5 Top We Buy Houses for Cash Companies in Birmingham
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Joseph Gordon Associate EditorJoseph Gordon is an Associate Editor with HomeLight. He has seven years of experience reporting on the commercial real estate and insurance industries. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of San Francisco.
At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Therefore, we promote strict editorial integrity in each of our posts.
In Birmingham, We Buy Houses companies offer a viable solution for homeowners seeking a swift and straightforward home sale. These companies stand out for their all-cash offers, which are particularly appealing if your home requires repairs or renovations you’re not equipped to handle. This option is especially beneficial for those who lack the time, money, or expertise for costly repairs, allowing you to access funds and move forward with your life plans quickly.
Opting for a cash sale can be an ideal response to unexpected life changes or urgent circumstances. Whether dealing with financial challenges, family changes, or relocation needs, these companies provide a rapid, hassle-free alternative to traditional home-selling methods.
This article aims to navigate you through the intricacies of cash-for-homes sales in Birmingham. We will dive into the pros and cons, equipping you with the necessary information to make an informed decision that best suits your unique situation.
Sell Your House Fast in Birmingham With a Cash Offer
Get an all-cash, no-obligation offer through HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform whenever you’re ready. Receive your offer in 24 hours and close in as few as 10 days. No showings, no repairs, no open houses. Available to sellers throughout Birmingham.
Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Links and mentions of Birmingham area “We Buy Houses” companies should not be considered an endorsement.
Working with house-buying companies in Birmingham
Selling your house in Birmingham to a house-buying company can be a straightforward process, especially when you need a quick sale. Understanding the steps involved can help you navigate this route with confidence. Here’s a guide to what you can expect:
- Find a company: Research and identify reputable ‘We Buy Houses’ companies in Birmingham.
- Initial contact: Reach out to the chosen company and provide details about your property.
- Property evaluation: The company will evaluate your property, often involving a visit to assess its condition.
- Receive an offer: Expect to receive a cash offer from the company, usually with a take-it-or-leave-it approach.
- Accept the offer: If the offer meets your needs, you can accept it to move forward.
- Close the deal: Complete the paperwork and close the sale, typically resulting in a quick payment.
Popular We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Birmingham
If the process of selling to a house-buying company in Birmingham sounds good to you, it’s time to find a legitimate operation you can trust.
We’ve compiled some of the top companies that will pay cash for you or your parents’ craftsman-style or colonial revival home. By selling to one of these companies, you can sell your Birmingham home in as little as a week or two.
Birmingham Homebuyers LLC
Established in 2018, Birmingham Homebuyers LLC, founded by Birmingham natives Jason Lesueur and TJ Sayers, has purchased over 1,000 property purchases since 2014. Their streamlined process makes selling as easy as filling out a form.
Locations: Birmingham and surrounding areas
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Birmingham Homebuyers LLC covers them.
Birmingham Homebuyers LLC has been BBB accredited since 2016 and holds an A+ rating. Clients praise Birmingham Home Buyers LLC for their professional, efficient, and hassle-free service. The company has a 4.6-star Google review rating.
Website: cashforhousesbham.com
Phone number: 205-502-2161
Simple Sale (a HomeLight platform)
Simple Sale, a solution from HomeLight, is an online platform where sellers in Birmingham (and across the country) can request a cash offer for their home. Simple Sale connects you to the largest network of cash buyers in the U.S. Partner investors have a wide range of investment strategies, including fix-and-flip and buy-and-hold. This enables Simple Sale to provide cash offers for a wide array of properties, even those that need some or a lot of work, in different locations throughout Birmingham.
With Simple Sale, you can get a no-obligation, all-cash offer in 24 hours and sell your home in as few as 10 days, skipping the months it can take to sell the traditional way.
Locations: Nationwide, including Birmingham
Closing costs: No prep costs, no agent commissions, and no fees charged by HomeLight. Individual investor fees may vary.
Simple Sale is a HomeLight platform. HomeLight was founded in 2012 and is BBB-accredited with an A+ rating. The company has 4.8 stars on Google based on more than 500 user reviews. Below, you can hear about how Baohan Wu, a seller who used Simple Sale to sell his high-rise apartment, closed within three and a half weeks and what he thought of the process overall.
Learn more: homelight.com/simple
Phone: 844-488-8455
Home Buyers of Alabama
Home Buyers of Birmingham is a local company in Birmingham, Alabama. The staff is flexible about helping homeowners who need to sell their properties in as-is condition without needing repairs or commissions.
Locations: Birmingham and surrounding areas
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Homebuyers of Alabama cover them.
Home Buyers of Alabama clients consistently praise the company for its exceptional service and support during challenging times. They appreciate the team’s willingness to provide multiple options and personalized attention. The company has a 4.0-star Google review rating.
Website: homebuyersofbirmingham.com
Phone number: 205-379-8185
Levi Home Buyers
Levi Home Buyers aims to provide transparency and professionalism without hidden fees. Backed by local expertise and a seasoned team, they offer quick and dependable offers to homeowners.
Locations: Birmingham and surrounding areas
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Levi Home Buyers covers them.
According to testimonials on the company’s website, clients praise Levi Home Buyers for exceeding their expectations and making the home-selling process easy and stress-free.
Website: levihomebuyers.com
Phone number: 205-235-8888
Cahaba Home Buyers
Cahaba Home Buyers specializes in assisting homeowners facing a variety of situations, from inherited properties to downsizing, city liens, or tenant-related issues. They offer fast sales, foreclosure avoidance, and assistance with property challenges.
Locations: Birmingham and surrounding areas
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Cahaba Home Buyers cover them.
Cahaba Home Buyers has been BBB accredited since 2020 and holds an A+ rating. Clients consistently praise Cahaba Home Buyers for their professionalism, transparency, and helpfulness throughout the home-selling process. It holds a 5.0-star Google review rating.
Website: cahabahomebuyers.com
Phone number: 205-390-1050
Why sell your Birmingham house for cash?
There are plenty of valid reasons a Birmingham home seller may choose to work with a Cash-For-Homes company. The primary benefits are speed, certainty, and remarkable convenience.
In Birmingham, selling a home on the market typically takes around 88 days using an agent. That includes an average of 43 days on the market plus the typical 45 days a buyer needs to close on a purchase loan.
Compare that to the typical seven to 10 days promised by many house-buying companies in Birmingham, and it’s clear why these Cash-For-Homes groups are an attractive option, even though they don’t always offer top-dollar for the homes they purchase.
Choosing a ‘We Buy Houses for Cash’ company in Birmingham can be a fitting solution for various scenarios. Homeowners often find this route appealing for its simplicity and speed. Let’s examine some everyday situations where this option might be beneficial:
- Urgent financial needs: Quick cash requirement due to emergencies like medical bills or financial hardships.
- Relocation demands: Need to move quickly due to job relocation or personal reasons.
- Facing divorce: A quick, uncomplicated way to liquidate shared assets during a divorce.
- Avoid foreclosure: Selling to settle debts and prevent credit damage from foreclosure.
- Inherited property: A straightforward way to deal with inherited homes without the usual selling hassles.
- Selling from out of state: Convenient for those who can’t manage the sale process in person.
- Selling parents’ home: Ideal for those managing the sale of an elderly parent’s home, especially from a distance.
- Property condition: Ideal for homes needing significant repairs, like roof damage or foundational issues.
- Desire for privacy: Opting for a private, off-market sale without public listings or showings.
- Landlord issues: A fast exit strategy for landlords tired of managing rental properties.
- Life transitions: Suitable for seniors downsizing, moving to care facilities or with relatives, simplifying the selling process.
Next, we will examine the pros and cons of selling your home to a We Buy Houses company.
Pros and cons of house-buying companies in Birmingham
Selling your home to a house-buying company in Birmingham can be an attractive option, especially for those seeking speed and convenience. These companies offer quick sales and accept properties in any condition, eliminating the need for repairs or staging.
Pros of house-buying companies
- Fast transactions: Rapid closing process, often within days.
- No repairs needed: Homes are purchased as-is, avoiding renovation expenses.
- Ease of process: Simplified selling experience with minimal paperwork.
- No staging or showings: Eliminates the hassle of preparing and showing your home.
However, while there are significant advantages, it’s important to consider the potential downsides. The primary drawback is receiving an offer that’s likely below the market value compared to a traditional sale with a real estate agent.
Cons of house-buying companies
- Lower offers: Typically below market value due to the company’s profit margin.
- No negotiation: Offers are usually firm with little room for bargaining.
- Limited market exposure: Potentially misses higher offers available through open market listings.
- Risk of scams: There is a risk of being scammed, as not all house-buying companies are created equal.
As you consider selling your Birmingham home to a cash buyer, the next crucial step is to vet these buyers properly. Understanding your home’s worth is also key. We’ll cover that in the next section.
Curious What Your Home Is Worth?
Get a near-instant real estate house price estimate from HomeLight for free. Our tool analyzes the records of recently sold homes near you, your home’s last sale price, and other market trends to provide a preliminary range of value in under two minutes.
Vet cash buyers and know your home’s worth
When you decide to work with a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Birmingham, it’s important to remember that the level of integrity and service offered can greatly vary. The experience you have will largely depend on the character and reliability of the individuals or groups behind the company.
Before committing to any cash offer, ensure you conduct thorough research. Check online reviews, read testimonials from previous clients, and investigate the company’s presence and performance in the Birmingham market. This vetting process is crucial to ensure you’re dealing with a reputable buyer.
Also, take the time to carefully read and understand the buying agreement before signing. It’s essential to know exactly what you’re agreeing to, to avoid any future surprises or misunderstandings.
HomeLight suggests you consult with an experienced local agent to get a better idea of what your home might be worth if sold on the open market. Then, compare your cash offer. HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing agent in your market. You can also use HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator to get an initial ballpark estimate in less than two minutes.
Other options to sell your Birmingham home quickly
iBuyers: iBuyers offer a fast, mostly online home sale process, using automated valuation models to provide instant home value estimates. Companies like Offerpad and Opendoor, specialize in all-cash offers close to market value for well-maintained homes, with a quick process from offer to closing. However, they typically charge service fees of 5%-6%.
Listing with an Agent: Listing with a top real estate agent can also lead to a quick sale, especially in seller-friendly markets. Agents can often secure higher selling prices, with the top agents selling homes for up to 10% more than average. They provide valuable market insights through Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), which helps in setting a competitive listing price. This is typically offered for free. Experienced agents might also connect sellers with cash buyers offering closer to market value. HomeLight can assist in finding top-performing agents in your area.
FAQs on Birmingham house-buying companies
By and large, most We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Birmingham are legitimate businesses. Their services and transaction fees may differ, but the business model has been around for decades. If you use an established group with a track record, you can be fairly confident that it’s legit.
That said, as with any financial transaction, it’s a good idea to be on the alert for scams. Always research companies before you sign a contract. Check customer reviews, look at their online presence, verify professional licenses, get a referral if possible, and vet the company on the Better Business Bureau website. Watch for anything that just doesn’t seem right.
As described in our pros and cons list above, most Birmingham We Buy Houses for Cash companies apply the 70% rule, meaning they’ll offer you about 70% of your home’s after-repair value, minus their estimated repair costs.
Here’s an example of what a simplified formula might look like:
(Your home’s ARV x .70) – repair costs
To see how this might work in a real-world scenario, let’s take a look at an example offer equation. Let’s say your Birmingham craftsman-style home could sell for $175,000 after repairs, but it’s going to need $30,000 of work to get there.
($175,000 x .70) – $30,000 = $92,500
In this example, a Birmingham We Buy Houses company might offer you around $92,500 for your home.
However, different types of house-buying companies will offer varying amounts for homes. As mentioned previously, iBuyers tend to pay more than We Buy Houses companies because iBuyers look for homes in better condition. An iBuyer might pay you 90% or more of market value while charging a fee for their services.
When you accept an offer from a Birmingham We Buy Houses for Cash company, you will likely be coming to grips with a double-edged sword. On the one side, it shouldn’t cost you any additional money because these companies make an offer and handle almost everything once the offer is accepted. On the other side, you’ll likely get less money overall for your home.
Because We Buy Houses for Cash companies tend to focus on distressed homes, they typically have zero fees. Many will even cover your closing costs. In most cases, this means that the cash offer you receive is going to be the price you walk away with at the end of the deal. Of course, it’s always a good idea to flat-out ask the company if there are any hidden program fees that might impact your bottom line.
We Buy Houses for Cash in Birmingham vs. top Birmingham agent
Another helpful exercise is to compare how a We Buy Houses for Cash company might stack up against working with a real estate agent. Let’s take a glance at how different aspects of the sale might look, and compare possible proceeds.
| Aspect of the sale | Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Birmingham | Sell with a top Realtor in Birmingham |
| Selling timeline | 7 to 30 days | 88 days average; 43 to attract an offer, 45 to close the loan |
| Home preparations | None | Deep clean, declutter, make necessary repairs, landscape, stage home |
| Showings | None | 10 to 25 showings average |
| Inspections / repairs | None | May need to make additional repairs for the buyer or renegotiate the price |
| Appraisal | None | May need to lower your asking price if the appraisal comes in low |
| Title search | Cash-For-Homes companies often handle title issues | Must clear title before you can sell home |
| Financing contingency | None | Mortgaged buyers use a financing contingency that could hold up the deal if the buyer’s loan doesn’t clear |
| Agent commission | None | 5.8% average |
| Closing costs | None | 1% to 3% of the home sale price on top of agent commission |
Example net proceeds
Below, we’ve put together one example of how net proceeds may differ between selling a home to a We Buy Houses for Cash company and an agent-assisted sale.
Let’s say your home in Birmingham is currently worth about $175,000 and needs about $25,000 in repairs. Once the repairs are completed, the home might be worth around $200,000.
| Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Birmingham | Sell with a top Realtor in Birmingham | |
| Estimated sale price | ($200,000 x .70) – $25,000 = $115,000 | $175,000 |
| Market preparations | 0 | $1,750 (1% of sale price) |
| Agent commissions | 0 | $10,150 (5.8% of sale price) |
| Closing costs | 0 | $2,625 (1.5%) |
| Estimated take-home for seller | $115,000 | $160,475 |
As this example illustrates, financially, it’s usually in your best interest to partner with an experienced real estate agent.
However, net proceeds are not the only consideration when selling a home. What’s best in your situation will depend on the condition of your property, what level of repairs are needed, and your selling objectives. It could be that selling on the open market will be a challenge in your area, or the agent timeline might not fit your immediate needs.
Key takeaways
- Speedy sale: House-buying companies in Birmingham offer a quick way to sell your property, ideal for urgent situations.
- No repairs: They buy homes as-is, saving you the hassle and cost of repairs.
- Simple process: The selling process is straightforward, with minimal paperwork and no need for showings.
- Below market offers: Be prepared to receive less than market value for your home.
- Know your home’s worth: Always be aware of your property’s estimated market value before you proceed with a cash-offer company.
At HomeLight, we’re happy to lend a guiding hand in navigating your real estate journey. Let us help you make an informed and confident decision, whether you’re looking for a no-obligation cash offer through a trusted platform like Simple Sale or seeking to consult with a top Birmingham agent.
Header Image Source: (sepavone / Depositphotos)
Homelight
659-207-2593
Birmingham, AL