We Buy Houses Lincoln, NE: Top 5 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.
If you need to sell your Lincoln, NE home quickly, a We Buy Houses company might be the solution. These companies offer cash for homes, often buying properties as-is, so you can skip repairs and lengthy prep work.
Whether you’re facing a financial challenge, a sudden move, or a similar emergency, a cash sale can help you close quickly. It’s a simple option for sellers who need speed and convenience over the traditional home-selling process.
This guide will cover the pros and cons of selling for cash, tips for choosing the right buyer, and alternative options to help you make an informed decision about your Lincoln 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 Lincoln area “We Buy Houses” companies should not be considered an endorsement.
Working with house-buying companies in Lincoln
If you’re a homeowner in Lincoln looking to sell quickly, working with a house-buying company offers a streamlined process. Here’s how the process typically works:
1. Contact the company: Reach out to a house-buying company by phone or through their website to provide basic details about your home.
2. Schedule an evaluation: The company will assess your property, often through an in-person visit or virtual review, to determine its condition.
3. Receive a cash offer: After the evaluation, the company presents a no-obligation, take-it-or-leave-it cash offer for your home.
4. Review the contract: Carefully review the purchase agreement to understand the terms before deciding whether to move forward.
5. Choose a closing date: If you accept the offer, you’ll select a closing date that works for your schedule.
6. Get paid: On the closing day, you’ll sign the necessary paperwork and receive your payment, often within 24-48 hours.
Popular We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Lincoln
If the process of selling to a house-buying company in Lincoln 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-style home] or craftsman bungalow. By selling to one of these companies, you should be able to sell your Lincoln home in as little as a week or two.
Grace Home Solutions
Grace Home Solutions focuses on buying as-is houses for cash, and offers to close within seven days, sparing homeowners from prolonged waits with traditional sales or costly repairs. Grace Home Solutions’ distinctive approach eliminates the need for agents, staging, open houses, and packing on the buyer’s timeline.
Locations: Lincoln and nearby areas.
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Grace Home Solutions covers them.
Grace Home Solutions garners praise for their exceptional service and client-centered approach. Their promptness in setting appointments and lack of pressure to rush decisions impresses clients. Patience, clear explanations, and attentiveness to homeowners’ needs are highlighted as their strengths. They have a 4.6-star rating on Google.
Website: www.gracehomesolutions.com
Phone: 402-807-1645
Simple Sale (a HomeLight platform)
Simple Sale, a solution from HomeLight, is an online platform where sellers in Lincoln (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 Lincoln.
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 Lincoln
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
Blue Bird Buyers
Blue Bird Buyers offers 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 Lincoln.
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Blue Bird Buyers cover them.
Blue Bird Buyers has a 5-star Google review rating.
Website: bluebirdbuyers.com/lincoln
Phone number: 531-201-1414
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: Lincoln, Omaha, and surrounding areas in Nebraska and Iowa.
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.
Website: cashofferomaha.com
Phone number: 402-915-6455
Nebraska Homebuyers
Nebraska Homebuyers is a real estate company that specializes in buying houses for cash. The company will make a cash offer for homes in any condition, making the home-selling process as hassle-free as possible for sellers.
Locations: Nebraska and surrounding areas.
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Nebraska Homebuyers cover them.
Nebraska Homebuyers has a 5.0 rating on Google.
Website: nebraskahomebuyersllc.com
Phone number: 402-915-6455
Why sell your Lincoln house for cash?
There are plenty of valid reasons a Lincoln home seller may choose to work with a Cash-For-Homes company. Speed, certainty, and remarkable convenience are some of the most common reasons sellers cite.
In Lincoln, it typically takes around 59 days to sell a home on the market using an agent. That includes an average of 15 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 Lincoln, 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 Lincoln home for cash can be a practical solution when life presents unique challenges or time-sensitive situations. Cash buyers simplify the process by making quick offers and purchasing properties as-is. Here are common scenarios where working with a house-buying company might be the right choice:
- Job relocation: When a new job opportunity arises, selling quickly ensures you can focus on your next step without delays.
- Divorce: A cash sale can help during a divorce, providing a quick way to divide assets and move forward.
- Inherited property: Selling an inherited home for cash is an efficient way to handle a property you don’t plan to keep.
- Downsizing: Transitioning to a smaller home can be easier when you sell your current property as-is.
- Major repairs: If your house needs expensive repairs, a cash buyer saves you the effort and cost.
- Avoiding open houses: Skip the inconvenience of hosting open houses and sell directly to a cash buyer.
- Foundation issues: Homes with foundation problems can be challenging to sell traditionally but are often purchased by cash buyers.
- Foreclosure risk: Selling for cash can help if you’re facing foreclosure and need a fast resolution.
- Problematic tenants: Cash buyers can simplify selling a property with challenging tenants.
- Selling from out of state: If you’re out of state, a cash sale eliminates logistical challenges.
Pros and cons of house-buying companies in Lincoln
Working with a house-buying company in Lincoln offers benefits and drawbacks to consider. On the upside, these companies buy your home quickly and in any condition, saving you from repairs or prep work. Here’s a quick look at the key advantages.
Pros of working with a house-buying company
- Quick closing times: Cash buyers can often close in as little as a week, helping you move forward faster than with a traditional sale.
- Buys as-is: You can sell your home as-is, avoiding the hassle and expense of repairs, updates, or deep cleaning.
- No contingencies: Unlike traditional buyers, house-buying companies don’t require contingencies like inspections or financing, streamlining the process.
- Certainty of sale: With no risk of deals falling through due to buyer financing, you can count on a reliable, stress-free transaction.
While the speed and convenience are appealing, selling to a house-buying company also has its downsides. The most notable drawback is that these companies typically offer less than market value. Below is a summary of potential disadvantages.
Cons of working with a house-buying company
- Below market value offers: Expect offers that are significantly lower than what you might get by selling through an experienced real estate agent.
- Limited negotiation: These companies usually present a take-it-or-leave-it deal, leaving little room to adjust the terms.
- Potential for scams: Some companies may not be legitimate, so it’s essential to watch for scams and verify credentials.
- Missed opportunities: Selling quickly might mean losing out on a higher price from a traditional sale, particularly in a competitive market.
Vet cash buyers and know your home’s worth
The level of integrity and service you experience from a We Buy Houses for Cash company can vary, even within an established house-buying group that strives to maintain high standards. This is because many Cash-For-Homes companies are franchises and often use independent investors or wholesaling outfits. Your experience depends on the character of the person or group making the offer.
Before committing to 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.
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 Lincoln home quickly
iBuyers: Instant buyers like Opendoor and Offerpad use automated valuation models to make near-instant cash offers, often closer to market value. The iBuyer process is quick, typically closing in days to weeks. However, service fees of 5%-6% and a preference for homes in good condition make them best for specific sellers.
Listing with an agent: Partnering with a skilled real estate agent can result in a faster sale than you might expect, especially in a strong market. Agents provide a comparative market analysis to set an informed price, often for free. Agents may even connect you with buyers offering cash closer to market value. HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing agent in your area today.
FAQs on Lincoln house-buying companies
By and large, most We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln craftsman bungalow could sell for $280,000 after repairs, but it will need $30,000 of work to get there.
($280,000 x .70) – $30,000 = $166,000
In this example, a Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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.
1. Research and vet the house-buying companies that serve your Lincoln area. Our list above is a good place to start.
2. Submit offer requests to a few of the companies you like best.
3. Schedule any required on-site property visits.
4. Compare offers. Weigh the pros and cons and choose the best option for you.
5. 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 Lincoln vs. top Lincoln 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 Lincoln | Sell with a top Realtor in Lincoln |
Selling timeline | 7 to 30 days | 59 days average; 15 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 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 | 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 Lincoln is worth about $300,000 and needs about $25,000 in repairs. Once the repairs are completed, the home might be worth around $325,000.
Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Lincoln | Sell with a top Realtor in Lincoln | |
Estimated sale price | ($325,000 x .70) – $25,000 = $202,500 | $300,000 |
Market preparations | 0 | $3,000 (1% of sale price) |
Agent commissions | 0 | $17,400 (5.8% of sale price) |
Closing costs | 0 | $4,500 (1.5%) |
Estimated take-home for seller | $202,500 | $275,100 |
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
- Cash buyers provide speed: House-buying companies offer fast closings, often in as little as a week, making them a practical choice for urgent situations.
- They buy homes as-is: These companies purchase properties without requiring repairs or updates, saving you time and money on prep work.
- Offers are below market value: Most cash-for-homes companies pay less than what you might earn by selling with an agent in a traditional sale.
- iBuyers offer a middle ground: For homes in good condition, iBuyers provide faster sales with offers often closer to market value but charge service fees.
- Agents can maximize value: A top real estate agent can help you price, market, and sell your home for the best possible price.
- 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 Lincoln agent.
Header Image Source: (Curtis Adams/ Pexels)