got an agent who really understands the hyper-local real estate market. Make sure you’ve got someone who knows your neighborhood well. We’re in an environment with rising interest rates, which have put the brakes on a lot of buyers.”
Remember, these are general tips to help speed up your home sale. Working with a top Tennessee real estate agent will provide you with personalized strategies based on your specific home and circumstances.
Ready to sell your Tennessee house fast?
Navigating the shifting real estate market in Tennessee can feel daunting, but remember, you have proven options at your disposal.
Whether your situation calls for the urgency of a cash offer through a platform like HomeLight’s Simple Sale, or you choose the seasoned expertise of a top real estate agent to ensure your home is marketed and priced to sell quickly, you’re covered.
If you choose the agent option, HomeLight can connect with a top-rated agent who understands the unique intricacies of your Tennessee market.
If you’re torn between a cash offer or using an agent, consider exploring both. Comparing a cash offer from Simple Sale with an agent’s perspective offers you a well-rounded view of your options.
With the right knowledge, resources, and tools, you’re well-equipped to navigate your speedy home sale in Tennessee. Happy selling!
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