7 Top We Buy Houses for Cash Companies in Central Florida
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- Eileen Wubbe, Contributing AuthorCloseEileen Wubbe Contributing Author
Eileen Wubbe is a New York-based writer and editor covering finance and real estate.
- 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.
We Buy Houses companies in Central Florida make all-cash offers for homes that often need some work, enabling sellers who lack the time, expertise, and money for repairs to move quickly and receive the cash proceeds from their home sooner if they need it.
Perhaps you need to sell a home quickly to move for a new job opportunity. Or maybe a family member is facing an unexpected health challenge and needs to relocate fast. Or maybe you need to cash out an inherited property to settle an estate.
If you need to sell your Central Florida home quickly, a top We Buy Houses for Cash company could be the best solution. However, before you request a cash offer, it’s important to understand how much a Central Florida house-buying company might offer for your home and consider your options. Once you’re familiar with the process, you can opt to select a company on our list of some of the top contenders and get moving.
Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Links and mentions of Central Florida “We Buy Houses” companies should not be considered endorsements.
Working with house-buying companies in Central Florida
We Buy Houses companies in Central Florida typically promise to give home sellers quick, convenient all-cash offers, and exceptionally speedy closings, often wrapping up the property sale in as few as seven days. These house-buying companies have polished their processes to help sellers who need to move ASAP, and tend to target distressed homes in need of repairs.
Here’s how the process generally works:
- You request an all-cash offer. The company will ask you to provide information about your house and property. Some We Buy Houses groups will make a preliminary offer shortly after you submit the request. However, the initial offer typically is subject to change after they have inspected your home.
- The company performs a walk-through. This on-site property visit typically is completed within 24 to 48 hours. The timeframe may vary depending on the company and market.
- You receive a firm offer. Your official cash offer typically is received within 24 hours of the on-site visit, but can sometimes be presented at the end of the walk-through. At this point, you can accept or decline the offer. The majority of house-buying companies do not negotiate. They usually present a take-it-or-leave-it sale price.
- If you accept the offer, you’ll both sign a sales contract. With a signed sales agreement, the closing process will begin. Some house-buying companies will initially provide a large deposit or funds to assist the seller with moving costs. Others will pay for the property upfront.
- Close the sale and get paid quickly. We Buy Houses companies typically can close your home sale within seven days to a few weeks. This can vary by company, and sellers who work with a house-buying company often enjoy flexibility in selecting a move-out date that works for them.
Note: Individual program details frequently change. Please visit a company’s website for the most up-to-date information on each program’s fees, market coverage, business model, and more. HomeLight always recommends doing your own research to determine which selling option is best for your situation
Popular We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Central Florida
If these benefits of selling to a house-buying company in Central Florida sound 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 parent’s Spanish Colonial Revival or Mediterranean. By selling to one of these companies, you should be able to sell your Central Florida home in as little as a week or two.
House Heroes, LLC
House Heroes was founded in 2013 by Lucas Machado, who previously worked at mobile and Facebook gaming company Zynga, and Earl White, who has been friends with Lucas since 8th grade. The two even roomed in college. They wanted to buy one multi-family rental property, and, through that process, learned about rentals and house flipping, catching the “real estate bug.” They now buy real estate full time, and House Heroes has completed more than 150 closings to date. House Heroes further vets itself by providing a proof of funds bank statement.
Locations: Throughout Florida
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; House Heroes covers them.
House Heroes has been BBB accredited since April 2017 and holds an A+ rating. Google reviewers give the company 4.9 stars. Customer reviews for House Heroes speak to Lucas going “above and beyond to ensure you close on the house as promised” and being “extremely helpful with the sale” and “ethical and a pleasure working with.” Reviews also mention the owners express patience and mentoring during tough financial situations.
Website: househeroes.com
Phone: 954-676-1846
Simple Sale (a HomeLight platform)
Simple Sale, a solution from HomeLight, is an online platform where sellers in Davenport 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 US, and 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 locations throughout Davenport.
With Simple Sale, you can get an all-cash offer in as little as 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 Central Florida
Closing costs: No prep costs, no agent commissions, and no 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.
Phone: 844-488-8455
The Local House Buyers
The I Buy FL is a family-owned business founded by Brandyn Schwalm in 2015.
Schwalm began working for a real estate investment company as soon as he graduated college. Since then, he has flipped more than 100 houses.
After a potential seller fills out a form on the company’s website, a representative will contact them within 24 hours for a quick phone call to find out more about the situation and home. If both parties feel it’s a good match, an offer is made.
Locations: Throughout Florida
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; I Buy FL covers them.
I Buy FL has been BBB accredited since September 2020 and holds an A+ rating. The company has a 4.7-star rating on Google with more than 40 reviews. Customer reviews note, “Brandyn and the team were great to work with! An immediate response to our inquiry quickly led to mutually agreeable terms” and always being available when someone had questions. One reviewer mentions that I Buy Fl provided an “extremely streamlined process.”
Website: www.ibuyfl.com
Phone: 407-630-7777
Zenn Home Buyers
Zenn Homebuyers was founded in 2014 by Zach Mitchell and Andrew Cunningham. The company notes that things like mold damage and termites won’t easily scare them away and they will still give a fair offer quickly. An all-cash offer is often provided within 24 hours and they typically can close on buying a home in as few as seven days.
Locations: Orlando, Florida, and surrounding areas
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Zenn Homebuyers covers them.
Zenn Homebuyers has been BBB accredited since May 2017 and holds an A+ rating. Customer reviews on Google for Zenn Homebuyers give them 5 out of 5 stars and speak to the company being “a great business to work with” and “very professional and got multiple types of buyers within the first few days on the market.” One reviewer mentions showings “were a breeze with their scheduling software and guidelines.”
Website: zennhomebuyers.com
Phone: 407-910-2385
Express Homebuyers
Express Homebuyers has bought more than 4,000 homes since its inception in 2003. Express Homebuyers can purchase your home as-is for cash in as little as a few days. The company also can provide up to a $10,000 cash advance to help with expenses when moving.
Locations: Throughout Florida
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Express Homebuyers covers them.
Express Homebuyers has been BBB accredited since February 2004 and holds a A rating with an average of 4.17/5 rating. Customer reviews for Express Homebuyers speak to “being upfront about the process and communicating well and in a timely fashion” and the “best selling experience of a house.” One reviewer notes the entire staff was knowledgeable, professional, personable, and polite while another mentions Express Homebuyers “freed my family’s finances, improved our credit standing, and restored our peace of mind in less than a month.” Only the Coral Gables location has a Google presence, and they have a 5-star rating.
Note: The BBB site reports a resolved complaint brought against Express Homebuyers by the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia (OAG). The lawsuit alleged that the company sent letters to D.C. homeowners falsely claiming that they owed past due property taxes and urging them to act quickly so they would not lose their home to a tax sale or foreclosure. In December 2022, Express Homebuyers paid a fine and entered into a Consent Order with the OAG that settles the allegations.
Website: expresshomebuyers.com
Phone: 877-804-5252
The Friendly Home Buyer
The Friendly Homebuyer was founded by Jared Sandel, who got his start in real estate in 2011. The company prefers to do business face-to-face and can close in as little as three days. The Friendly Homebuyer offers same-day appointments either on the phone or in person. Sellers have the option to sign closing documents from home or work.
Locations: Throughout Florida, including the Tampa/Sarasota area
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; The Friendly Home Buyer covers them.
The Friendly Home Buyer has been BBB accredited since October 2017 and holds an A+ rating. The company has more than 50 Google reviews for a 4.9-star rating. Customer reviews for The Friendly Home Buyer speak to them being “extremely knowledgeable in the buying and selling process and made us feel comfortable the whole way.” They mentioned the company “helped with the probate process and made everything very easy and hassle-free,” and they were “really good at finding a deal that works well for everyone involved.”
Website: thefriendlyhomebuyer.com
Phone: 888-713-9158
Pinellas Property Solutions
Pinellas Property Solutions is based in St. Petersburg and employs a real estate team with more than 30 years of experience in the Florida real estate market. The company can close in as little as seven days and buys homes as-is due to any situation, including relocating, foreclosure, divorce, probate, and more.
Locations: Pinellas, Hernando, Bay, and Orange counties, Florida
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Pinellas Property Solutions covers them.
Pinellas Property Solutions has been BBB accredited since December 2019 and holds an A+ rating. The company has a 5-star rating on Google with more than 20 reviews. Customer reviews describe the selling process as “simple, easy to work with, and closed ASAP without any issues” and “they came through with the cash I needed on my timeline.” One reviewer states, “When my mother got sick and couldn’t stay in her home, Chris worked tirelessly to close as quickly as possible.”
Website: go.ppsflorida.com
Phone: 727-800-4013
Why sell your Central Florida house for cash?
There are plenty of valid reasons a Central Florida 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 Central Florida, it typically takes about 98 days to sell a home on the market using an agent. That includes an average of 55 days listed on the market until a signed contract 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 Central Florida 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.
These companies are gaining popularity, particularly among sellers who don’t have the time for the lengthy process of preparing, marketing, and closing a traditional home sale. Let’s look at some of the most common reasons Central Florida sellers decide to use a We Buy Houses for Cash company over listing a property the traditional way.
- Job relocation: You need to move quickly for a new job and can’t wait for a traditional home sale.
- Divorce: You want to quickly divide assets and move on with your life.
- Inherited property: You’ve inherited a house and prefer a quick sale to dealing with maintenance or renting.
- Downsizing: You’re looking to move into a smaller home or retirement community without the hassle of prepping and showing your current home.
- Repairs needed: Your home requires significant repairs that you can’t afford or don’t want to manage.
- Avoiding open houses: You prefer to avoid the stress and inconvenience of multiple showings and open houses.
- Foundation issues: Your home has structural problems, making it less attractive to traditional buyers.
- Foreclosure: You’re facing foreclosure and need to sell quickly to settle your debts.
- Problem tenants: You’re a landlord tired of managing tenants and want a quick sale of your rental property.
- Selling from out of state: You own a property in Central Florida but live elsewhere and want the ease of a fast, remote sale.
If you are a homeowner facing any of these circumstances, requesting a cash offer from a top We Buy Houses for Cash company in Central Florida might be a good option to consider. However, it’s prudent to think of this as a starting point in your search for solutions. You won’t know if it’s your best move until you know more about other options available to you, which we’ll help you review in a minute.
Pros and cons of house-buying companies in Central Florida
By now, you’ve likely realized that We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Central Florida can stir up mixed feelings. While the speed and convenience may be appealing, it can be challenging to weigh these benefits against the potential premium you’ll pay for a cash-offer service.
In this next section, we’ll walk you through some of the pros and cons of using a We Buy Houses company so you can better evaluate your options.
Pros to We Buy Houses for Cash in Central Florida
One of the biggest advantages of working with We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Central Florida is that you can sell your home as-is with no repairs required, and they’ll buy homes in any condition.
If your home was severely damaged in a weather event, or you’ve fallen years behind on routine maintenance, you can still sell without needing to make the extensive repairs that financed buyers may require.
Here are some other pros to consider:
- Speed: You typically can sell your house in as few as seven to 10 days.
- More certainty: With a pre-offer walk-through, a house-buying company can provide a firm cash offer that comes with few contingencies, or no contingencies at all. We Buy Houses companies have refined their transaction methods in such a way that they can clear away many traditional roadblocks so sellers can plan with more confidence.
- No repairs: If your home is in need of repairs you can’t afford, you can skip them altogether. Or, if you don’t have the desire or time to tackle repairs, a We Buy Houses company can be a fitting solution to sell a home in poor condition.
- Less hassle: You won’t need to worry about showings, open houses, fielding offers, negotiating, low appraisals, or the risk of the buyer’s financing falling through. When you work with a reputable We Buy Houses for Cash company in Central Florida, you’re likely going to experience a smooth journey from offer to close.
That all may sound pretty great to you as a seller if you’re looking to move within weeks rather than the months it might take you to list and sell your home on the market with an agent. However, there are downsides to working with cash-for-homes companies. Namely, they typically offer substantially below market value for your home.
Cons to We Buy Houses for Cash in Central Florida
When considering an offer from a We Buy Houses site, remember that these are house-buying companies, which means they’re ultimately trying to make a profit. They plan to fix up your home and either resell it or rent it out. That takes considerable time, skill, and investment.
Here are some potential downsides to consider:
- Lower-priced offers: Most companies follow the 70% rule, meaning they’ll offer you about 70% of your home’s after-repair value (ARV) — the value that your house could sell for on the market once it’s all fixed up — minus repair costs. This means the cash offer you receive may be markedly lower than what you could get for your home on the market.
- Inconsistent market knowledge: There can be a vast difference in a house-buying company’s knowledge of a market. One may have localized information, such as specific neighborhood data, which enables the company to leverage that knowledge into more competitive cash offers. A company without this expertise may give you a lowball offer.
- A company may be untrustworthy: As with any industry, there’s a risk of falling in with a less trustworthy company. Some cash-offer outfits deliberately make low offers to desperate homeowners and then pressure them into making a fast, unvetted decision. An unprincipled group may even engage in fraud tactics, though it’s rare.
- Pressure tactics: We Buy Houses for Cash companies know that homeowners in need of a quick sale are often facing a desperate situation. While many offer real solutions, some companies take advantage of this urgency by applying pressure tactics. If you feel pressured to accept an offer, step away and reassess your options. There are a good number of established We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Central Florida to choose from.
Your home is more than a place where you make memories with family; it’s also likely your biggest asset. Sure, you want to sell quickly, but you could be leaving major money on the table if you choose to work with one of these We Buy Houses for Cash companies.
Always do your research, compare your options, and consult with a trusted advisor before accepting any offer.
Vet cash buyers and know your home’s worth
For many home sellers, We Buy Houses for Cash companies can be a solid solution to get a property sold quickly or to access cash for an expected life challenge. On the other hand, the “cash for your home” rehabbing business model also has led to what some housing advocates say are predatory tactics.
The level of integrity and customer service you experience can vary, even within an established house-buying company that strives to maintain consistent business standards. This is because many We Buy Houses for Cash companies are franchises and often use independent investors or local wholesaling outfits. Your experience greatly depends on the character of the person or group making the offer.
If you are considering a cash offer, vet the company thoroughly. Check reviews, read testimonials, and research its presence and performance in the market. And, of course, read the buying agreement carefully before signing.
Get a home value estimate
Before committing to a We Buy Houses for Cash company, HomeLight suggests you consult with a top agent to get a better idea of what your home might be worth if sold on the open market. Then compare cash offers to what a top agent might be able to get for your home. HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing agent in your market.
You can also use HomeLight’s free Home Value Estimator right now to get an initial estimate in less than two minutes.
Other options to sell your home quickly
iBuyers
Within the cash-for-homes industry, you’ll also encounter a particular group of companies known as iBuyers, or instant buyers.
iBuyer companies offer sellers many of the same conveniences of other house-buying operations, but they also leverage automated valuation models (AVMs), which use algorithmic technology to apply historic and current market data to their estimates. AVMs allow iBuyers to make a near-instant offer on your home and provide a user-friendly, mostly online home sale experience.
iBuyers provide all-cash offers for homes and can close a sale in a matter of days to a few weeks. However, unlike typical We Buy Houses for Cash companies, iBuyers generally seek out homes that are in better condition, and usually provide cash offers that are closer to market value, typically in the 90% range.
When considering the iBuyer option, it’s important to note that major iBuyer companies like Opendoor and Offerpad typically charge sizable service fees that can range between 5% and 6%.
Sellers who may be a good fit to work with an iBuyer in Central Florida include those who prefer to skip staging and showing their home, who live in an area with somewhat similar housing, and who have a home in relatively good shape.
Listing with an agent
It might be surprising to see this agent option included in our story about cash-for-homes businesses. Most homeowners seeking information about house-buying companies want to sell a home quickly, not in 98 days. But it’s wise to consider all your options.
If your home is in a housing market that’s seller-friendly, listing your property with a top real estate agent can result in a fast sale, especially if the house is strategically priced and superbly marketed.
Depending on the property and local market conditions, using an agent could pay off. Selling on the market typically yields the highest selling price, even more so if you partner with a proven professional. HomeLight’s internal real estate transaction data shows that the top 5% of agents sell homes for up to 10% more than average agents.
Another significant benefit of consulting with a trusted agent is the insight they can provide through a comparative market analysis (CMA). This is a market report that real estate agents provide to home sellers that acts as a tool to calculate the value of a home. The CMA evaluates a home’s size, features, location, age, and other details in relation to similar properties that have recently sold in the area. A CMA can help you determine an appropriate listing price, which can help estimate how quickly it might sell.
In addition, an experienced agent who knows your market may even be able to connect you with buyers who are willing to provide you with a cash offer that’s closer to your home’s market value.
Many agents will provide a CMA free, with no obligation to list your home with them. It can be a valuable tool to weigh your options. If, in the end, you decide to sell to a house-buying company, you can proceed with more confidence, knowing you fully examined your options and made a sound financial decision.
If you are interested in exploring the agent option, HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing real estate agent in your area today.
Key takeaways
- We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Central Florida can make it possible to conveniently sell your home in as few as seven days with no repairs, open houses, or showings.
- There are a number of reputable cash-for-homes companies serving Central Florida.
- Using a We Buy Houses company could mean leaving a significant amount of money on the table compared to an agent-assisted or iBuyer sale.
- HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform provides no-obligation, all-cash offers for homes in almost any condition in Central Florida. Because the platform has partner investors with different buying parameters across the region, it can be a great starting point if you aren’t sure who would buy your home.
FAQs on Central Florida house-buying companies
Most We Buy Houses for Cash companies 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 legitimate.
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.
Most We Buy Houses for Cash companies apply the 70% rule, meaning they’ll offer you about 70% of your home’s after-repair value (ARV), 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 Central Florida Mediterranean-style home or coastal contemporary-style home could sell for $350,000 after repairs, but it’s going to need $30,000 of work to get there.
($350,000 x .70) – $30,000 = $215,000
In this example, a Central Florida We Buy Houses company might offer you about $215,000 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.
Accepting an offer from a We Buy Houses for Cash company comes with a trade-off. The advantage is that it typically won’t cost you any additional money, as they handle most of the process after the offer is made. However, the downside is that you’ll likely receive a lower price for your home compared to selling through traditional methods.
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 ask the company if there are any hidden program fees that might affect your bottom line.
- Research and vet the house-buying companies that serve your 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. Consider 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 Central Florida vs. a top Central Florida 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 Central Florida | Sell with a top Realtor® in Central Florida |
Selling timeline | 7 to 30 days | 98 days average; 55 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 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% to 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 Mediterranean-style home in Central Florida is currently worth about $427,000 and needs about $25,000 in repairs. Once the repairs are completed, the home might be worth about $452,000.
Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Central Florida | Sell with a top Realtor in Central Florida | |
Estimated sale price | ($452,000 x .70) – $25,000 = $291,400 | $427,000 |
Market preparations | 0 | $4,270 (1% of sale price) |
Agent commissions | 0 | $12,810 (3% of sale price) |
Closing costs | 0 | $6,405 (1.5%) |
Estimated take-home for seller | $291,400 | $403,515 |
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.
House-buying companies can be a good alternative for Central Florida sellers in need of a quick home sale, but it’s important to consider both the benefits and drawbacks. When it comes to selling your home, it’s wise to avoid making any hasty decisions.
Before making a commitment to a cash-for-homes company, gather multiple offers and take the time to weigh your options. Consider consulting with a top agent for expert insights on how soon, and for how much, your property might sell on the market. Whatever you decide, HomeLight would be happy to help with your real estate needs!
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