From Chicago to Springfield, Illinois’ real estate market is constantly shifting. But cash is still king. Over 32% of homes were bought with cash in 2024. Some cash home buyers in Illinois offered sellers 100% of their home’s market value, while others offered just 40%.
Getting a fair cash offer is like navigating the twists and turns of the Chicago River—some paths lead you straight to your destination, while others require careful maneuvering. The solution? List on cash buyer marketplaces! Your home will be visible to local and national cash buyers instantly.
Key Takeaways
- The best cash buyer companies in Illinois are Clever Offers, Houzeo, We Buy Ugly Houses, Highest Cash Offer, Opendoor, and Offerpad.
- Clever Offers is the top choice for getting quick cash in Illinois. You can get offers from multiple buyers in just 7 days.
- Houzeo is the next best option, where multiple cash buyers can submit offers. This may drive up your home’s price.
- While We Buy Ugly Houses and Highest Cash Offer offer speed, their offers are often lower and non-negotiable.
- iBuyers such as Opendoor provide convenience, but have strict eligibility criteria.
- To avoid cash buyer scams, verify buyer credentials and read company reviews before accepting any offer.
Reviews: 6 Best “We Buy Houses for Cash” Companies in Illinois
1. Clever Offers
QUICK CASH OFFERS
Listing Fee: None.Clever Offers, part of Clever Real Estate, connects you with multiple cash buyers to compare offers and find the best deal for your timeline. They have three programs:
- Cash Offers: You can sell your home as-is to vetted cash buyers. It’s a fast and convenient way to sell your home without repairs and staging.
- 7-Day Sold: This is a short MLS listing aimed at competing cash bids. It allows you to list your home for 7 days, improving your chances of securing the highest and best offer.
- Instant Cash Offer: You get most of your home’s value upfront, plus a bonus when the buyer resells. This program is perfect for sellers who want quick funds and a chance to benefit from future market gains.
Comparing cash offers is free. Depending on the option you choose, a partner service fee may apply.
Clever Offers have several advantages:
- Multiple Cash Offers: Get competing bids from vetted investors (often within 24–48 hours).
- Customized Assistance: Whether you want speed, certainty, or the best possible payout, Clever Offers gives you flexible options to match your goals.
- As-Is Sale: Skip repairs, showings, and cleanup; buyers on Clever Offers purchase the property in its current condition, which speeds up and simplifies the process.
- Concierge Support: A licensed team reviews your offers, walks you through next steps, and, if needed, provides a quick open-market opinion for comparison.
- Nationwide Coverage: Clever Offers operates across all 50 states in the US. However, specific offer types may vary by market.
- Flexible Options: Side-by-side options let you balance speed, certainty, and price — so you don’t have to settle for a one-size-fits-all solution.
Here are some drawbacks we found about Clever Offers:
- Offers Can Vary: Some cash home buyers follow the 70–80% of the after-repair value rule of thumb, which is less than what you’d likely get on the open market. Competition usually helps, but outcomes differ by market and condition.
- Market Availability: Specific programs (e.g., iBuyers, Instant Cash Offer) depend on local coverage.
Clever Offers is a part of Clever Real Estate, which boasts a 4.9 out of 5 star-rating from over 3,696 reviews on Trustpilot.
👉 Our Take: Clever Offers is a good choice if you need to sell quickly, want to avoid repairs or prefer an easy process. Their three different programs give you more flexibility to choose what works best for your situation.
2. Houzeo
MAX EXPOSURE TO CASH BUYERS
Listing Fee: $149Houzeo is the best option if you’re looking for multiple cash offers. Your MLS listing will be exposed to local and national cash buyers, increasing the number of offers you receive.
- Pricing: $149 + 1% at Closing
- MLS Listing: Your home gets full 6-month MLS exposure with unlimited high-quality photos showcasing its best features.
- Cash Buyer Network: Your listing is automatically visible to major cash buyers like Opendoor, HomeVesters, Offerpad, We Buy Houses, and dozens more.
- Unlimited Updates: Make as many listing changes as needed—adjust price, photos, or details without restrictions or extra fees.
- Closing Support: Get expert guidance from contract to closing with dedicated consulting to ensure a smooth transaction.
» Houzeo Reviews: Find out why Houzeo is one of America’s best “Sell my house for cash” option.
Houzeo is America’s #1 “Sell my house for cash” option because:
- Your Property will be on All Major Real Estate Websites: Houzeo’s packages give you access to the MLS. This showcases your property on 100s of websites like Zillow, Realtor.com, Redfin, etc.
- 5-Star Customer Service: Houzeo’s customer service desk is available 6 days a week. Chats and emails are open 7 days a week.
- 100% Online: Houzeo has cutting-edge tech. For you, this means easy listing, fast changes, online showings, and online offers on your phone, from your couch.
With Houzeo, there are no dealbreakers—it’s so simple, a 5-year-old could sell a house!
» Houzeo Pros and Cons: Read the advantages and disadvantages of choosing Houzeo to sell your home for cash.
Houzeo is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars by thousands of home sellers on Google & Trustpilot.
👉 Our Take: We recommend Houzeo's Gold plan to maximize your cash offers. It delivers complete transparency with zero hidden fees. Plus, you can access Houzeo’s advanced features to negotiate the best terms for your cash offer.
3. We Buy Ugly Houses
NATIONWIDE COVERAGE
Service Fee: NoneWe Buy Ugly Houses, a franchisee of HomeVestors, is a well-known network of real estate investors. They help you sell your property fast in any condition.
- Typical Offer: 50% to 70% of your property’s Fair Market Value.
- No Closing Costs: You don’t have to pay any seller closing costs; it is covered by the company.
- Eligible Properties: Distressed properties with structural issues, homes with flawed mortgage financing, inherited homes, homes in high-crime neighborhoods, etc.
- Service Fee: None.
Here are some of the benefits that you get with We Buy Ugly Houses:
- Sell Your Home As Is: You can sell your distressed home and avoid upfront costs to fix, prepare, or stage your house.
- Quick Closing Timeline: Once you accept the offer, you can sell your house within 2 weeks.
- Save on Closing Costs: You won’t need to pay the closing costs as they take care of it themselves.
- Free Cancellation: You can cancel your contract for free within 3 days of accepting the cash offer.
In our research, we have found certain drawbacks of We Buy Ugly Houses:
- Lowball Offers: Cash offers typically range from 50% to 70% of a home’s Fair Market Value, based on its condition and location.
- Limited Negotiation: We Buy Ugly Houses extends “take-it-or-leave-it” offers. You can try to negotiate, but usually, they won’t budge.
- Not Ideal for High-Value Homes: This option may not be best for homes in high-demand areas where you could get more by listing on the MLS.
- Inconsistent Service Quality: Your experience may vary depending on how your local investor handles the sale.
We Buy Ugly Houses is rated 4.9 out of 5 stars from 90+ reviews on Google.
» We Buy Ugly Houses Reviews: Want to know more? Dive into our detailed review!
👉 Our Take: We Buy Ugly Houses operates as a franchise under its parent company, HomeVestors. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. This leads to variations in service quality and customer experience across different locations nationwide.
4. Highest Cash Offer
GREAT NETWORK
Service Fee: NoneHighest Cash Offer provides quick real estate solutions to homeowners who seek a speedy and convenient sale:
- Typical Offer: 50% to 70% of Fair Market Value.
- Eligible Properties: Houses with tenant problems, bankrupt properties, inherited houses, etc.
- Closing Offer Terms: They can close the deal as quickly as 7 days.
- Service Fee: None.
Highest Cash Offer provides you the following advantages:
- Nationwide Coverage: Their services are available throughout the U.S.
- Sell As-Is: You can sell your house as is to Highest Cash Offer, and save on minor repairs.
- Flexible Closing: You can close in as little as three weeks or on your own time.
- No Additional Costs: There are no hidden fees or extra costs. You need not pay the closing costs as well.
You should also look out for the following deal breakers when dealing with cash buyers such as Highest Cash Offer:
- Eligibility Restrictions: They do not purchase properties listed with agents due to existing listing agreements.
- Non-Negotiable Offer: They will not offer more than 70% of your property’s Fair Market Value. After a home inspection, they may quote an offer based on the After-Repair Value (ARV).
- Not 100% Online: A lot of processes, like requesting a counteroffer or managing inspections, are offline and manual. They don’t even have a mobile app.
Highest Cash Offer has 4.9 out of 5 stars with 35+ reviews from Reviews.io.
» Highest Cash Offer Reviews: Read our in-depth review to know more about this cash buyer.
👉 Our Take: Highest Cash Offer is a good option if you want to sell your home as-is. However, you cannot negotiate the price of your home and be ready to accept low-ball offers. Also, if your house in a very poor condition, they might not even consider it.
5. Opendoor
SEASONED IBUYER
Service Fee: 5%Opendoor is the biggest iBuyer in the U.S. They offer cash for your home within 24 to 48 hours of submitting your details on their website. Opendoor is also flexible with closing timelines and move-out dates.
- Typical Offer: 70% to 80% of your property’s Fair Market Value.
- Eligible Properties: Opendoor will make cash offers only on owner-occupied properties built post-1930 with a maximum lot size of 1.5 to 2 acres. Prefabricated homes or homes with tenants do not qualify for Opendoor’s cash offer.
- Closing Offer Terms: Opendoor claims to let you close at your pace, up to 45 days after their offer. However, be aware that your final offer may change.
- Service Fee: You will be charged 5% of the home sale price.
Here are some of the benefits that you get with Opendoor:
- Broad Coverage: Opendoor makes cash offers for houses in 51 markets across the country.
- Sell As-Is: Opendoor helps you avoid the hassle of making minor repairs and you can sell your house as-is.
- Late Checkout up to 14 Days: Opendoor lets you temporarily stay in your home for up to 2 weeks after closing.
- No Cancellation Fees: You can cancel the contract anytime without incurring any fine.
In our research, we have found certain drawbacks of Opendoor:
- Low-ball Cash Offer: You will get around 70% of your property’s Fair Market Value, before deductiong repair and closing costs.
- Hefty Service Fees: Opendoor will charge you a steep 5% service fee.
- Strict Eligibility Criteria: You can’t sell an inherited property, homes wiht tenants, pre-fabricated or mobile homes, and properties located in a flood zone.
Opendoor has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from 3,405 reviews on Reviews.io.
» Opendoor Reviews: Read customer reviews and our breakdown of Opendoor’s cash offer to make an informed decision.
👉 Our Take: We recommend Opendoor if your home needs minimal repairs. But beware, as you may end up leaving almost 20% to 30% of your home equity on the table.
6. Offerpad
QUICK CLOSING
Service Fee: 5%Offerpad is an iBuyer that purchases homes directly with cash offers based on specific eligibility criteria. They offer cash based on their patented evaluation tool’s calculations.
- Typical Offer: It is 70% to 80% of the Fair Market Value of your property.
- Eligibility: Offerpad offers cash for houses built after 1960, with a maximum lot size of 1 acre, and a max valuation of up to one million dollar. Homes with foundational issues are not eligible.
- Closing Offer Terms: They make an initial offer within 24 hours of submitting your details. However, the final offer may change after they conduct a home inspection.
- Service Fee: 5% of the home sale price and 1% as closing costs.
Here are some of the benefits that you get with Offerpad:
- Broad Coverage: Offerpad buys houses for cash in 27 markets across the country.
- Lightning Fast Closing: With Offerpad’s cash-for-house offer, you can close your property in a fortnight.
- Save on Minor Repair Costs: When you sell your house for cash with Offerpad, you don’t incur upfront costs to fix, prepare, or stage your house.
- Stay Beyond Closing Day: You can extend your stay in your home even after the closing date.
In our research, we have found certain drawbacks of Offerpad:
- Low-ball Cash Offer: Offerpad gives two offers – initial and final. The gap can be large. One seller’s offer dropped from $189,000 to $149,000 after inspection.
- High Service Fees: Offerpad will charge you a steep 5% service fee.
- Offerpad Cancellation Fee – 1%: If you’re 4 days from closing and you decline Offerpad’s cash offer, they’ll charge 1% of the home sale price as a cancellation fee.
Offerpad has a 2.2 out of 5 star rating on TrustPilot.
👉 Our Take: We recommend Offerpad if you need to close fast. However, you might have to leave cash on the table for this convenience.
Are Companies That Buy Houses for Cash in Illinois Legit?
Yes, companies that buy houses for cash are legitimate and operate nationwide. In fact, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) confirms the credibility of cash buyers in Illinois. Need to sell your house quickly? These companies provide a streamlined process for fast transactions.
However, many homeowners fall prey to “cash for houses” scams. So, check customer reviews, ratings, and their track record to ensure you’re dealing with a reputable cash buyer.
3 Types of Companies That Buy Homes in Illinois
- “We Buy Houses for Cash” Companies: Cash buyers like HomeVestors and We Buy Ugly Houses purchase distressed homes, typically paying 30% to 70% of their Fair Market Value.
- iBuyers: iBuyers, such as Opendoor and Offerpad, provide instant cash offers between 70% and 80% of the home’s value. They have strict eligibility criteria, limiting the types of homes they purchase.
- Home Trade-In Services: Companies like Knock or Orchard offer cash for your home before you move out. This helps you buy your new house without any delay.
How to Sell Your Home for Cash in Illinois?
Whether you’re in Chicago, Aurora, or Geneva, the steps for selling your home for cash remain the same:
- Share Details About Your House: A cash buyer company will collect basic information like the location and condition of your property. This can typically be submitted directly through their website or over the phone.
- Review the Preliminary Cash Offer: Your cash home-buying company will make an initial offer after evaluating your home and checking real estate comps. Typically, it’s 30% to 70% of the house’s fair market value.
- Complete a Home Inspection: If you accept the initial offer, a third-party home inspector will visit your property for an onsite inspection. After they adjust repair expenses and holding costs, the cash house-buying company will send a final offer.
How Much Do Cash Buyers in Illinois Pay?
Companies that pay cash for houses in Illinois usually offer 30% to 70% of a home’s value. However, it depends on factors like the cash buyer you’re selling to, their service fee, etc.
Imagine if you were selling your $312,900 home. A typical cash buyer might offer you only $219,030. However, with the best cash buyers in the Prairie State, you may potentially get top dollar for your home!
Pros and Cons of Cash Home Buyers in Illinois
Here are some pros and cons you must consider before you choose a company that buys houses for cash in Illinois:
✅ Pros
- Quick Cash Offers: “We Buy Houses for Cash” companies often provide fast cash offers within 24 to 48 hours. So, you can sell your home quickly without waiting for financing.
- Flexible Closing: Cash buyers in Illinois close quickly. You can sell your home within 7 to 30 days, depending on your schedule and preferences.
- No Repair Costs: Most cash buyers purchase properties as-is. This eliminates the need for repairs or upgrades before selling, saving thousands of dollars.
❌ Cons
- Lowball Cash Offers: Illinois cash house buyers typically pay only 30% to 70% of your home’s value. So, you leave a significant amount of your home’s equity on the table.
- Non-Negotiable Deals: Investors offering cash for your home in Illinois rarely budge on price. There’s very little room for negotiation, limiting your ability to secure a better offer.
- Possible Closing Costs: Some cash buyers might force you to pay seller closing costs in Illinois. Always check the terms, or you could be out 6.25% to 9% of your home’s value!
Common “We Buy Houses for Cash” Scams 🚩
If any Illinois cash home buyer extends an offer that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Stay alert, and don’t fall victim to the following scams:
- Bait-and-Switch Offers: Scammers present appealing offers and then change them later, hoping you’ll accept out of desperation. Always verify the terms before you sell your house fast for cash in Illinois or accept an offer.
- Deed Fraud: Fraudsters can sell or mortgage your home without your consent using fake documents. Check customer testimonials and reviews before you select a cash buyer.
- Loan-Flipping Scams: Some scammers may pressure you to sell your home fast for cash by offering loans that drain your equity. Always consult a trusted advisor before you agree to any cash offer.
- Email Phishing: Scammers send fraudulent emails pretending to be agents, title companies, or lenders. They trick you into wiring money or providing personal details for fake services. Always confirm the authenticity of any cash offer for a home via a phone call.
Alternatives to Companies That Buy Houses for Cash in Illinois
- Flat Fee MLS Services: You can get up to 100% of your home’s FMV with an Illinois Flat Fee MLS listing. Your home is visible to multiple cash buyers, increasing your offers.
- For Sale By Owner: When you sell FSBO, you’ll have to manage offers, handle paperwork, and negotiate, all by yourself. But with the best FSBO website in Illinois, your home gets listed on the MLS with max exposure!
- Full-Service Realtors: They provide various services from listing to closing but charge a hefty 5% to 6% commission.
- Discount Real Estate Brokers: They offer services like contract review and negotiation for a lower fee than traditional agents. Discount brokers in Illinois charge between 0.5% to 2.5% as commission.
5 Tips to Sell Your Home Fast in Illinois
- Price Your Home Realistically: Get a Comparative Market Analysis report or use Houzeo’s free home value estimator before finalizing your price. The right price will attract potential buyers faster.
- List on a Cash Buyer Marketplace: Home flippers are constantly looking for investment houses for sale in Illinois. You could get multiple offers for your home, driving up its home sale price.
- Address Minor Repairs: Fix leaky faucets and broken outlets, and give your house a fresh coat of paint to boost its appeal. Even small upgrades can significantly increase your home’s value and help you sell faster.
- Respond to Enquiries Quickly: Answering buyer inquiries promptly demonstrates your commitment to selling your house quickly. Maintain flexibility for weekend showings to accommodate busy buyers’ schedules.
- Create Compelling Virtual Tours: High-quality photos and virtual tours help your listing attract remote buyers and sell your home quickly.
Should You Sell to Cash Home Buyers in Illinois?
Yes, but only if you’re ready to say goodbye to 30% to 70% of your home’s equity. That’s the price you pay for a quick sale. On the other hand, with top cash buyer marketplaces, you can compare multiple offers, sell fast, and potentially get top dollar for your home.
