How To Find Cash Buyers For Real Estate & Build Your List

Cash buyers continue to be pivotal forces in the real estate market across the United States. If you've had any exposure to real estate, you are undoubtedly familiar with the term "cash buyer," bringing to life the age-old adage, "cash is king," particularly within the property industry.

According to the Washington Post, a compelling analysis of Redfin data revealed that in 2022, a third of all U.S. homes were purchased with cash, marking an 8% rise from 2021, and reaching the highest level since 2014 when the market was recovering from the Great Recession.

These intriguing statistics may prompt you to ask several questions such as:

• Who are these cash buyers?
• What benefits do real estate cash buyers bring to the table?
• How do I establish a fruitful partnership with them?
• What sets cash home buyers apart from others?
• And most importantly, how do I find these cash buyers for real estate and develop a solid cash buyer list?

Whether you're an aspiring investor, seasoned house flipper, real estate agent, home buyer, condo seller, or property wholesaler, gaining an understanding of cash buyers can serve as a catalyst for your real estate business, propelling it to reach unprecedented heights.

Drawing from my personal experience collaborating with numerous cash buyers, and eventually transitioning into being a cash buyer myself, I've distilled the wisdom acquired over the years into this comprehensive guide and our educational courses.

Venture forth into this guide as it seeks to answer these frequently asked questions and offers even more insights about the role of cash buyers in the vibrant real estate market.

• What Is A Cash Buyer In Real Estate?
• What Is A Cash Buyers List?
• How To Find Cash Buyers For Real Estate
• How To Build A Cash Buyers List
• How To Talk To Cash Buyers
  
• How To Sell Your House To Cash Buyers In 8 Steps
• Cash Buyers In Real Estate: FAQs
• Final Thoughts On Cash Buyers

*Wondering How To Find Cash Buyers For Wholesaling Real Estate? In this video, CEO of Real Estate Skills, Alex Matinez, shows you exactly how to find cash buyers online for FREE!

What Is A Cash Buyer In Real Estate?

A cash buyer embodies an individual or an organization with the financial capacity to outrightly purchase a property without the need for financing. This could be an individual investor or an entity such as an LLC created by a group of real estate investors.

When it comes to cash buyers, liquidity is key. They have access to immediate funds and aren't required to sell off other assets, such as properties or stocks, to invest in a property.

The absence of loan dependency in a deal makes cash offers inherently appealing. Traditional property sales often hinge on financing conditions, allowing the buyer to retract if they fail to secure a mortgage. By contrast, a cash offer eliminates these uncertainties, making it significantly more attractive to sellers.

Cash buyers often lean on private or hard money lenders to amass their closing funds. Despite this reliance on borrowing, they still qualify as "cash buyers," primarily due to their ability to expedite deal closures far quicker than their mortgage-dependent counterparts.

The appeal of cash offers primarily arises from the absence of financing contingencies in the purchase contract. This eliminates potential roadblocks such as property inspections, appraisals, or the buyer's ability to secure a loan, which could otherwise derail the transaction.

Unfortunately, deals occasionally fall through at the eleventh hour due to financing issues, even when buyers have been pre-approved. However, the allure of cash offers circumvents this pitfall, making them a favorite among two types of buyers: owner-occupants and real estate investors.

Owner-occupants are able to pay for their new primary residence in cash, often due to significant equity in their previous home. Real estate investors seek homes to flip, wholesale, or add to their sales or rental portfolios.

In essence, understanding the nature of cash buyers and their significance can revolutionize the way you navigate the real estate market, opening up new opportunities and accelerating your growth in the industry.

Thinking about investing in real estate? Join Alex Martinez at his FREE training to learn how to get started with house flipping and wholesaling!

Examples Of Potential Cash Buyers

Cash buyers can range from the extremely wealthy to mom-and-pop investors. Here are various types of buyers who purchase real estate with all cash:

1. Fix and Flip Investors & Companies
2. Wholesalers
3. Real Estate Developers
4. Landlords & Buy and Hold Investors
5. Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
6. Hedge Funds
7. Foreign Investors
8. High Net Worth Individuals
9. Private Equity Firms
10. Downsizing Home Owners With High Equity
11. Heirs of Estates
12. Family Offices

Advantages Of Cash Buyers In Real Estate

The mention of "cash buyers" often strikes a feeling of optimism. Cash buyers can facilitate smoother transactions, hasten closure times, and minimize potential complications.

Here are some of the benefits that underscore the importance of cash buyers:

• Expedited Closing Time: Since cash buyers bypass the traditional loan approval process, there's no need to spend weeks submitting applications and hammering out loan terms. Cash buyers are ready to make an offer and proceed with the deal immediately, thereby significantly reducing the closing timeline.
• Simplified Transactions: Cash buyers eliminate the need for a lender, streamlining the overall transaction. While traditional lenders might be hesitant to finance properties with permit issues or title disputes, cash buyers have the freedom to decide whether they wish to tackle these challenges themselves.
• Less Stress & Hassle: Cash buyers can close deals in as little as two weeks compared to the 30, 60, or even 90 days that a financed deal could take. This rapidity alleviates uncertainty and tension associated with property showings, staging vacant homes, and potential financing contingencies that could cause a deal to collapse.
• Buying 'As Is': Cash buyers often agree to purchase a property in its current condition, or "as is, where is". This means they are willing to take on a property without the seller needing to make any repairs or adjustments, speeding up the selling process and reducing the workload for the seller.
• Increased Liquidity: Real estate cash buyers enhance the liquidity of the property market, providing a quick and straightforward solution for property owners who need to sell quickly due to job relocation, inheritance, divorce, or other circumstances. The speed and flexibility of cash buyers significantly outpace that of traditional mortgage-dependent buyers.
• Potential for Fewer Fees: With cash buyers, sellers might face fewer expenses if there are no pre-listing repairs, no buyer concessions such as post-inspection repairs, and a reduced or zero sales commission if there is only one or no real estate agent involved.
• Value for Agents, Investors, and Wholesalers: A robust cash buyers list can be a game-changer for real estate agents, investors, and wholesalers. It can be instrumental in expediting the process when helping a seller offload a property quickly.

In essence, cultivating a reliable list of cash buyers can supercharge your real estate endeavors, fostering rapid transitions between deals, and potentially boosting your overall profit margins.

Potential Challenges With Cash Buyers In Real Estate

While cash buyers can certainly streamline the real estate transaction process, it's also necessary to understand the potential challenges that can arise when dealing with them. Here are the main drawbacks to bear in mind:

1. Below Market Value Offers: Cash buyers frequently make offers below the current market value of the property. The speed and simplicity of a cash transaction often imply a compromise in price—cash buyers typically aim for a deal that's equally beneficial to them. While cash offers aren't necessarily low, they're usually less than what could be achieved through a traditional, financed transaction.
2. Validation of Cash Offers: It's crucial to verify the authenticity of cash offers. Always confirm that the potential buyer indeed has the funds they claim. Request proof of funds documents, such as a bank statement or an asset list, to ascertain this. This step can help you weed out insincere or undervalued offers, enabling you to focus on credible proposals.
3. Bait-and-Switch Tactic: Some cash buyers may initially present an appealing offer, only to demand numerous costly repairs once the property goes under contract—a practice known as 'bait-and-switch.'

While the potential challenges are worth considering, with careful due diligence and negotiation, dealing with cash buyers can still be a rewarding experience for many sellers.

 Read Also: How To Find Cash Buyers For Wholesaling Real Estate (2023)

What Is A Cash Buyers List?

A cash buyers list is a database of active real estate investors looking to purchase an investment property with cash. 

Cash buyers are generally not looking to become homeowners, they're seeking to acquire real estate to wholesale, fix and flip, develop, or buy and hold as a rental property.

Updated contact information is an essential component of a solid cash buyers list, along with pertinent details about each buyer. This information may include the investor's active real estate market, types of investment property sought out, and amount of capital available to invest.

At a minimum, you’ll want each contact entry in your active cash buyer’s list to include:

1. General Contact Information (Full Name, Phone Number, Location, and Email Address)
2. Price points (purchase price and maximum total investment size)
3. Type of investment property (single family, apartments, commercial, etc)
4. Locations investing in (states, cities, zip codes, neighborhoods)
5. Minimum desired profit per deal (total profit dollars, ROI)

Cash buyers lists are cultivated and used by real estate brokers, real estate wholesalers, and investors when helping sellers quickly offload properties. 

While many successful investors, brokers, and real estate wholesalers build large, profitable businesses with small cash buyers lists of only 1-3 buyers, it's generally a good idea to build your list as big as possible.

With a larger cash buyers list, you'll have more opportunities to put deals together for your wholesaling business or other real estate ventures.

Read Also: How to Start & Grow A Real Estate Business In 12 Steps 

How To Find Cash Buyers For Real Estate: 12 Proven Ways

Cash buyers are not restricted to a particular segment or sector. Any individual armed with surplus funds and a desire to invest in real estate can be a potential prospect.

Consequently, limiting your exploration to a single buyer overlooks the vast sea of opportunities. Be sure to broaden your horizons to creatively find cash buyers for real estate transactions. 

Below are 12 of the best-proven strategies to find cash buyers for real estate:

1. The Multiple Listing Service (MLS)
2. PropStream
3. Instant Buyers
4. Real Estate Clubs & Networking Events
5. Real Estate Auctions
6. Real Estate Crowdfunding
7. Tax Assessor’s Website
8. Personal Property Signs
9. Bandit Signs
10. Public Records
11. Online Lead Capture Form
12. Open Houses

The Multiple Listing Service (MLS)

Forging a strong relationship with a local real estate agent can immensely benefit your search for cash buyers. Beyond identifying and selling properties, they can offer invaluable insights derived from the MLS. Regrettably, most investors misinterpret the MLS's utility, construing it only as a tool for conducting comparative listings.

Yet, the MLS holds far more potential than that!

Approach your real estate agent for a compilation of all-cash transactions conducted in the past quarter. The MLS can act as a fruitful initiation point for identifying sellers with no mortgage on their listings or transactions completed with cash.

Once you've gathered this data, establish contact with these individuals to understand the kind of properties and deals they're interested in. Firstly, prepare a concise application to record pertinent information. This data should then be migrated to a more extensive database where you can store email addresses and other contact details.

Finally, inquire whether they would be interested in receiving alerts for future deals that align with their preferences.

PropStream

PropStream offers access to data for over 153 million properties. Whether you need mortgage history, property owner information, tax details, or general property data, this convenient software has it covered.

PropStream's Multiple Listing Service (MLS) data integrates property data, facilitating the connection between home buyers and sellers. This data is crucial for real estate agents and cash buyers ready to purchase their dream homes. The software includes all essential MLS details such as listing pictures, agent descriptions, property pricing and history, keywords, and status of listings whether active, pending, sold, or failed.

Read Also: PropStream Review (2023): Pricing, Features, & Is It Worth It? 

Instant Buyers (iBuyers)

Instant buyers, also known as iBuyers, are companies leveraging real estate technology and third-party title companies to purchase homes. Typically, these iBuyers are real estate tech companies, buying and selling a high volume of properties annually. They profit by making minimal property adjustments and reselling at slightly elevated prices. With a business model centered around sales volume, iBuyers offer a fast, all-cash transaction solution.

When seeking iBuyers, beware of the numerous scams in circulation. Always conduct comprehensive due diligence to ensure your prospective company's legitimacy. Once an iBuyer is identified, the company will define a suitable purchase price using market data. If the offer is accepted, a third-party title company facilitates the closing process. Some reputable iBuyers to consider include:

• Offerpad: Offerpad provides sellers with great flexibility and quick closing times at your convenience. They also offer unique perks and services not typically found with competitors.
• Opendoor: While Opendoor might not offer as much for your property, they compensate with efficiency and convenience. If you're aiming to sell a home swiftly and effortlessly, Opendoor is a solid option.
• Knock: Knock's unique selling point is their offer to sell your home after you've secured a new one. This allows you the freedom to explore and buy a new home before selling your current one. However, be aware that extended market time for your current home may incur costs.
• Orchard: Orchard facilitates the exchange of your home's current equity for the purchase of a new property, selling your old home afterward. Orchard tends to be selective, usually opting for newer homes over older ones.
• Flyhomes: Flyhomes offer ample flexibility for buying and selling your home. Worst-case scenario, you receive the appraised value for your home instead of the fair market value. For those seeking simplicity, Flyhomes is an excellent choice.

Real Estate Clubs & Networking Events

In-person networking is often underestimated. Real estate investment clubs and events provide rich opportunities to meet potential cash buyers in almost any market. These events typically dedicate a substantial amount of time to networking, enabling you to connect with active investors in your area. This is your golden chance to extend your reach and create meaningful connections, so come prepared with your business cards at the ready.

Real Estate Investor Associations (REIAs) are key starting points for cultivating your list of cash buyers. Prior to attending, ensure you're well-versed in what to expect from such meetings. Live property auctions too are a hotspot for high-quality real estate cash buyers. These auctions can take place on-site at the property in question, allowing you to interact directly with cash buyers eager to bid on the deal. Alternatively, county auctions held at the courthouse steps are yet another venue where potential cash buyers gather, ready to strike a deal with their cashier’s checks at the ready.

Keep in mind, not everyone you meet will be open to collaboration, but the connections you establish will significantly enhance your buyers list. This is equally true for networking groups, where many local members can introduce you to potential investors. Always make it clear that you're an active investor, constantly seeking new connections. By widening your network, you significantly increase your chances of finding new cash buyers.

Real Estate Auctions

Some real estate investors regularly attend property auctions with the intent to discover worthwhile deals. While they come prepared with cash and are primed to act swiftly, they often encounter challenges such as being outbid by a handful of established entities who rule the local auctions, or competitors willing to overspend.

In turn, many depart from these auctions with their cash unspent.

This presents an opportunity for you to make your presence known at these auctions. Investors seeking deals will be open to what you have to offer. Ensure they understand the value you bring and how it surpasses the occasional winning bid at an auction.

Real Estate Crowdfunding

One of the challenges in finding cash buyers in thriving markets is the limited capital of many individuals. They have a desire to invest but often lack the necessary funds to single-handedly secure whole deals.

Alternatively, some may choose to spread out their investment to reduce risk. This is where property crowdfunding shines.

Crowdfunding presents a fantastic solution to harness the advantages of the above-mentioned strategies, whilst simultaneously tapping into a larger and more diverse pool of capital. This method allows multiple investors to pool their resources, opening up opportunities that may have been inaccessible due to individual financial constraints. It also provides you with a broader base of potential cash buyers to work with.

Tax Assessor’s Website

Invest some time in exploring the local tax assessor's website. Search the platform for ownership details that could indicate a potential buyer's intentions. You should particularly focus on properties owned by investors as they are typically ready and able cash buyers for your property.

There are several clear indicators that a property may be owned by an investor. The most conspicuous sign is when a property is owned by an LLC, suggesting it's likely an investment property.

Moreover, keep an eye out for owners possessing multiple properties in one area. Individuals owning more than one property might be interested in expanding their portfolio, representing potential cash buyers.

Personal Property Signs

Regarded as one of the simplest techniques employed by those seeking to find cash buyers, personal property signs are signs situated on the subject property aiming to advertise it. Personal property signs will guide interested buyers toward your contact information.

Familiarize yourself thoroughly with the property's details to answer any queries with a knowledgeable and confident tone. The more information you can provide inquisitive callers about the property, the higher the probability of generating a lead.

Bandit Signs

Bandit signs are small roadside advertisements frequently seen along major thoroughfares and high-traffic intersections. These are utilized to attract cash-ready home buyers. Scan your city for vibrant signs declaring phrases such as "I Buy Houses for Cash" then initiate contact via the provided phone number to explore if the cash buyer might be open to a deal.

Public Records

Almost all real estate transactions are public records, which sellers can easily access online. Start by visiting your local County Recorder's or County Clerk's Office website, and look for recent title changes that lack a mortgage lien. Connect with the buyer to ascertain if they're open to purchasing another home in cash.

Public records store data on every property sale in your vicinity. Access to this information can vary based on the county, but a simple Google search for public records in your local area should suffice.

In cases where a property was acquired through financing, particularly in states that employ mortgages, both the deed and the lien from the loan get recorded at the county level.

In transactions conducted by cash buyers, no such lien would exist. Local title companies can also be used to search public records. You can then identify cash buyers by procuring a list of properties sold devoid of a mortgage lien.

Online Lead Capture Forms

In the digital age, your online presence can be a powerful tool for attracting potential cash buyers. Establishing a dedicated website or webpage with an online lead capture form can do wonders for your investor network.

These forms enable visitors to your site to enter their details, expressing their interest in buying properties for cash. Ensure to include fields for essential information such as name, contact details, preferred types of properties, and preferred investment locations.

Once you've captured these leads, make sure to follow up promptly and effectively. The more professional your website and form appear, the more likely you are to attract serious cash buyers. This method offers an automated way to continually grow your cash buyer database over time.

Open Houses

A strategy not often employed but highly effective is visiting open houses in your local area. Attend open houses with the intention of networking rather than purchasing. These events often attract a number of cash buyers and investors who are looking for their next real estate opportunity.

While there, take the time to strike up conversations with visitors. Explain your role as a wholesaler or investor and express your intent to find cash buyers. Handing out your business cards during these interactions can also prove fruitful, ensuring that interested parties have a way to get back in touch with you. This approach requires minimal effort but can result in generating valuable leads.

Now that you have a strong understanding of how to identify cash buyers, the next critical step is to know how to locate them for your wholesale deals. To learn this, we invite you to watch our video, How To Find Cash Buyers For Wholesale Deals!

The video will take you through the process of initiating contact with potential cash buyers and learning about the types of properties and deals they're keen on. It will guide you on how to create a succinct application for recording crucial information about your cash buyers. This invaluable information can then be transferred into a comprehensive database where you can save vital details like email addresses and other contact information.

Read Also: How To Find More Cash Buyers For Wholesaling 

How To Build The Ultimate Cash Buyers List

When building the ultimate cash buyers list, remember the old adage “quality over quantity.” Some of the most successful wholesalers that we’ve worked with and coached have a small number of cash buyers they work with. The key is to build relationships and spend time understanding what exactly they are looking for in a real estate deal.

Here are 3 expert tips on how to build the ultimate cash buyers list: 

1. What To Ask When Building A Cash Buyers List
2. Use A Customer Relationship Manager (CRM)
3. Nurture The Relationship

What To Ask When Building A Cash Buyers List

When building a cash buyers list, most novice real estate investors and wholesalers make this same mistake – they do not ask enough of the right questions.

Get to know your cash buyers by asking the following:

• What type of property are you looking for? A rehab? How many beds/baths?
• What price range are you buying?
• What geographical areas are you buying in?
• How heavy of a rehab are you willing to take on?
• How many deals can you buy per month?
• How quickly can you close?
• Are there real estate deals that you will not buy?
• What’s your investment strategy? Fix and flip? Buy and hold?
• What’s your minimum return on investment? Minimum profit?

Use A Customer Relationship Manager (CRM)

Let’s face it, as humans we tend to forget things and the real estate business requires attention to detail. That’s why utilizing a Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) is essential to building the ultimate cash buyers list.

Here you can store all of your cash buyer’s contact information, answers to the above questions, and other pertinent information about your interactions with each investor. You can even scan real estate investor business cards as you collect and save them digitally in your CRM.

Nurture The Relationship

After finding cash buyers, you’ll want to keep in touch and stay top of mind with your new relationships. Investing in real estate is all about relationships, so take this step seriously.

Send emails with housing market updates, recent home sales data, and highlight your latest deals. Once you have your buyers list, it’s easy to set up automated email drip campaigns for any new and existing cash buyers in your database.

How To Talk To Cash Buyers

Are you eager to understand your cash buyer's ideal property, their buying criteria, and gauge their experience level? Our insightful video, How To Talk To Cash Buyers For Wholesaling (FREE SCRIPT), presented by Alex Martinez, offers the top 13 questions that will empower you to delve into the minds of your cash buyers and effectively add them to your cash buyers list.

How To Sell Your House To Cash Buyers In 8 Steps

As mentioned above, selling your house for cash can result in a faster, less stressful transaction compared to traditional house-selling methods.

Here are the 8 steps to guide you through selling your house to cash buyers:

1. Identify a Cash Buyer: Begin by finding a cash buyer, often a company, that offers cash buying services. Request an offer from them and specify whether you are open to making repairs or if you're selling the property "as-is".
2. Property Evaluation: The potential buyer will conduct a property inspection to determine the home's condition. Based on this, they will draft their offer.
3. Offer Review: Once you receive the contract with the offer, assess it to decide whether it's satisfactory or if you need to decline it. Always verify the authenticity of a potential buyer and ask for proof of funds to avoid scams.
4. Select a Reputable Company: Ensure the company you are dealing with is reputable to avoid legal issues and scams.
5. Appraisal and Inspection: Some cash buyers may request a licensed inspector to appraise and inspect the house to confirm everything is in order. Not all cash buyers require this step, but it is common practice.
6. Closing the Deal: Once the property is inspected and approved, the deal can be closed. Cash deals are typically much faster than traditional ones, often taking only 10 days to two weeks.
7. Clear the Title: After closing the deal, the title will be cleared, marking the end of the transaction process.
8. Receive Your Cash: Finally, you will receive your cash payment, completing the sale.

Remember, while this process is typically straightforward, there can be unexpected hitches along the way. Always conduct due diligence, choose a reliable buyer, and have all necessary paperwork ready in advance to streamline the process.

Cash Buyers In Real Estate: FAQs

To help clarify some of the common queries and dispel any misconceptions, we've compiled this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section on cash buyers in real estate. Let's delve into some of the most frequently asked questions to help you better understand the dynamics of dealing with cash buyers.

What Does It Mean To Buy A Home In "All Cash?"

Buying a home in all cash means that the buyer will be funding the real estate transaction using only liquid, unencumbered funds.

You might be thinking, “Don’t all real estate deals close in cash anyway?” It’s important to understand the difference between “all cash” and other types of funding.

All cash implies that the buyer will not be obtaining a mortgage from a lender or receiving financing from the seller to purchase the property.

Buying a home in all cash generally means the purchase offer will exclude common contingencies, such as those for financing and appraisal.  These contingencies lengthen the escrow process and create ways for buyers to back out of a deal.

Are Cash Buyers Better Than Traditional Home Buyers?

Yes, cash buyers are usually better than traditional buyers for the following reasons.

1. First, a cash buyer is in complete control of the funds required to purchase the property. This means they can close quickly because there's no lender involved to complicate and slow down the real estate transaction.
2. Second, a cash buyer doesn't need appraisals or financing contingencies as part of their fair cash offer to purchase real estate. This means this type of buyer is less likely to back out of the deal.
3. Finally, cash investors are able to purchase difficult properties, such as those with uninhabitable conditions. Homes without heat, roofing, windows, or other hazardous living conditions are unable to qualify for conventional financing.

Why Do Sellers Prefer Cash Buyers?

Sellers prefer cash buyers because of two main reasons – speed and certainty. In an industry full of uncertainty, cash buyers are a breath of fresh air to motivated sellers.

Cash home buyers can provide sellers with confidence that they can sell their property within the timeframe that they need to. Yes, there are still ways cash buyers can back out of a purchase contract. However, sellers prefer cash buyers because their offers usually have:

1. Short escrow periods
2. No appraisal contingency
3. No financing contingency
4. No or minimal inspection period
5. Purchase in “As-is” condition

Additionally, sellers prefer direct cash transactions because they don’t need to put their homes on the market.

Why Are Some Properties Cash Buyers Only?

You’ll notice that some property listings will only accept offers from cash buyers. There are generally a few reasons why some properties are cash sales and sold to cash buyers only.

These reasons include:

1. Bank-Owned or REO Properties: REO properties are typically cash sales, although financing may be an option in certain situations. Banks set their own terms for these sales, and they understand the benefits of cash buyers over mortgaged buyers. Since they don’t want to waste time with appraisals and loan contingencies, banks always prefer a cash buyer.   
2. Condition of the Property: Most “cash buyers only” properties need significant repairs, rendering the homes uninhabitable. One or more components of the structure are missing, damaged, and/or need repairs. These conditions inhibit a property from being lent upon by a mortgage lender and may not appraise for the desired value. For example, a leaking roof, missing plumbing, drywall, incomplete flooring, exposed electrical wires, termite damage, or excessive mold would each prevent a conventional lender from funding the deal.
3. Title Issues: Cash investors are able to deal with title issues that may come up during a title search when a traditional buyer cannot. For example, if a mechanics lien or property taxes in arrears encumber the title of a property, then the owner might not be able to obtain title insurance upon closing. Lender’s title insurance is a requirement of conventional lenders, so they wouldn’t be able to close unless those issues are cleared up.

Can You Get A House Cheaper If You Pay Cash?

Yes, generally you can get a house cheaper if you pay cash.

A cash buyer can get a cheaper offer accepted over a mortgaged buyer due to all of the benefits of cash offers. Most notably, the ability to close on a house fast and purchase the property in its “as-is” condition.

Additionally, in the case of an off-market transaction, the seller can avoid paying costly real estate agent commissions, which alone can save the property owner 6% of the gross sales price on average. 

That said, it largely depends on the seller’s motivation. In many cases when the seller is not motivated to sell quickly, they have the luxury of time to wait for a higher offer. Property owners might be willing to accept a higher offer from a mortgaged buyer, even while knowing that the buyer has multiple ways to back out of the contract.

Most motivated sellers see the value in a quick close. For instance, when faced with foreclosure, sellers cannot afford to roll the dice on a time-consuming financed offer. In distressed situations, sellers will typically go with a lower cash offer when competing against a higher financed offer.

Time is money, and an expedited closing date can save the seller hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in property taxes, insurance, utility, and mortgage payments!

Generally, cash home buyers will pay anywhere from 50% - 85% of a property's after-repair value (ARV). That is, the market value of the property once it's rehabbed to its best physical condition.

How Long Does It Take To Buy A House If You Pay In Cash? 

Cash buyers offer unbeatable flexibility when buying a house without financing. A cash deal can take as little as three days to close on a property.

The main bottleneck to closing is usually the title company in coordinating all the necessary paperwork needed to close the transaction, let alone issue a title insurance policy. 

Compare this to the 30-45 day closing timeframe required with a financed offer. The benefits of cash buyers should become very apparent with this one comparison alone!

That said, the time it takes a cash buyer to purchase a house entirely depends on the negotiated timeframe in the sales agreement. It’s completely negotiable on the front end of the deal before the property goes under contract.

Although some sellers may opt-in for a quick close, other sellers may need more time to move out of the property. What’s important to sellers in these cases is that the cash buyer has nonrefundable earnest money in the deal. 

Some sellers may prefer a long closing, or even allow an extended closing if the buyer removes all of the contingencies and has money on the line. This gives the seller confidence that the buyer is committed to closing the real estate transaction.

Do Cash Buyers Pay Closing Costs?

Yes, cash buyers generally do pay closing costs. These may include title company fees, title insurance, government recording charges, transfer taxes, and notary fees.

Cash buyers investing in real estate can expect lower closing costs since they are avoiding costs such as lender fees, appraisal fees, and lender’s title insurance.  However, the share of closing costs that cash buyers pay is entirely spelled out within the individual purchase agreements with sellers.

Many times, cash buyers will offer to pay a seller closing costs in order to simplify the net amount the seller will receive at closing. Most often in real estate deals, buyers and sellers pay their own share of closing costs or agree to split them equally 50/50.

Final Thoughts On Cash Buyers

Cash buyers undeniably hold a key role in the dynamics of the real estate industry. Cultivating a robust network of cash buyers can exponentially enhance your real estate business potential and elevate your operations to new heights. Whether you're a seasoned real estate agent, a house flipper, or a proficient contract assigner, the manifold advantages of cash buyers are undeniable, as highlighted throughout this guide.

From facilitating rapid transactions to procuring distressed properties, cash buyers stand out as the most nimble and opportunistic players in the real estate market.

Ready to tap into the power of cash buyers and elevate your real estate game? Don't wait! Join our FREE real estate training today to expand your knowledge and boost your success in this thriving industry.