3.4
Editor's Rating1
User Rating (5 Reviews)Osborne Homes is a real estate investment company offering cash for homes. They purchase distressed properties as-is and help sellers sell quickly and easily.
Pros
Cons
Osborne Homes is a traditional cash home buyer in California. They help you sell your property in as little as 7 days regardless of its condition. Even if your home is having tenant problems or needs short sales, Osborne Homes can help.
However, with Osborne Homes you may have to settle for a lowball offer. If you want the best deal for your property, a cash buyer marketplace can attract multiple offers. So, you can pick an offer closest to the fair market value of your house.
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✍️ Editor’s Take: We recommend you opt for cash buyer marketplaces. They connect you with nationwide investors and buyers, increasing your chances of getting multiple cash offers. This way, you can choose the best offer and close the deal faster.
Is Osborne Homes Legit?
Yes, Osborne Homes is a legitimate California-based cash buyer headquartered in Tustin. Mike Osborne established the company in 2007 and has assisted over 2,000 property owners. They are a BBB accredited company with an A+ rating but still lack credible reviews.
What Types of Properties Do They Purchase?
Osborne Homes purchases all kinds of homes at a steep discount from distressed sellers. Some of these houses include:
- Inherited properties
- Homes with structural damages
- Rental properties with tiresome tenants
- Houses facing foreclosure
How Does Osborne Homes Work?
Steps to get a cash offer from Osborne Homes:
- Fill Out the Online Form: Submit your property address on the website’s homepage, followed by your name and contact information.
- Connect With a Purchasing Agent: A dedicated purchasing agent will contact you, discuss your situation, and schedule a property visit.
- Schedule a Visit: The agent will visit for a home inspection and assess its market condition.
- Receive a Fair Offer: After the visit, they’ll present you with a fair, no-obligation cash offer for your property.
- Close the Sale: If you wish to accept the offer, they’ll prepare a purchase agreement. They’ll close the deal within 7 to 14 days or on a date of your choice.
You will receive cash in hand at closing. The closing takes place through a reputable title company.
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Do they let you stay in after selling?✍️ Yes, you can stay in the home after selling in some cases. Osborne Homes may let you rent it back at a fair market rate. The rental agreement is usually decided before closing the sale.
How Much Does Osborne Homes Pay?
Osborne Homes doesn’t mention on their website how much they offer for a property. Based on our understanding of industry standards, the offer will likely range from 50% to 70%.
For example: If the fair market value of your property is $300,000. Your cash offer could range between:
- Lowest Offer (50%): $300,000 * 0.50 = $150,000
- Highest Offer (70%): $300,000 * 0.70 = $210,000
This cash offer is a convenient choice for those looking to quickly sell a distressed property. For sellers prioritizing higher equity, considering alternative companies may be a strategic choice. Before making decisions, it’s important to know your home’s current market value.
» What’s My Home’s Value: You can know your home’s market value with this free Home Worth Estimator. It helps you estimate the amount you will get upon sale.
Osborne Homes Coverage
Osborne Homes purchases houses only across California. Therefore, home sellers from other parts of the country cannot use their services.
Osborne Homes Service Reviews
Osborne Homes has a 3.1 out of 5-star rating on Yelp based on 109 reviews. In contrast, they have a 3.7 out of 5-star rating on Google based on 49 reviews. Additionally, Osborne Homes has reviews on other sites like BBB, Trustindex, and Experience.com.
The positive Osborne Homes reviews highlight fair cash offer, smooth transactions, and hands-on support. Complaints mention misleading communication, backing out of deals, and issues with contracts and liens.
Osborne Homes Reviews: Praises
✅ Helpful support through difficult times
Gina G. was pleased working with Osborne Homes. They appreciated Osborne Homes agent’s hands-on support throughout. Despite setbacks, the agent worked closely with their family member to close the deal.
Our family worked with Audra at Osborne. We experienced some setbacks due to one of our family members, however Audra worked hand in hand with her until we were able to close. Other family members didn’t think the deal would go through, with Audra’s amazing support, we were able to seal the deal.
Source: Yelp
✅ Fair offer and smooth process
Nicole P. was satisfied working with Osborne Homes. They appreciated their fair cash offer, smooth transactions, and as-is purchase policy.
I have worked with Osborne Homes on several properties.They offer a fair price on properties they are purchasing and have made the transaction easy even when there has been repairs/ maintenance issues. Additionally, I have helped several buyers purchase properties Osborne has renovated. Osborne has been thorough on their renovations making sure the property is ready for its new family.
Source: Google
Osborne Homes Reviews: Complaints
❌ Company backs out and creates title issues
Goldy L. had a terrible experience with this company. They were misled until closing and then Osborne Homes backed out. They strongly warn others, as they placed a lien on their title, making it impossible to sell.
DO NOT WORK WITH THIS COMPANY! THEY WILL PRETEND ALL THE WAY TILL CLOSING THEN PULL OUT WITHOUT EXPLANATION PUT A LIEN ON YOUR TITLE SO YOU CANT SELL YOUR PROPERTY WITHOUT PAYING THEM FIRST..THEY ARE A SCAM!!
Source: Google
❌ Unexpected resignation and legal trouble
Deanna L. had a frustrating experience as the purchasing agent resigned days before payout. Deanna felt abandoned and was also sued for breach of contract. They believed Osborne Homes wanted their property without paying and called it a scam.
These people are a scam.We worked with them for 4 months and then 4 days before payout they sent a Resgnation Letter without any explanation and within 2 weeks we were being sued for breach of contract.All communication ceased and we were left hanging.They want our property without having to pay.They are a scam and everyone needs to know this.If you’re currently doing business with this company I feel sorry for you.
Source: BBB
Osborne Homes Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons of Osborne Homes:
✅ Pros
- Buy As-Is Houses: This “We Buy Homes Fast” company purchases homes as-is. So, even if your property is facing foreclosure or needs heavy repairs, you’ll get a cash offer.
- Quick Closing: Osborne Homes reviews say they close in as little as two weeks. However, their timeline is flexible, and they can close on a date suitable to you.
- No Service Fees: They do not charge any service fee. You can enjoy a quick sale through Osborne Homes without any additional costs.
- No-Obligation Cash Offer: Osborne Homes provides a fast, hassle-free cash offer for your property with no commitment required.
❌ Cons
- Lowball Cash Offers: Osborne Homes views your house as an investment opportunity. So, your offer price may be much lower than the market price of your property.
- Little Scope for Negotiation: Cash home buyers typically don’t negotiate offers. With Osborne Homes, you’ll receive just one cash offer with no room to negotiate.
- Limited Coverage: Osborne Homes covers only areas in California. Sellers residing in other states would need to look for other cash home buyers.
Osborne Homes Competitors
The top Osborne Homes competitors are Houzeo Cash Offers, Opendoor, and Homevestors. We compared these cash home buying options based on profit, selling options and coverage. Here’s how they compare with Osborne Homes.
We conducted a comparative analysis to identify Osborne Homes’ top competitors based on key factors like profit, selling options, and coverage. We aim to provide a fair and data-driven comparison.
- Market Comparison: We evaluated different types of home-selling solutions, their services, and company policies.
- Pricing Structure Assessment: We evaluated the true value of each platform by breaking down upfront flat fees, potential hidden costs, and percentage-based commission structures.
- Consumer Feedback Review: We analyzed seller reviews from Yelp, BBB, and Google to understand satisfaction levels and common concerns across platforms.
- Support and Assistance Evaluation: We evaluated the level of transaction support by measuring the availability of dedicated closing coordinators, comparative market analyses, and advanced tools.
- Selection Criteria: We chose the competitors based on how they differ from Osborne Homes’ model to ensure a balanced mix of alternatives.
1. Profit: Osborne Homes vs. Houzeo Cash Offers
Osborne Homes offers a straightforward way to sell your property for cash, but the convenience of a direct sale can come with a lower offer. Sellers also limited room to negotiate when there is only one buyer involved.
Houzeo Cash Offers gives sellers access to multiple local and national cash buyers. You can compare competing offers and counter buyers giving you more flexibility to find a deal that comes closer to your price expectations.
| Features | Osborne Homes | Houzeo Cash Offers |
|---|---|---|
| Sale Price | 50% to 70% of FMV | Up to 100% of FMV |
| Customer Rating | 3.4 stars (158 reviews) | 4.9 stars (11,300+ reviews) |
| Closing Timeline | 14 days | 7 days |
| Coverage | California | Nationwide |
| Multiple Offers | ❌ | ✅ |
| Scope for Negotiation | ❌ | ✅ |
| Highest and Best Offer | ❌ | ✅ |
2. Coverage: Osborne Homes vs. Opendoor
Osborne Homes purchases houses in any condition and offers services only in California. They do not charge any service fee to make a cash offer. However, you are likely to get a low ball offer.
In contrast, Opendoor is an iBuyer and operates in 51 metropolitan cities across the US. They offer around 70% to 80% of your home’s equity but have strict eligibility criteria. In addition, they charge a 5% service fee along with a 1% closing cost.
3. Market Value: Osborne Homes vs. HomeVestors
Osborne Homes purchases properties in any condition and does not charge a service fee for its cash offers. However, sellers may receive a lower offer in exchange for the convenience of a direct cash sale.
Homevestors is a nationwide network of local cash buyers that typically purchases homes below market value. Since individual franchises operate independently, the offers and terms can vary by local HomeVestors operator.
“We Buy Houses for Cash” Companies Near Me
There are other “We Buy Houses As Is” companies in the market. You can request an offer from multiple cash companies and pick the one that suits you the best.
Other Options You Should Consider
- Sell For Sale By Owner: For Sale By Owner websites help you list and sell a house yourself, saving thousands in agent commissions. Around one-third of home buyers pay in cash. Hence, selling FSBO helps you to get 100% FMV of your house in cash.
- Sell Through a Realtor: Traditional Realtors list your property on the MLS and help you at every step of home selling. However, you have to pay them 3% of the home’s sale price for this convenience.
- Sell Through Discount Realtors: Discount real estate brokers reduce their commissions to offer affordable services. Their commission varies between 0.5% and 2%.
Osbornehomes.com Reviews: Is it Worth It?
Yes, Osborne Homes is worth it if your property is distressed and need cash urgently. However, you may end up receiving a single non-negotiable cash offer which could be lowball. Also, you cannot sell your house if it’s outside California.
For a better deal, consider selling your home with a cash buyer marketplace. This gives your property wide exposure and lets you compare offers from multiple cash buyers. So increase your chances of getting a competitive price closer to your home’s actual market value.
We implemented a rigorous multi-platform evaluation framework to provide an objective, fact-based analysis of Osborne Homes’ services. This review avoids single-source bias by analyzing verified customer touch points across primary consumer intelligence networks.
- Cross-Platform Aggregation: We gathered raw review data across Google, Yelp and BBB to eliminate platform bias. Each platform weights sentiment differently, so aggregating across all three corrects for the blind spots any single source would introduce.
- Verified Customer Sampling: Our analysis evaluated 900+ specific consumer touch points to ensure statistical relevance, filtering out unverifiable or duplicate accounts to protect data integrity.
- Temporal Weighting: Reviews were time-stamped and weighted so recent feedback (last 6–12 months) carries more influence than older reviews, ensuring the analysis reflects current service levels rather than historical performance.
- Customer Service Analysis: We scrutinized customer interactions with customer service, identifying communication gaps.
- Alternative Cross-Referencing: We compared Osborne Homes directly with competitors to baseline their market value.
- Category Tagging: Each touchpoint was coded against recurring themes like pricing transparency, customer service responsiveness, closing timeline, etc., so the review speaks about specific, actionable dimensions of service rather than a single blended star rating.
Reviews
(5 Reviews)
Kathrin
Verified Reviewer
Jarrett
Verified Reviewer
19th Aug 2024
Had me to sign the document saying that they were the only ones that could buy my house. I could not sell it to anyone else I was confined to selling to them only.
Deanna Landsman
Verified Reviewer
4th Jun 2024
Do not work with these phoney people.They are bloodsucking preying upon the elderly,low balling prices then will pull out right before payout without explanation and cut off all communication then file a breach of contract lawsuit and lock up your title so you can’t sell your property until YOU PAY THEM..BIGGEST SCAM EVER
Victor Harris
Verified Reviewer
15th May 2024
Absolutely unethical. Osborne homes agreed to and sent a contract with an offer to buy my California home. All parties signed and submitted to escrow. Three days later they come back with a low ball offer $11K under what they agreed to and signed! Completely misleading! Even their Private investors their sales lady speaks of is now a mystery and not even offered. Cross the finish line?!? Do NOT DO BUSINESS with them.
Victor Harris
Verified Reviewer
15th May 2024
Do not use this company. The sent an agreement that was signed by both parties then, came back 3 days later trying to lower the offer! Dishonest, misleading, and unethical!
20th Aug 2025
They harass people with their unsolicited phone calls and propose to buy a house at half price. It is obviously a predatory practice. I don’t understand how it is legal and why they are not shut down already!