5 Top We Buy Houses for Cash Companies in Fort Wayne
- Published on
- 15 min read
- Kelsey Morrison Former HomeLight EditorCloseKelsey Morrison Former HomeLight Editor
Kelsey Morrison worked as an editor for HomeLight's Resource Centers. She has seven years of editorial experience in the real estate and lifestyle spaces. She previously worked as a commerce editor for World of Good Brands (eHow.com and Cuteness.com) and as an associate editor for Livabl.com. Kelsey holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, and lives in a small mountain town in Southern California.
If you’re a homeowner in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with a fixer-upper that needs significant repairs, or recently inherited a property that you don’t wish to keep, a “We Buy Houses” company could help you sell quickly without the hassles of the traditional market.
These companies provide cash offers to homeowners without the means or time to invest in necessary repairs, as well as those facing difficult situations like pre foreclosure or divorce. Sellers can close in days or weeks, and get to skip all the cleaning, repairs, and showings that come with listing your home on the open market. But convenience comes at a cost, which is why “We Buy Houses” companies tend to present offers that are below market value.
In this article, we’ll compare the advantages and disadvantages of selling to a house-buying company. We’ll also outline some of the most reputable companies serving the Fort Wayne market. By the end, you’ll have the information you need to make a decision that best suits your circumstances and selling goals.
Disclaimer: This post is meant to be used for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Links and mentions of Fort Wayne area “We Buy Houses” companies should not be considered an endorsement.
Working with house-buying companies in Fort Wayne
When you’re looking to offload your Fort Wayne house quickly, working with a house-buying company can streamline the process. Here’s a simplified overview of the steps involved:
- Find a reputable company: Research and select a trustworthy cash-for-homes company in Fort Wayne that has positive reviews and a solid track record.
- Submit your details: Provide the company with information about your property, usually through an online form or a quick phone call, to initiate the process.
- Schedule a walkthrough: The company may conduct a brief assessment or inspection of your property to confirm its condition.
- Receive an offer: Based on the information you provided, the company will present you with an all-cash offer for your home, often within a few days.
- Accept the offer: If the offer aligns with your expectations, you can accept it to move forward with the sale.
- Close the sale: Finalize the sale at the closing meeting, where you’ll sign the necessary paperwork and receive your cash payment. This typically happens within a week or two after accepting the offer.
Popular We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Fort Wayne
If the process of selling to a “We Buy Houses” company appeals to you, the next step is to find a legitimate business that you can trust.
We’ve laid out some of the top companies that will pay cash for your parents’ Colonial Revival or Craftsman-style home. By selling to one of these companies, you should be able to sell your Fort Wayne home in as little as a week or two.
Virtue Cash Buyers
Virtue Cash Buyers is a family-run business based in Indianapolis that purchases homes primarily in Indiana and Missouri, although their services are offered nationwide. They buy houses in “as-is” condition and can help homeowners get out of situations like avoiding foreclosure or unwanted inheritance.
Locations: Indiana, Missouri, and nationwide
Closing costs: Virtue Cash Buyers pays all closing costs.
Virtue Cash Buyers is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) but holds an A+ rating. They have also earned 4.9 stars on Google. Clients appreciate the professionalism and patience of the owner, Alain, and praise his knowledge of the home-buying process. “Alain was great to work with,” wrote a former client. “He made the process of selling my mother’s house out of her estate so easy. He communicated promptly and was easily accessible when needed.”
Website: virtuecashbuyers.com
Phone number: 317-268-5097
Simple Sale (a HomeLight platform)
Simple Sale, a solution from HomeLight, is an online platform where sellers in Fort Wayne (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. 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 neighborhoods throughout Fort Wayne.
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 Fort Wayne
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.
Learn more: homelight.com/simple
Phone: 844-488-8455
Matt Buys Indiana Houses
Matt Buys Indiana Houses has been in business for seven years and has purchased over 300 homes to date. Based in Mishawaka, the company buys houses in several cities across Indiana, including Fort Wayne. They will extend a fair cash offer after completing a home inspection and can close a sale in as little as 10 days.
Locations: Twenty cities across Indiana, including Fort Wayne
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Matt Buys Indiana Houses covers them.
Matt Buys Indiana Houses has been BBB-accredited since 2022 and touts an A+ rating. They also have a Google rating of 4.9. Clients speak highly of the family-owned company, often citing the speed, convenience, and fairness of their deals. “Matt and his team were amazing,” reads a recent review. “Matt looked at the property I had and gave me an offer the same day. It was less than 10 days, and I had a check for the sale of the property.”
Website: mattbuysindianahouses.com
Phone number: 574-601-3340
Fort Wayne Cash for Homes
Fort Wayne Cash for Homes is a local company that buys houses in any condition and at any price in Fort Wayne and other parts of Indiana. They can give you an initial cash offer within 24 hours and close a deal in as few as seven days. Sellers can also choose their preferred closing date, and Fort Wayne Cash for Homes pays for all closing costs.
Locations: Fort Wayne and other cities in Indiana
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Fort Wayne Cash for Homes covers them.
Fort Wayne Cash for Homes has been BBB-accredited since 2020 and boasts an A+ rating. They’ve been in business for 11 years and have a 4.8-star rating on Google. Clients highlight the company’s straightforward approach, clear communication, and quick and painless closings. “A different buyer had backed out 10 days after contract was signed and left us hanging,” wrote a former client. “We explained our situation and were taken care of right away. We received a very fair offer and closed faster than I thought possible.”
Website: fortwaynecashforhomes.com
Phone number: 260-333-1800
Home 4 You, LLC
Home 4 You is local to Fort Wayne and purchases houses in the city and surrounding areas. They buy houses in any condition or situation, from unwanted rental units to properties with liens. Closings can occur within a matter of days and there are no commissions, costs, or repairs involved.
Locations: Cities in Ohio and Indiana, including Fort Wayne
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Home 4 You covers them.
Home 4 You, LLC has been BBB-accredited since 2019 and holds an A+ rating. They also maintain a 4.8-star rating on Google. Clients praise the company for its professionalism, seamless transactions, and going the extra mile. “[Kayla] helped with all of our problems and helped find quick, easy solutions,” reads a recent review. “Without her and the company she works for, we would have lost our home and everything in it due to foreclosure. Anyone who gets to work with her is in good hands!”
Website: smartcashforyourhome.com
Phone number: 260-999-3100
Why sell your Fort Wayne house for cash?
Selling your Fort Wayne house for cash can be an appealing option for many homeowners facing time-sensitive situations or challenges. Whether it’s the need for a quick sale or avoiding the nuisances of traditional home selling, there are many scenarios where choosing a house-buying company might just be the right fit.
In Fort Wayne, it typically takes around 66 days to sell a home on the market using an agent. That includes an average of 22 days on the market, plus the typical 44 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 Fort Wayne, and it’s easy to see why these Cash-For-Homes groups are an attractive option, even though they don’t always offer top dollar for the homes they purchase.
Let’s break down some of the most common reasons Fort Wayne sellers decide to use a “We Buy Houses” company over listing a property the traditional way.
- Job relocation: Consider a cash sale to simplify your transition when moving for a new job and needing to sell your home quickly.
- Divorce: Selling your property for cash can offer a clean break, minimizing stress if you’re going through a divorce and need to liquidate assets.
- Inherited a property: Opting for a cash buyer makes it easy to handle the sale if you’ve inherited a home and prefer not to deal with the selling process.
- Downsizing: A cash offer can facilitate a smooth move to a retirement community if you’re looking to downsize without the wait.
- Major repairs needed: Sell your home as-is to a cash buyer to avoid the hassle and expense of dealing with major repairs, like a damaged foundation.
- Avoiding open houses: Selling for cash allows you to skip the inconvenience and privacy intrusion of showings and open houses.
- Foreclosure looming: A quick cash sale might mitigate damage to your credit if you’re facing the threat of foreclosure.
- Problematic tenants: Cash buyers often purchase properties with tenants in place, offering a solution if you need to sell an occupied rental property.
- Selling from afar: If you’re selling a home in Fort Wayne from out of state, a cash sale simplifies the process.
If any of these situations apply to you, a cash offer from a “We Buy Houses” company in Fort Wayne might be worth considering. This option can provide a fast, straightforward path to selling your home, which could be particularly valuable in time-sensitive or complicated scenarios.
Pros and cons of house-buying companies in Fort Wayne
Deciding to sell your Fort Wayne home to a house-buying company offers significant advantages, especially if you’re looking for speed and convenience. However, these companies often present offers that are below market value to make a profit.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the pros and cons of selling your house to a “We Buy Houses” company:
Pros
- Quick sale: The most significant advantage is the ability to close quickly, often within days, which is ideal for urgent situations.
- As-is purchase: You can sell your home in its current condition without spending a lot of money on repairs or upgrades.
- No real estate fees: Selling to a cash buyer means you avoid realtor commissions and closing costs, potentially saving you thousands.
- Simplified process: The sale involves fewer steps and no contingencies, making for a smoother and less stressful transaction.
Cons
- Below market value: The biggest downside is that offers from these companies are often below market value, impacting your potential profit.
- Limited negotiation: The price offered is typically non-negotiable, giving you less flexibility compared to traditional home sales.
- Potential for scams: Not all house-buying companies are reputable, and assessing offers requires vigilance to avoid scams.
- No chance of a bidding war: In a strong market, you might receive higher offers through traditional selling methods, potentially leaving money on the table.
Vet cash buyers and know your home’s worth
If you’re thinking about selling your Fort Wayne home to a “We Buy Houses” company, it’s important to remember that not all companies are reputable. How smoothly things go can really depend on who’s making you the offer. It’s a good idea to look into any company you’re considering. Spend a bit of time reading reviews, verifying their track records, and seeing how they stack up in the market. And before you agree to anything, make sure to read the purchase agreement closely so you understand exactly what you’re getting into.
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 it to your cash offer. HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing agent in Fort Wayne. 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 Fort Wayne home quickly
iBuyers
iBuyers, or instant buyers, provide a quick, mostly online selling process using automated valuation models (AVMs). They present competitive all-cash offers — typically 90% of a home’s market value — for properties in good condition in areas with homogenous housing types. Opendoor and Offerpad are the biggest players in the industry, typically charging service fees of around 5%–6%. The iBuyer process is speedy, concluding in just days to two weeks.
Listing with an agent
Surprisingly, selling through a real estate agent can also lead to a quick sale, particularly in seller-friendly markets like Fort Wayne. A top agent can help price and market your home effectively for a fast sale, potentially at a higher price. They provide valuable insights with a comparative market analysis (CMA), often compiled for free, to determine the best listing price. An experienced agent might even connect you with cash buyers, netting you a price that’s close to market value. If you’re leaning towards the agent route, HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing agent in Fort Wayne.
FAQs on Fort Wayne house-buying companies
By and large, most We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Fort Wayne 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 solid 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 Fort Wayne 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 two-story home in Fort Wayne could sell for $280,000 after repairs, but it’s going to need $30,000 of work to get there.
($280,000 x .70) – $30,000 = $166,000
In this example, a Fort Wayne “We Buy Houses” company might offer you around $166,000 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.
When you accept an offer from a Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne. 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 Fort Wayne vs. top Fort Wayne 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 Fort Wayne | Sell with a top Realtor in Fort Wayne |
Selling timeline | 7 to 30 days | 66 days average; 22 to attract an offer, 44 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 ranch-style home in Fort Wayne is currently worth about $115,000 and needs about $25,000 in repairs. Once the repairs are completed, the home might be worth around $140,000.
Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Fort Wayne | Sell with a top Realtor in Fort Wayne | |
Estimated sale price | ($140,000 x .70) – $25,000 = $73,000 | $115,000 |
Market preparations | 0 | $1,150 (1% of sale price) |
Agent commissions | 0 | $6,670 (5.8% of sale price) |
Closing costs | 0 | $1,725 (1.5%) |
Estimated take-home for seller | $73,000 | $105,455 |
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
- “We Buy Houses” companies in Fort Wayne offer a fast, straightforward selling process, especially appealing if you’re on a short timeline.
- You can sell your home as-is, avoiding the cost and time of making repairs.
- Be aware that these companies typically offer below market value for your property. That’s why you should know your home’s value before you make a committment.
- Explore all selling avenues, such as iBuyers and working with a real estate agent, to ensure the best financial outcome.
- Research and vet any cash buyer or company to avoid scams.
- HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform extends no-obligation, all-cash offers for Fort Wayne homes in any condition. With a range of partner investors, it’s an ideal starting point for sellers who are uncertain about their home’s market appeal.
Making the decision to sell your Fort Wayne home to a “We Buy Houses” company requires careful consideration. It’s a good idea to gather multiple offers and take the time to weigh your options before signing on the dotted line.
Consulting with a top Fort Wayne agent can provide expert insights on how soon, and for how much, your property might sell on the open market — potentially offering you a better deal. If you’re looking for guidance or need help navigating your real estate options, HomeLight is here to assist you in making the best decision for your situation.
Header Image Source: (njproductions / Deposit Photos)