How To Sell Your House Fast With Cash Home Buyers in Ohio

Inside the Ohio cash home buyers market

Cash home buyers come from all kinds of backgrounds, each with their own reasons for skipping traditional financing. Many are investors, flippers, or individuals simply looking for a fast, simple purchase. Knowing who typically pays cash for homes can help you attract the right buyers and close your sale more efficiently. Let’s take a closer look at these cash buyers to understand what drives them.

New residents

According to U.S. Census data, Ohio ranks as the seventh most populous state in the country, with a 2023 population of 11,785,935, a 0.22% increase from 2022. The state’s affordable cost of living makes it an appealing destination for newcomers, especially those relocating from areas with higher housing costs.

Overall expenses, including housing, food, childcare, transportation, healthcare, and taxes, are about 17.3% lower than the national average. This affordability attracts a mix of retirees, young families, and remote workers — many of whom can afford to buy homes outright with cash.

For sellers, this creates an opportunity to appeal to cash buyers drawn to Ohio’s balance of urban convenience, rural charm, and budget-friendly living costs.

Baby Boomers

Over one-quarter, or more than 2.8 million, of Ohio’s residents are 60 or older, according to data from the Ohio Department of Aging. In the Cleveland-Elyria area, baby boomers make up 38.5% of all homeowners. Older adults are more likely to purchase homes in cash as they have decades of built-up equity and savings.

According to recent data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), about half of older boomers and two out of five younger boomers pay for their homes in full, avoiding traditional financing altogether.

If your Ohio house touts features that appeal to the Baby Boomer generation, like a first-floor primary suite, low-maintenance outdoor space, or curbless showers, highlight them in the listing description to grab the attention of cash-flush older buyers.

Property investors

Fueled by affordable home prices and a strong rental market, Ohio sees a high volume of real estate investor purchases. In 2024, out-of-state investors owned 16% of all single-family rental homes, marking a 3.3-point increase compared to 2018. Almost 60% of investors bought their single-family properties outright with cash.

You’re more likely to find success selling to these property investors rather than traditional buyers willing to pay in cash. Some of the common types of property investors you’ll encounter include institutional buyers, house flippers, buy-and-hold landlords, wholesale operators, and iBuyers.

Selling to corporate buyers can often result in a faster and simpler home sale, especially if you’re located in Columbus or Cleveland, Ohio’s top markets for institutional landlords. These are usually well-funded and have the expertise to close deals quickly.

Pros of working with an Ohio cash home buyer

Cash offers can be an appealing choice for Ohio homeowners looking for a smooth and efficient sales process. Let’s explore some of the key benefits of working with cash home buyers in Ohio:

How to request a cash offer in Ohio

If you’re looking to secure a cash offer for your home without the hassle, HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform offers a streamlined solution. After submitting some basic information about your property, you’ll receive a no-obligation cash offer within just 24 hours.

If you accept the offer, you could close the deal in as few as 7 days. This process allows you to skip repairs, staging, and numerous showings and gives you the flexibility to choose a move-out date that fits your schedule, up to 30 days after closing.

It’s important to note that cash buyers often pay less than what you might get by selling on the open market with a real estate agent. However, traditional sales come with fees and costs that can consume 9% to 10% of your sale price. Depending on your situation, a cash sale could still be financially beneficial.

How much are Ohio cash home buyers willing to pay?

Most house-buying companies typically pay less than market value in exchange for the speed and convenience they provide. A common guideline in house flipping is the 70% rule, where investors pay no more than 70% of the home’s after-repair value (ARV), minus the cost of repairs. This allows flippers to ensure profitability by accounting for renovation expenses and resale risks.

Conditions in the Ohio housing market can affect the strength of a cash offer. When it’s a hot seller’s market, cash offers may be closer to market value because of increased competition among buyers. On the other hand, during slower periods, cash offers tend to be significantly lower than market value, as competition wanes and investors grow more cautious. While a cash offer might be appealing for a quick sale, sellers should carefully weigh the trade-off between convenience and potential profit.

What’s the process of selling to an Ohio cash home buyer?

If your top priorities in a home sale are efficiency and ease, a cash offer could be a good fit. Here’s a quick breakdown of the steps involved:

Complete the Ohio Residential Property Disclosure Form

In Ohio, sellers must reveal any known property issues through the Residential Property Disclosure Form. This document asks you to disclose any known issues with the property, such as structural defects, water damage, or environmental hazards. The goal is to provide potential buyers with a comprehensive overview of the home’s condition, creating transparency and trust in the transaction.

If you’re working with an Ohio “We Buy Houses” company, they will likely prepare all of the necessary documents for you, including this one. However, you can speed up the paperwork process by filling it out ahead of time. These companies conduct their own inspections and purchase homes in any condition, so filing the disclosure statement is more of a legal obligation from their perspective.

Let the buyer run a title search on the property

The cash buyer will also verify the property’s title. This ensures you have legal ownership and checks for any liens or claims that could prevent a smooth sale. Some of the most common reasons for title issues include boundary disputes, unknown easements, undisclosed heirs, public record errors, and forgery.

Pay any associated fee

A cash sale typically involves fewer closing costs than a traditional home sale. However, sellers may still have to pay transfer taxes, title insurance, escrow costs, and attorney fees.

In Ohio, the seller is responsible for paying the transfer tax, which is referred to as the real property conveyance fee. The statewide tax is levied at a rate of 1 mill, which equates to $1 per $1,000 of the home’s sale price. In addition, nearly all Ohio counties (except Ross County) impose their own real estate transfer taxes, ranging from 1 mill to 3 mills.

If you’re looking to avoid these expenses altogether, “We Buy Houses” companies will often pay closing costs for you in exchange for an offer that’s below market value.

Deciding to sell to Ohio cash home buyers

Homeowners in Ohio stand a strong chance of selling for cash, given the state’s growing popularity among real estate investors. Whether you choose to compare buyers yourself, work with a local real estate agent, or request an offer through Simple Sale, HomeLight can connect you with top professionals and essential resources. We’ll help you navigate the Buckeye State’s investor-friendly market, finding a fast and efficient solution tailored to your needs.

Editor’s note: This blog post is for educational purposes only, not legal or tax advice. HomeLight always encourages you to reach out to your own advisor.

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