We Buy Houses Bellevue: 5 Top Companies
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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.
“We Buy Houses” companies offer a unique solution for homeowners in Bellevue and other markets who need to make a fast sale, often the best fit for properties that could benefit from some extensive repairs.
These companies make all-cash offers, which can be great for sellers without the time, money, or desire to wade through the traditional home-selling process.
This post will explore both sides of the coin, presenting the pros and cons of cash-for-homes sales and will explain how the process works to help you make an informed decision about selling your Bellevue home.
Disclaimer: This post is meant to be used for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Links and mentions of Bellevue area “We Buy Houses” companies should not be considered an endorsement.
Working with house-buying companies in Bellevue
Here’s a simple guide to the process of selling your Bellevue home for cash. It’s not complicated, but there are a few steps you should know.
- Research companies: Start by identifying reputable house-buying companies that operate in Bellevue. Look for those with positive reviews and a solid track record to ensure a smooth transaction.
- Submit your details: Contact your chosen company with information about your property. This typically involves filling out a form on their website or making a direct call to provide details about your home’s condition, location, and size.
- Receive an offer: After reviewing your home’s information, the company will likely present you with a cash offer. This usually happens quickly, often within a few days of your initial inquiry.
- Accept the offer: If it aligns with your expectations, you can accept the offer. Remember, these offers are usually non-negotiable but aim for a fair valuation based on your home’s current state and market conditions.
- Close the sale: Upon accepting the offer, you’ll move to close the sale. The company will handle most of the paperwork and closing details, aiming for a swift completion to meet your needs. Closing can happen in as little as a week, depending on your agreement.
- Receive your cash: After closing, you will receive the cash for your home, allowing you to move forward with your plans without the wait or uncertainty of the traditional market.
Popular We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Bellevue
If the process of selling to a house-buying company in Bellevue 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 you or your parents’ split-level or ranch home. By selling to one of these companies, you can sell your Bellevue home in as little as a week or two.
Blue Bird Buyers
Blue Bird Buyers is a company specializing in purchasing houses in Bellevue, NE, offering a cash solution for homeowners looking to sell their properties. Their services are designed to provide a quick and hassle-free way for homeowners to sell their homes, making it a convenient option for those in need of immediate cash.
Locations: Nebraska, including Bellevue.
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Blue Bird Buyers cover them.
Blue Bird Buyers has a 5-star Google review rating. Customers have shared their positive experiences, mentioning the company’s quick response, fair pricing, and overall satisfaction with the service. One reviewer noted that the process was smooth and straightforward, and another mentioned that the company was very helpful and made the sale process easy.
Website: bluebirdbuyers.com/bellevue
Phone number: 531-201-1414
Simple Sale (a HomeLight platform)
Simple Sale, a solution from HomeLight, is an online platform where sellers in Bellevue (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 in different locations throughout Bellevue, even those that need some or a lot of work.
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 Bellevue
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
Bigger Equity
BiggerEquity is a nationwide house-buying company that began operations in 2016. The company says it can make a cash offer in as little as seven minutes and close as quickly as seven days.
Locations: BiggerEquity buys houses throughout Nebraska, including Bellevue. The company serves homeowners in all 50 U.S. states.
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; BiggerEquity covers them.
BiggerEquity has been BBB accredited since 2018 and holds an A+ rating and 4.8 stars on Google. Customer reviews on Google for BiggerEquity speak to a smooth, transparent, and up-front process without pressure or surprises.
Website: biggerequity.com/nebraska/bellevue
Phone number: 866-333-8377
ISoldMyHouse.com
ISoldMyHouse.com offers a streamlined process for sellers looking to sell their properties quickly and for cash, making it an attractive option for those in need of immediate liquidity, ideal for those dealing with situations such as divorce, pending forceclosure, any of other unexpected situations.
Locations: ISoldMyHouse.com buys houses throughout Nebraska, including Bellevue. The company serves homeowners in all 50 U.S. states.
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; ISoldMyHouse.com covers them.
ISoldMyHouse.com has been BBB accredited since 2018 and holds an A+ rating and 4.8 stars on Google. One client claims they had a great experience working with the company.
Website: isoldmyhouse.com/we-buy-houses/nebraska
Phone number: 855-283-0001
Cash Offer Omaha
Cash Offer Omaha is a real estate solutions and investment firm specializing in helping homeowners quickly sell their properties. The company focuses on providing a streamlined process for sellers, offering fair all-cash offers for homes..
Locations: Bellevue, Nebraska, and surrounding areas.
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Cash Offer Omaha covers them.
Cash Offer Omaha has received positive feedback from customers, according to their website, highlighting the company’s honesty, efficiency, and willingness to help. They also appreciated the flexibility in choosing the closing date and the insistence on reviewing the offer with family and friends.
Website: cashofferomaha.com/we-buy-houses-bellevue-ne
Phone number: 402-915-6455
Why sell your Bellevue house for cash?
There are a number of reasons why sellers choose to sell their properties for cash. Primarily, the speed and ease of the transaction, along with a near-guaranteed sale, are often the main drivers.
In Bellevue, it typically takes around 76 days to sell a home on the market using an agent. That includes an average of 29 days on the market plus the typical 47 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 Bellevue, 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.
Here are some of the most common scenarios where contacting a house-buying company in Bellevue might be your best option:
- Job relocation: If you’re relocating for a job, selling your home for cash can simplify your move by ensuring a quick sale without the need for travel back and forth.
- Divorce: During a divorce, selling your home for cash offers a fast and uncomplicated way to divide assets and start anew.
- Inherited property: Inheriting property often comes with financial and emotional burdens; a cash sale can quickly resolve these issues.
- Downsizing: For those looking to downsize, selling for cash facilitates a smoother transition to your next home or retirement community.
- Major repairs needed: If your home requires significant repairs, a cash sale can save you from the daunting costs and efforts involved.
- Avoiding open houses: Selling for cash means no open houses, offering privacy and convenience during the sale process.
- Foundation issues: Houses with foundation problems can be difficult to sell traditionally; cash buyers often purchase such homes as-is.
- Facing foreclosure: Selling for cash might provide a way out for homeowners facing foreclosure, potentially salvaging credit and offering a fresh start.
- Problematic tenants: If you’re dealing with difficult tenants, selling your rental property for cash can be a clean break from landlord responsibilities.
- Selling from out of state: Managing a sale from afar is challenging; a cash sale eliminates the need for long-distance coordination.
Pros and cons of house-buying companies in Bellevue
There are several pros and cons to working with a We Buy House but there are some downsides as well. Here’s a quick look at the primary ones you should be concerned with:
Pros:
- Speed of sale: The most significant advantage is the rapid sale process, often closing within a week, allowing you to move on with your life quickly.
- As-is purchase: These companies buy your home as-is, meaning you won’t have to spend time or money on repairs, staging, or cleaning.
- No real estate fees: Selling to a cash buyer eliminates the need for real estate agent commissions, potentially saving you thousands of dollars.
- Avoid contingencies: Cash sales typically bypass many of the contingencies that can slow or complicate traditional sales, like financing approval or home inspection issues.
Cons:
- Below market value: The most significant drawback is that these companies often purchase homes at below market value, which means you might receive less than selling traditionally.
- Limited negotiation: Offers from house-buying companies are typically non-negotiable, leaving you with a take-it-or-leave-it decision.
- Potential for scams: Although many companies are reputable, there’s a risk of falling victim to scams, necessitating thorough research and caution.
- Missed market premium: In a seller’s market, you might miss out on receiving premium offers that come from multiple interested buyers in a competitive environment.
Vet cash buyers and know your home’s worth
When considering a “We Buy Houses for Cash” company in Bellevue, remember that your experience can significantly vary based on the company’s integrity and service quality. It’s essential to thoroughly vet the person or company making the offer on your home.
This means checking reviews, reading testimonials, and researching their market presence and performance. A trustworthy company should have a transparent process and a solid record of fair dealings with homeowners.
Before you commit to a cash offer, carefully read the buying agreement. Understanding every term and condition is vital to avoid surprises down the line. HomeLight suggests consulting with an experienced local agent to gauge your home’s worth on the open market. This comparison can help you decide whether the cash offer represents fair value for your Bellevue home. HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing agent in your market, and you can use HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator for an initial estimate of your home’s worth in less than two minutes.
HomeLight suggests you consult with an experienced local agent to better understand 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 Bellevue home quickly
Exploring quick sale options beyond traditional cash-for-homes companies can lead you to iBuyers and real estate agents, each offering unique advantages.
iBuyers, like Opendoor and Offerpad, utilize automated valuation models (AVMs) to make instant, near-market value offers for homes in good condition. The iBuyer process is streamlined and primarily online, offering a quick close but with service fees of 5%-6%.
On the other hand, listing with a real estate agent might seem counterintuitive when seeking speed. However, in a seller’s market, a well-priced and marketed home can sell quickly, potentially at a higher price.
Agents provide valuable insights through a comparative market analysis (CMA), which is often free, helping you to set a competitive price and understand your home’s market value. For those open to exploring this avenue, HomeLight can connect you with top-performing agents in your area, possibly even finding cash buyers willing to meet or exceed market value.
FAQs on Bellevue house-buying companies
By and large, most We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Bellevue 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 Bellevue 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 Bellevue split-level could sell for $278,800 after repairs, but it’s going to need $30,000 of work to get there.
($278,800 x .70) – $30,000 = $165,160
In this example, a Bellevue We Buy Houses company might offer you around $165,160 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 Bellevue We Buy Houses for Cash company, you will likely be coming to grips with a two-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 the offer is accepted. On the other side, 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 is going to be the price you walk away with at the end of the deal. Of course, it’s always a good idea to flat-out ask the company if there are any hidden program fees that might impact your bottom line.
- Research and vet the house-buying companies that serve your Bellevue 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 Bellevue vs. top Bellevue 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 Bellevue | Sell with a top Realtor in Bellevue |
Selling timeline | 7 to 30 days | 76 days average; 29 to attract an offer, 47 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 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 | 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 put together 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 Bellevue is currently worth about $278,800 and needs about $25,000 in repairs. Once the repairs are completed, the home might be worth around $303,800.
Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Bellevue | Sell with a top Realtor in Bellevue | |
Estimated sale price | ($303,800 x .70) – $25,000 = $187,660 | $278,800 |
Market preparations | 0 | $2,788 (1% of sale price) |
Agent commissions | 0 | $16,170 (5.8% of sale price) |
Closing costs | 0 | $4,182 (1.5%) |
Estimated take-home for seller | $187,660 | $255,660 |
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
- Speed and convenience: Selling your Bellevue home to a house-buying company offers unparalleled speed and convenience, making it ideal for urgent or complex situations.
- As-is sale: You can sell your home as it stands, avoiding the cost and time associated with repairs and upgrades.
- No agent fees: By bypassing traditional selling methods, you save on real estate agent commissions.
- Below market offers: Be prepared for offers below market value, which is a common trade-off for the convenience of a quick sale.
- 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 Bellevue agent.
Header Image Source: (Tim Umphreys/Unsplash)