8 Best Companies that Buy Houses for Cash in California

» Jump To: 8 Best Cash Buyers in California | Reviews | Best Cash Offer Option | Best iBuyers | Best “We Buy Houses for Cash” Companies | Understanding Cash Buyers | Scams | MLS vs. iBuyers vs. “We Buy Houses for Cash” Companies | Should I Sell My House to a Cash Home Buyer? | FAQs

According to California Housing Market Report 2022, home prices in California are trending up 13.3% year-over-year. The median home price in California has rapidly increased and touched record heights. It’s the hottest time of the year to sell your house for cash. Companies that buy houses for cash fall into 2 categories:

• iBuyers: Typically offer 70% to 90% of the property’s market value. iBuyers can have high service fees and do not typically buy distressed or rented properties, or properties with title complications.
• “We Buy Houses For Cash” Companies: Typically offer about 50% to 70% of the property’s market value. They usually have no service or closing fees. They will also buy properties that are distressed or rented.

💰 Get Top Dollar Cash Offers On Your Terms: Major iBuyers including Opendoor and cash buyers submit offers on Houzeo properties. An MLS listing via Houzeo.com gives you maximum exposure. List NOW!

Rankings: 8 Best Companies that Buy Houses for Cash in California

* For 5-star Customer Reviews, ratings above 4.2 out of 5 stars have been considered.

* An MLS listing via Houzeo exposes your home to the open market. The open market will almost always be more competitive than offering your house to a single potential cash buyer.

Facts About the California Housing Market

Before you choose a company that buys houses for cash in California, you should check out the California housing market’s data:

Number of Houses for Sale	< 30641 listings per month (on average)[1]
Average Home Price	$505,000[2]
% of homes sold FSBO	78%[3]

Reviews: 8 Best Companies that Buy Houses for Cash in California

1. Houzeo.com

The 3 Best iBuyers in California

iBuyers, aka instant buyers or institutional house flippers, are technologically advanced cash home buyers.

iBuyers, also known as iBuyer companies, are changing the way the “we buy houses for cash” industry works by leveraging technology and market data.

» iBuyer Reviews: See our 2022 rankings for all iBuyers across the U.S.

2. Opendoor

3. Offerpad

4. RedfinNow

The 4 Best “We Buy Houses for Cash” Companies in California

“We buy houses for cash” companies in California pay significantly lower than what you can get for your house on the open market.

With cash offers as low as 50%, these companies are ideal only if you are trying to sell an extremely distressed property.

» Cash Buyers: Check out America’s best “We Buy Houses for Cash” Companies

5. Sell Quick California, LLC

6. California Family Homebuyers

7. John Medina Buys Houses

8. Express Home Buyers

Are Companies that Buy Houses for Cash in California Legit?

Yes, companies that buy houses for cash or cash home buyers are legitimate and operate legally nationwide.

However, no industry is free from scammers or companies following the “malign practices” that exist in every industry. Never pay any money while requesting an all-cash offer on your house.

Browse through customer reviews and inspect how the company operates before signing any documents.

Companies that Buy Houses for Cash in California

1. San Diego	Companies that Buy Houses for Cash in San Diego, CA
2. San Francisco	Companies that Buy Houses for Cash in San Francisco, CA
3. Sacramento	Companies that Buy Houses for Cash in Sacramento, CA

Understanding Cash Home Buyers

Who are Cash Home Buyers?

Cash home buyers are real estate buyers who make direct cash offers on homes.

Essentially, they make a cash offer on houses and let the home sellers skip the hassle of listing on the MLS, marketing, etc.

This convenience may not always be in favor of the home sellers because they don’t get the full 100% Fair Market Value (FMV) of their property.

💲 WANT 100% FAIR MARKET VALUE? List your house on the MLS and get 100% FMV for your property!

Types of Cash Home Buyers

There are 4 types of real estate buyers buying a house with cash. Also known as cash house buyers, this is a fast-growing population in the country and offers homeowners cash for their properties.

# No	Type of Cash Home Buyer	Description
1.	🏘️ Retail Cash Home Buyers	Buyers looking for pretty and ugly properties and holding them as a rental in a small portfolio.
2.	🤑 Traditional “We Buy Houses for Cash” Companies	Buyers who buy distressed properties such as homes facing foreclosures inherited homes that need repairs or couples going through a divorce.
3.	📲 iBuyers	Companies that buy homes for cash with instant offers using technology and market data. » Interested in iBuyers? Check out this blog to find out who is 2022’s #1 iBuyer.
4.	💰 National Investors	Cash buyers in California who buy homes for cash, companies like Sundae have a pre-vetted network of investors who bid for properties.

How Much Do Cash Home Buyers Pay in California?

# No	Type of Cash Home Buyer	How Much Do These Cash Home Buyers Pay in California?
1.	🏘️ Retail Cash Home Buyers	100% Fair Market Value (FMV) of the property, even if the property isn’t very desirable
2.	🤑 Traditional “We Buy Houses for Cash” Companies	50% to 70% of the property’s Fair Market Value (FMV) since they want to keep their expenses minimal and re-sell the properties to make profits.
3.	📲 iBuyers	90% to 100% of the property’s Fair Market Value (FMV), but the closing costs and service fees can go up to 13%.
4.	💰 National Investors	50% to 70% of the property’s Fair Market Value (FMV), but you could get the full 100% of the FMV if you negotiate well.

Understanding iBuyers

What is iBuying?

An iBuyer or iBuying company uses its proprietary algorithm to price homes and make offers based on local sales data while ensuring they calculate re-selling profits.

The company will decide whether your home is worth purchasing based on millions of data points and decade-long historical price trends, as Opendoor has explained in their blog.

How Do iBuyers Work?

Technology and data go hand-in-hand while calculating your home’s worth when you are selling a house to iBuyers.

🏡 Selling a House to iBuyers

1. Submit information about your home

Most iBuyers prefer to collect basic information about the house through an online form or over the phone.

2. Receive a preliminary cash offer

After an initial evaluation, you usually get a preliminary cash offer that is a take-it-or-leave-it deal.

3. Complete a home inspection

An onsite visit is scheduled if you accept the preliminary cash offer.

4. Review the final cash offer

Repair costs and expenses are adjusted, and the iBuying company makes a final cash offer.

5. Close the deal

iBuyers provide more flexibility on the closing schedule. You may be able to close within 7 days.

👉 IMPORTANT: Even if your property is eligible for iBuyers, it’s always a good idea to get an estimate from a local realtor to find out how much your home could sell for on the open market.

Typically a poised experience, buying your dream home from iBuyers is more convenient than the traditional method of buying homes.

🏡 Buying a House from iBuyers

1. Submit an offer for your desired house

Shortlist your dream house, take a private tour using the iBuyer’s mobile app or website and submit your offer.

2. Wait for iBuyer’s response

Once you’ve made your offer, wait for the iBuyer’s response. You’ll get a reply within 24-48 hours.

3. Draft Purchase Agreement

With the help of a local realtor, draft a Purchase Agreement for the house.

4. Review and sign the Purchase Agreement

Sign the purchase agreement and decide on a closing date if everything’s correct.

5. Schedule home inspection

A third-party inspector or an iBuyer’s representative will accompany you during the onsite inspection. Negotiate the repairs and closing costs during this visit.

6. Close the deal

Decide on a closing date. Generally, iBuyers close within 14 to 45 days typically.

Which Homes Qualify for Most California iBuyers?

Generally, the purchase criteria of iBuyers are similar.

• Home types: Single-family homes, Townhouses, Duplexes, Condominiums
• Year built: After 1930
• Lot size: Maximum lot size of 1–2 acres, depending upon market
• Value: Between $100,000 and $600,000 (but can be as high as $1.4 million in some markets)
• Occupancy: Owner-occupied

iBuyers could make exceptions in some markets, so it’s best to request an offer from an iBuyer near you.

⏰ FASTEST WAY TO GET CASH OFFERS: Houzeo is 100% online. Complete listing formalities in <60 mins and market to cash buyers in California!

How Much do iBuyers Pay?

iBuyers may pay as high as 104.1% and as low as 80% of the fair market value.

iBuyers are ideal for you if you have a pretty house with minimal repair costs and want to avoid the hassle of listing on the MLS.

How Much are iBuyer Fees?

OfferPad, Opendoor, and Zillow Offers are some great examples for iBuyers, and iBuyer fees highly depend upon your property’s condition and location.

Typically, you can expect the final service fees to be around 10% to 18% of the home’s sale price.

👉 Pro Tip: If you list with a flat fee MLS platform, you save 50% commission right away and only have to pay 2.5% to 3% of the home’s sale price to the buyer agent. This is much lesser than closing costs associated with iBuyers, which can be as high as 18% of the home’s sale price.

iBuyers: Benefits and Drawbacks

✅ Quick, Hassle-free Sale

After accepting the cash offer on the house, the remaining process becomes seamless. The hassle that comes with a traditional sale is eliminated when dealing with iBuyers.

🖋️ Important: iBuyers like Opendoor and Offerpad have made full cash offers on the properties listed on Houzeo. Increase your chances of meeting an iBuyer while keeping the house on the open market with Houzeo.com; start listing here!

✅ Fast Closing

There is no listing, wait for potential buyers, or endless negotiations, making iBuying convenient for sellers who want to close fast. The speed of the sale makes iBuyers appealing to home sellers in desperate need of liquidity.

✅ Certainty of Sale

When dealing with iBuyers, the chances of your transaction going astray are lesser compared to the conventional model of selling a house.

There is an assurance that your property will close, so will have hard cash in hand. With an iBuyer, you can accept the offer and sell immediately.

✅ No Upfront Costs

Whether it’s a traditional broker or a flat fee MLS company, a home seller has to incur costs while listing the house and prepping for sale. iBuyers acquire your home as-is, so you don’t have to spend money on repairs or listing fees.

⛔ Non-negotiable Cash Offers

When dealing with iBuyers, the deal is usually take-it-or-leave-it. Although there may be room for negotiations, you can’t expect more than 95% of the market value of your home. Because iBuyers have to sustain their business model, they usually provide final offers.

If you feel the company overlooked something important, some will allow you to make your case and submit additional evidence to support it; however, most will be unwilling to budge on price.

👉 Pro Tip: When you list your house on the MLS, there is an opportunity to negotiate cash offers and avail better rates than with iBuyers.

⛔ Strict Eligibility Criteria

There are certain prerequisites a home must adhere to if an iBuyer is to buy it. Most iBuyers only offer cash for relatively newer properties (post-1930), worth less than $500,000-$600,000 and less than 1.5 acres. Because of the stringent purchase criteria, many homes don’t qualify for sale.

👉 Note: Houses listed on the MLS receive offers as long as one can reside in them after purchase. Even distressed properties may get better cash offers when listed on the open market.

⛔ Limited Coverage of iBuyers

iBuyers purchase homes in the markets they operate in, so iBuying is not a choice for the majority of Americans. You won’t stand a chance if your property lies outside of their coverage.

👉 Pro Tip: Houzeo offers nationwide coverage and increases the chance of getting the maximum cash for your house. Houzeo’s 100% online platform makes the comprehensive listing paperwork feel like a cakewalk.

Understanding “We Buy Houses for Cash” Companies

How do “We Buy Houses for Cash” Companies Work?

“We buy houses for cash” companies often buy these properties at a way lower than the market price. Generally, they fix them when needed and then resale them for a profit.

To have a better understanding, let us look into the workflow.

⭐ STEP 1- Fill out required details about your house

The majority of businesses prefer to gather basic information about home via an internet form or over the phone. You will receive a quick estimate of cash offers as soon as the assessment is completed.

⭐ STEP 2- Review initial estimate

Once you get an estimated cash offer, you can choose to accept or reject it. These offers are generally non-negotiable.

⭐ STEP 3- Complete the inspection

An onsite inspection will be scheduled if you accept the initial quotation. A third-party inspector or a local firm representative will complete the onsite inspection. If any essential repairs are required, your final offer will be modified proportionately.

⭐ STEP 4- Accept the final offer

If an offer meets your ideal requirements, then you just have to accept the company’s final offer, sign a purchase agreement, and schedule closing.

⭐ STEP 5- Close on your schedule

“We buy houses for cash” companies can pace up the process and provide more flexibility on timing so you even don’t have to wait for a bank to subscribe to a mortgage. In some cases, you may be able to close just within ten days.

How Much Do We Buy Houses in California for Cash Companies Pay?

Companies that buy houses for cash often use the 70% rule. That means they’ll pay no more than 70% of your home’s market value. Moreover, sometimes there are repairs too. Cash buyer companies deduct these overhead expenses.

✍️  Formula – Ideal Market Value of Your House x 70% Offered by a cash buyer – Repairs Costs

Let’s take an instance,

Let’s say your home is worth $300,000 at fair market value, but it needs $25,000 in repairs. Then you might expect a cash offer of only $185,000 from the seller.

You can wait and list your home with a professional real estate agent if you have a capital of $25,000 to spend on repairs. There’s also the open market, where you might be able to locate a deal worth as much as or more than your home’s current market value.

Remember– You’ll need to pay commission and closing costs if you opt for an open market.

Some cash home buyers are willing to pay less than 70% of the home’s value after renovations. We recommend listing with various companies because you will typically receive cash offers with no strings attached.

We Buy Houses California for Cash Companies: Pros and Cons

✅ Fast Sale

Once you accept the cash offer on the house, the home selling process becomes seamless and fast. With a traditional model, you have to list on the MLS and wait for potential California house buyers. In the case of we buy houses California for cash companies, this process gets eliminated. After submitting details on their website, you’ll get an instant offer and closing can happen as quickly as two weeks.

✅ Flexible Closing

We buy houses California for cash companies to move faster than others because there is no longer a need to wait for mortgage approval or listing paperwork. Many companies do provide a one-month closing guarantee or even go up to two weeks.

The speed of the sale makes these cash house buyers appealing to home sellers in desperate need of liquidity.

✅ No Service Fees

We buy houses California for cash companies acquire your home as-is, and don’t charge anything for the service.

Their lowball offers for your property are enough to recover their profits by reselling the property. So, they don’t charge any service fees typically.

✅ No Upfront Costs

Whether it’s a traditional broker or a flat fee MLS company, a home seller has to incur costs while listing the house and prepping for sale. We buy houses California for cash companies acquire your home as-is, so you don’t have to spend money beforehand.

Required repairs, curb appeal, upgrading furniture, and staging are some elite expenses you avoid when you choose companies that offer cash for houses to get a top-dollar deal for your home.

⛔ Non-negotiable Cash Offers

When dealing with we buy houses California for cash companies, the deal is usually take-it-or-leave-it. Although there may be room for negotiations, you can’t expect more than 70% of the market value of your home.

If you feel the company overlooked something important, some will allow you to make your case and submit additional evidence to support it; however, most will be unwilling to budge on price.

👉 Pro Tip: When you list on the open market, there is an opportunity to negotiate cash offers and avail better rates than with companies that buy houses for cash.

⛔ Lowball Offers

We buy houses California for cash companies generally pay 50% to 70% of the home’s fair market value, deducting all repair, utility, and re-selling expenses. Since they want to sell this home on the open market, they will offer you marginal prices so that they get a profit when they resell.

👉 Pro Tip: You can receive maximum cash for your house when your property is listed on the MLS and also negotiate with the potential buyers. In 2022’s unusually strong seller’s market, getting multiple offers for your house is possible!

“We Buy Houses for Cash” Scams

Cash home buyers are legitimate, but there are scammers in every industry, and that’s how cash for houses scams work.

Typically, these scammers post signs and blast emails with a “we buy houses for cash” ad. Families in need of liquid cash or struggling to make their mortgage payments fall for this and lose control of their house.

There are cases when “cash for houses” companies have leased the property to a new tenant, and the owner is still responsible for making the mortgage payments. Other times, they make home sellers sign a listing agreement with a “reassign” clause, and the home sellers end up losing the right to sell their own house!

⚠️ Don’t get lured by such deceptive cash home buyers: Thoroughly investigate the company before signing any legal documents related to your house.

Selling to Local Real Estate Investors

Selling to local real estate investors in California is an option if you don’t want to work with a cash home buyer. Real estate investors are always searching for properties. These real estate cash buyers in California can be classified as:

• Flippers: buy a property, renovate, and resell the property on the open market.
• Landowners or landlords: buy a property, renovate and rent the property.

You can find such investors in online forums or through in-person meetups. These real estate cash buyers in California often purchase the property as-is, with instant offers and flexible closing timelines.

Investors acquiring homes for less than the fair market value will drive a hard bargain and take advantage of distressed home sellers.

It’s best to do a comparative price analysis and find how much your property is worth before you deal with local real estate investors.

⏩ MORE ABOUT HOUSE FLIPPING: An introductory guide to house flipping for beginners

What about Selling My House with a Real Estate Agent Instead?

It depends! If you are looking to sell your house at a top-dollar rate, listing on the MLS is the best option because it is where 90% of home buyers start their home purchase journey. You should always check the contingencies and be choosey about which company to work with.

Opting for a real estate agent will not save your 6% commission and might be the worst option if you’re looking to earn maximum cash. With flat fee MLS companies like Houzeo.com, listing your house on the MLS can be done effortlessly at just $349! You save on the 3% listing agent commission by selling your home as an owner.

✍️  Note: Cash home buyers like Opendoor and Offerpad have offered cash deals for properties listed on Houzeo.com.

MLS vs. iBuyer vs. “We Buy Houses for Cash” Companies

📈 Listing on the MLS

Listing on the open market is the best way to maximize your cash offer because your MLS listing gets syndicated to other real estate websites like Zillow, Trulia, Redfin, Realtor.com, etc. This amplifies the exposure of your MLS listing and puts you right where cash home buyers are looking for hot properties.

You can get multiple offers and also compare the highest and the best offers from potential buyers. There is an opportunity to negotiate the sale price, closing costs, etc., and save substantially in commissions by choosing a flat fee MLS platform or low commission real estate agent.

✅ Best For: Home sellers who want to maximize their cash offers, avail of the best offer terms, and close at a flexible schedule.

⏰ FASTEST WAY TO GET CASH OFFERS: Houzeo is 100% online. Complete listing formalities in <60 mins and market to cash home buyers!

» MORE: How to List on the MLS Without A Realtor in 2022

📲 iBuyers

iBuyers are instant buyers, and these companies have created a level-playing field with full cash offers and technologically advanced platforms. You get a reasonably fair cash offer instantly, and you can close within a matter of a few days.

Getting the highest possible rate may not be possible, but iBuyers paid 99.4% of the fair market value in 2021. The coverage of iBuyers is limited, so not all homeowners can avail their cash deals.

✅ Best For: Home sellers who want a hassle-free experience and don’t mind leaving some cash on the table.

» MORE: iBuyers Reviews 2022: Is the Convenience Worth the Trade-off?

🤑 “We Buy Houses for Cash” Companies

If your house is in poor condition and you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on repairs or closing costs, then you can choose “we buy houses for cash” companies. These companies make quick offers and help sell your house fast for cash.

You’ll get 50%-70% of your home’s fair market value, which is a low-ball offer. A home worth $150,000 on the open market can be scored at $70,000 by an investor with quick cash. An offer that is nearly 50% lesser than what the property is worth.

✅ Best For: Home sellers who want to sell distressed houses or selling properties falling in difficult-to-sell locations.

» MORE: We Buy Ugly Houses Reviews: Not the Best Cash Buyer for Your Ugly House in 2022

Should I Sell My House to a Cash Home Buyer in California?

Yes, but only if any of the below reasons match yours.

Selling your house to a company that buys houses for cash will be beneficial when you’re-

📌 On a severe tight timeline

If you’re going through a rough patch in your life, such as a divorce or an immediate move, cash buyers in California or investors can help you sell faster.

📌 Owning an inherited property

Selling to a company that buys houses for cash can be a viable option if you have a deceased relative’s property that is far away or in terrible shape.

📌 In need of urgent cash

If you’re in a hurry, facing foreclosure, and don’t want to keep your property, selling your house for cash could help you escape a credit impact.

📌 Owning a badly distressed property

If your property is in extremely poor condition and it’s a waste to even contribute to further repairs, then selling your house for cash is a perfect choice.

However, if you’re just looking for hard cash and can hang in a while, then listing on the MLS would be ideal.

With a technologically advanced platform like Houzeo.com, you can start your listing process on any device and finish all the paperwork seamlessly.

Eager to Know How Houzeo Works?

We’ve got you covered. Check out the following video to understand how Houzeo works and why it is the best FSBO and Flat Fee MLS platform in America.

» NEED MORE CLARITY? Read these exclusive Houzeo reviews and learn why the platform is the best in America’s competitive housing market.

Frequently Asked Questions

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