We Buy Houses Abilene: Top 4 Companies
- Published on
- 15 min read
-
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.
If you’re selling your Abilene home and time is a factor, a We Buy Houses company could offer you a solution. These companies typically make cash offers on homes, even for properties that need extensive repairs. Selling to one of these companies can be a good alternative to the time and expense of prepping your home for the market.
Whether you’re facing a sudden need to relocate, financial pressure, or simply don’t want to invest in repairs, selling for cash helps ease some of the burden of home ownership.
In this post, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of working with We Buy Houses companies in Abilene, provide some options for companies, and explain how the process works.
Disclaimer: This post is meant to be used for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Links and mentions of Abilene area “We Buy Houses” companies should not be considered an endorsement.
Working with house-buying companies in Abilene
Selling your Abilene home to a cash-for-homes company can be a good alternative when you need to sell quickly. If you want to skip the hassle of repairs, showings, and extended negotiations, here are the typical steps to work with a house-buying company.
- Connect with a company: Reach out to a house-buying company and provide information about your property to start the process.
- Arrange a home assessment: The company will schedule a walkthrough or virtual tour to evaluate your home’s condition.
- Receive a cash offer: After assessing your property, the company will present a cash offer, often within a day or two.
- Consider the offer: Take time to review the offer and determine if it aligns with your needs for a quick sale.
- Accept the offer: If you’re satisfied with the offer, accept it and initiate the closing process.
- Close the sale: Finalize the sale and transfer ownership on a timeline that works best for you, typically within days or weeks.
Popular We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Abilene
If the process of selling to a house-buying company in Abilene sounds good to you, it’s time to find a legitimate operation you can trust.
We’ve compiled some of the top companies that will pay cash for your or your parents’ Ranch or Craftsman Bungalows. By selling to one of these companies, you should be able to sell your Abilene home in as little as a week or two.
Joe Homebuyer of West Texas
Joe Homebuyer of West Texas, located in Abilene, Texas, buys houses nationwide. Established in September 2021, it specializes in helping homeowners sell quickly for cash. After receiving your information, it can usually make a fair all-cash offer within 24 hours and close within 7 days or on your schedule.
Locations: Snyder, Odessa, Midland, San Angelo and Abilene
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Joe Homebuyer of West Texas covers them.
Joe Homebuyer of West Texas has over 25 Google reviews with a 5.0-star rating. A recent client described the team as kind, courteous, knowledgeable, and professional, noting that the sale process was easier, faster, and less stressful than expected, calling them an “All Star team.”
Website: joehomebuyerwesttexasarea.com
Phone number: 325-240-6846
Simple Sale (a HomeLight platform)
Simple Sale, a solution from HomeLight, is an online platform where sellers in Abilene (and across the country) can request a cash offer for their home. Simple Sale connects you to the largest network of cash buyers in the U.S. Partner investors have a wide range of investment strategies, including fix-and-flip and buy-and-hold. This enables Simple Sale to provide cash offers for a wide array of properties, even those that need some or a lot of work, in different locations throughout Abilene.
With Simple Sale, you can get a no-obligation, all-cash offer in 24 hours and sell your home in as few as 10 days, skipping the months it can take to sell the traditional way.
Locations: Nationwide, including Abilene
Closing costs: No prep costs, agent commissions, or fees charged by HomeLight. Individual investor fees may vary.
Simple Sale is a HomeLight platform. HomeLight was founded in 2012 and is BBB-accredited with an A+ rating. The company has 4.8 stars on Google based on hundreds of user reviews. Below, you can hear about how Baohan Wu, a seller who used Simple Sale to sell his high-rise apartment, closed within three and a half weeks and what he thought of the process overall.
Learn more: homelight.com/simple
Phone: 844-488-8455
PS Home Buyers
PS Home Buyers buys houses and land in Abilene, TX, offering quick cash sales. As a small group of investors led by owner John Ramirez, they close most deals within 7 days. They provide an offer without fees, commissions, or closing costs.
Locations: Abilene, Texas
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; PS Home Buyers cover them.
PS HomeBuyers has a few Google reviews but maintains a 5.0-star rating. A recent client mentioned that John Ramirez is kind, compassionate, and extremely helpful, working tirelessly to get a fair deal for their house.
Website: pshomebuyer.com
Phone number: 682-233-2449
We Buy Houses, Abilene
WeBuyHouses.com was founded in 1997 and buys houses in 200 markets and 30 states in any condition. According to their website, they have been trusted by 1 million homeowners and can present a cash offer even if the homeowner is behind on their mortgage or facing foreclosure.
Locations: Nationwide, including Abilene.
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; WeBuyHouses.com covers them.
WeBuyHouses.com has been BBB accredited since August 2020 and has an A+ rating. Customer reviews speak to its professionalism and an easy sales process.
Website: webuyhouses.com/tx/Abilene
Phone number: 877-932-8946
Why sell your Abilene house for cash?
There are plenty of valid reasons a Abilene home seller may choose to work with a Cash-For-Homes company. Leading the list are the benefits of speed, certainty, and remarkable convenience.
In Abilene, it typically takes around 95 days to sell a home on the market using an agent. That includes an average of 52 days on the market plus the typical 43 days a buyer needs to close on a purchase loan.
Compare that to the typical seven to 10 days promised by many house-buying companies in Abilene, and it’s clear why these Cash-For-Homes groups are an attractive option, even though they don’t always offer top dollar for the homes they purchase.
Selling your Abilene home for cash may be a smart option if you need to sell quickly.
Here are some common scenarios where selling to a cash buyer could be the right move:
- Job relocation: If you need to move quickly for a new job and can’t wait for a traditional sale, a cash sale lets you focus on the transition.
- Divorce: When dividing assets during a divorce, a quick cash sale can simplify the process, allowing both parties to move forward.
- Inherited property: If you’ve inherited a home that you don’t want to keep, selling it for cash can free you from maintenance and upkeep.
- Downsizing: When it’s time to downsize, a fast cash sale can help you transition into your next home without the hassle of prepping your current one.
- Repairs: If your house needs costly repairs and you’re unable or unwilling to make them, a cash sale allows you to sell the home as-is.
- Open houses: If you don’t want to deal with the stress and disruption of holding open houses, selling for cash skips that step entirely.
- Foundation issues: Homes with major foundation problems can scare away buyers. A cash buyer will likely purchase your home without requiring repairs.
- Foreclosure: When foreclosure is looming, selling to a cash buyer can help you avoid the process and potentially salvage your credit.
- Problem tenants: If you’re tired of dealing with difficult tenants in a rental property, a cash sale offers a quick exit strategy.
- Selling from out of state: If you need to sell a home in Abilene but live out of state, a house-buying company can handle the sale without your direct involvement.
Pros and cons of house-buying companies in Abilene
When deciding whether to sell your Abilene home to a house-buying company, weighing the pros and cons is helpful. Let’s start with a look at the biggest benefits and then examine the potential drawbacks.
A significant advantage of working with a house-buying company in Abilene is the speed of the process. They buy your home quickly and as-is, meaning you don’t have to worry about repairs, cleaning, or preparing the house for market. Here are a few more key benefits:
- Quick sale: You can typically close the sale in just a few weeks or less, which is much faster than the traditional market.
- No repairs needed: You can sell the home without making costly or time-consuming repairs, which is ideal if your property has issues.
- No open houses or showings: You avoid the hassle of having strangers walk through your home for showings or open houses.
- Cash payment: You’ll receive cash for your home, which means no waiting for mortgage approvals or dealing with contingencies.
On the flip side, selling to a house-buying company in Abilene means you’ll likely receive below market value for your home. Let’s take a closer look at this and other potential disadvantages:
- Lower sale price: You’re likely to receive less than the home’s full market value, which can be a significant downside if you want to maximize your profits.
- Scams: While many companies are legitimate, there are some scams in the industry, so it’s crucial to vet any buyer thoroughly.
- No negotiations: Offers from house-buying companies are typically non-negotiable, meaning you either accept their price or move on.
- No contingency benefits: You won’t benefit from any contingencies, such as appraisal or financing contingencies, which may help protect sellers in a traditional sale.
Vet cash buyers and know your home’s worth
Before you commit to selling your home to a house-buying company in Texas, it’s essential to do your due diligence. The level of integrity and service can vary widely depending on the person or group making the offer. Here are a few tips to help ensure you’re working with a reputable company:
- Research the company: Look for reviews and testimonials to gauge the company’s reputation. Pay attention to patterns of positive or negative feedback.
- Check their market presence: Verify the company’s experience by researching how long they’ve been in business and how many homes they’ve bought.
- Carefully review the offer: Before you sign anything, read the buying agreement in full to understand all terms, conditions, and fees.
- Ask questions: Don’t be afraid to ask for details about the buying process or how quickly you can expect to receive your money.
HomeLight suggests you consult with an experienced local agent to get a better idea of what your home might be worth if sold on the open market. Then, compare your cash offer. HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing agent in your market. You can also use HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator to get an initial ballpark estimate in less than two minutes.
Other options to sell your Abilene home quickly
iBuyers
iBuyers, or instant buyers, use automated valuation models (AVMs) to quickly assess home values, offering a mostly online selling experience. Companies like Opendoor and Offerpad provide all-cash offers that are typically closer to market value, especially for homes in good condition. The iBuyer process takes only a few days to two weeks, but service fees of 5%-6% often apply. This option works best for sellers with well-maintained homes in regions with uniform housing.
Listing with an agent
Even if you’re looking for speed, don’t overlook listing with a top agent. In a strong seller’s market, strategically pricing and marketing a home could result in a quick sale. Using an agent may yield a higher price, especially with the insight from a comparative market analysis (CMA), which is often free. Agents may also connect you with cash buyers. HomeLight can connect you with top agents to help maximize your sale.
FAQs on Abilene house-buying companies
By and large, most We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Abilene are legitimate businesses. Their services and transaction fees may differ, but the business model has been around for decades. If you use an established group with a track record, you can be fairly confident that it’s legit.
That said, as with any financial transaction, it’s a good idea to be on the alert for scams. Always research companies before you sign a contract. Check customer reviews, look at their online presence, verify professional licenses, get a referral if possible, and vet the company on the Better Business Bureau website. Watch for anything that just doesn’t seem right.
As described in our pros and cons list above, most Abilene We Buy Houses for Cash companies apply the 70% rule, meaning they’ll offer you about 70% of your home’s after-repair value minus their estimated repair costs.
Here’s an example of what a simplified formula might look like:
(Your home’s ARV x .70) – repair costs
To see how this might work in a real-world scenario, let’s take a look at an example offer equation. Let’s say your Abilene Ranch style home could sell for $235,000 after repairs, but it will need $30,000 of work to get there.
($235,000 x .70) – $30,000 = $134,500
In this example, an Abilene We Buy Houses company might offer you around $134,500 for your home.
However, different types of house-buying companies will offer varying amounts for homes. As mentioned previously, iBuyers tend to pay more than We Buy Houses companies because iBuyers look for homes in better condition. An iBuyer might pay you 90% or more of market value while charging a fee for their services.
When you accept an offer from a Abilene We Buy Houses for Cash company, you will likely be coming to grips with a double-edged sword. On the one side, it shouldn’t cost you any additional money because these companies make an offer and handle almost everything once it is accepted. Conversely, you’ll likely get less money overall for your home.
Because We Buy Houses for Cash companies tend to focus on distressed homes, they typically have zero fees. Many will even cover your closing costs. In most cases, this means that the cash offer you receive will be the price you walk away with at the end of the deal. Of course, asking the company if any hidden program fees might impact your bottom line is always a good idea.
- Research and vet the house-buying companies that serve your Abilene area. Our list above is a good place to start.
- Submit offer requests to a few of the companies you like best.
- Schedule any required on-site property visits.
- Compare offers. Weigh the pros and cons and choose the best option for you.
- Close the sale in a week to 30 days and get paid. (Some companies will let you choose a closing date up to 90 days after accepting the offer, which can be helpful when planning a move.)
We Buy Houses for Cash in Abilene vs. top Abilene agent
Another helpful exercise is to compare how a We Buy Houses for Cash company might stack up against working with a real estate agent. Let’s take a glance at how different aspects of the sale might look and compare possible proceeds.
Aspect of the sale | Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Abilene | Sell with a top Realtor in Abilene |
Selling timeline | 7 to 30 days | 95 days average; 52 to attract an offer, 43 to close the loan |
Home preparations | None | Deep clean, declutter, make necessary repairs, landscape, stage home |
Showings | None | 10 to 25 showings average |
Inspections / repairs | None | May need to make additional repairs for the buyer or renegotiate the price |
Appraisal | None | May need to lower your asking price if the appraisal comes in low |
Title search | Cash-For-Homes companies often handle title issues | Must clear title before you can sell the home |
Financing contingency | None | Mortgaged buyers use a financing contingency that could hold up the deal if the buyer’s loan doesn’t clear |
Agent commission | None | 3%-5.8% average |
Closing costs | None | 1% to 3% of the home sale price on top of agent commission |
Example net proceeds
Below, we’ve compiled one example of how net proceeds may differ between selling a home to a We Buy Houses for Cash company and an agent-assisted sale.
Let’s say your home in Abilene is worth about $230,000 and needs about $20,000 in repairs. Once the repairs are completed, the home might be worth around $250,000.
Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Abilene | Sell with a top Realtor in Abilene | |
Estimated sale price | ($250,000 x .70) – $20,000 = $155,000 | $230,000 |
Market preparations | 0 | $2,300 (1% of sale price) |
Agent commissions | 0 | $6,900 (3% of sale price) |
Closing costs | 0 | $3,450 (1.5%) |
Estimated take-home for seller | $155,000 | $217,350 |
As this example illustrates, financially, it’s usually in your best interest to partner with an experienced real estate agent.
However, net proceeds are not the only consideration when selling a home. What’s best in your situation will depend on the condition of your property, what level of repairs are needed, and your selling objectives. It could be that selling on the open market will be a challenge in your area, or the agent timeline might not fit your immediate needs.
Key takeaways
- Quick sale: Cash-for-homes companies offer a fast sale, often closing in just days or weeks.
- As-is condition: These companies buy your home in its current state, so you don’t need to make repairs or preparations.
- Lower price: Cash buyers usually offer below market value for your home, but it can be a worthwhile tradeoff for speed and convenience.
- Limited negotiation: The cash offer you receive is generally a take-it-or-leave-it proposition with little room for negotiation.
- Know your home’s worth: Always be aware of your property’s estimated market value before you proceed with a cash-offer company.
At HomeLight, we’re happy to lend a guiding hand in navigating your real estate journey. Let us help you make an informed and confident decision, whether you’re looking for a no-obligation cash offer through a trusted platform like Simple Sale or seeking to consult with a top Abilene agent.
Header Image Source: (cboswell/DepositPhotos)