How to Sell a House for Cash in St. Louis
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Cheyenne Wiseman Associate EditorClose
Cheyenne Wiseman Associate EditorCheyenne Wiseman is an Associate Editor at HomeLight.com. Previously, she worked as a writer for Static Media (Mashed.com and Chowhound.com) and as an editor for CBR.com. Cheyenne holds a bachelor’s degree in English from UC Davis, where she also founded and led a literary magazine called Open Ceilings. She has four years of experience writing and editing on topics including real estate, financial advising, and pharmaceuticals.
If you’re looking to sell a house for cash in St. Louis, Missouri, you’re likely seeking a fast, straightforward transaction. This type of sale allows you to skip the prep work, avoid repairs and showings, and close on your own timeline.
The three big questions on your mind might be:
- How do I sell a house for cash in St. Louis?
- What does this convenience cost?
- How much more can I get for my St. Louis house if I make repairs?
In this post, we’ll break down the two most common ways to receive a cash offer in St. Louis — and how your offer amount can vary depending on the buyer and the condition of your home.
Compare Options: Investor Cash Offer vs. Top St. Louis Agent
Get an all-cash, no-obligation offer on your St. Louis home through HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform. Close in as few as 10 days with no repairs or showings. You can also see an estimate of what your home might sell for using a top St. Louis agent.
Options to sell a house for cash in St. Louis
St. Louis homeowners have two main ways to sell for cash: work directly with a house-buying company or investor, or hire a real estate agent who can help secure a cash offer from a traditional buyer. Each path comes with its own set of tradeoffs in terms of speed, simplicity, and potential proceeds.
Before we get into the details, use the calculator below to quickly estimate how a cash offer in St. Louis might compare depending on how you sell.
As you can see, if your St. Louis home is in good condition, you’ll likely receive a significantly higher cash offer. But not every seller has the time, resources, or interest to make major repairs. For those dealing with a sudden move, financial pressure, or an inherited property from out of state, the ease and speed of an all-cash offer can be a major advantage.
Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect from the different ways to sell a house for cash in St. Louis.
Option 1: Sell to a cash buyer company in St. Louis
Investor groups and house-buying companies specialize in making quick cash purchases. Many buy properties in as-is condition, meaning you don’t need to clean, make repairs, or stage your St. Louis home. They are commonly known as “We Buy Houses” companies.
Other house-buying companies that serve St. Louis, known as iBuyers, only take homes in good condition or move-in-ready “turnkey properties.” The most well-known iBuyers, Opendoor and Offerpad, pay higher cash offers but charge a fee of around 5% of the home’s price.
We Buy Houses companies in St. Louis typically follow this process:
- You submit details about your St. Louis property online or over the phone.
- They review local market data and may conduct an in-person visit to determine your home’s value.
- You receive a no-obligation cash offer, often within 24 to 48 hours.
- If you accept, closing can happen in as little as 7 to 14 days.
Some St. Louis cash buyers focus on flipping homes, while others hold properties as rentals. Their offers often reflect the need to buy below market value in order to leave room for profit.
Most We Buy Houses investors in St. Louis follow the 70% rule of house flipping, which suggests that the purchase price should not exceed 70% of a home’s after-repair value (ARV), minus estimated repair costs. Our calculator above uses this rule, along with an 80% guideline commonly used by rental investors, to help you estimate a typical cash offer range.
Of course, these are just benchmarks — the actual offer you receive can vary based on your home’s condition and location.
»Learn more: 4 Top We Buy Houses for Cash Companies in St. Louis
Pros and cons of selling to a St. Louis cash buyer company
| Pros | Cons |
| Quick process: Close and get paid in a matter of days, not months | Lower sale price: Offers are typically below market value |
| No repairs or renovations: Sell your St. Louis home in its current condition | No negotiation: It’s usually a take-it-or-leave-it cash offer |
| Convenience: No showings, open houses, or negotiations | Less competition: You’re not exposing the home to multiple buyers |
| No fees or commissions: Most companies cover closing costs | Doesn’t fit every situation: An agent-assisted sale has advantages |
| Certainty: Less risk of a deal falling through due to financing | Unscrupulous buyers and scams: Not every cash buyer is reputable |
While there are many legitimate investors in St. Louis, it’s important to know and watch for the signs of a bad deal. For example, be wary if a company pressures you or has no established track record or online presence. Look for companies with verified reviews, local market knowledge, and clear communication.
»Learn more: We Buy Houses Pros and Cons: Make an Informed Decision
A better way to find trusted cash buyers in St. Louis
HomeLight’s Simple Sale service can connect you with the largest network of pre-vetted cash buyers in St. Louis and across the nation, helping you review offers without having to navigate the investor world by yourself.
Here’s a closer look at the Simple Sale process:
To get started, just enter a few details about your St. Louis home and receive a no-obligation offer within 24 hours. If you decide to accept, you can close in as few as 7 days or choose your closing date. You’ll also receive an expert estimate of what your home might sell for using a leading St. Louis real estate agent, so you can compare your options.
Option 2: Attract a cash buyer with a top St. Louis agent
Not all cash offers come from investors or companies. In St. Louis’ highly competitive housing market, many individual buyers are eager to pay with cash, whether they’re downsizing, relocating after selling a home abroad, or looking for a second home to take advantage of St. Louis’ affordable cost of living and access to parks and cultural attractions. A top St. Louis real estate agent can help position your home to appeal to these buyers.
»Learn more: Why Hire a Real Estate Agent When You’re Selling or Buying
Pros and cons of selling with a top St. Louis agent
| Pros | Cons |
| A higher sale price: Agents can increase exposure to attract multiple offers | More time required: A traditional listing can take weeks or months to close |
| Expert support: Pricing, marketing, and negotiations are handled for you | Upfront effort: You may need to clean, stage, or make repairs before listing |
| Wider buyer reach: Reach more cash buyers through the MLS and agent networks | Showings and disruptions: You’ll likely need to accommodate multiple walkthroughs |
| Reduced stress: Agents manage the process, saving you time and reducing costly mistakes | Commission fees: You’ll need to budget for agent fees (a percentage of the sale price) |
| Legal protection: Provides guidance on disclosures and federal fair housing laws | Uncertainty of sale: There is no guarantee of a quick sale, and offers can fall through |
»Learn more: Should I Sell to a Home Investor or List With an Agent?
The easy way to find top-rated St. Louis agents
Thinking about using an agent? HomeLight’s free Agent Match platform can connect you with St. Louis’ top-performing agents based on actual transaction data. We analyze over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to find the right agent for your needs.
Whether you are interested in a cash offer or simply exploring all your options, a skilled St. Louis agent can help you maximize your outcome. For a no-obligation consultation with a trusted agent, tell us a little about your selling goals and timeline.
Which cash sale option is right for you?
If speed, convenience, and a low-stress process are most important to you, working with a vetted St. Louis cash buyer through HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform might be the better fit. You can avoid prep work, showings, and waiting — and move on your timeline.
Prefer to spend more time to achieve a higher price? Partnering with a top St. Louis real estate agent could be the right call. They’ll help market your home to a wider pool of buyers — whether it’s a family relocating to the Central West End or an investor looking near Tower Grove.
When you request a Simple Sale offer, you’ll also receive a professional estimate of what your home might fetch on the open market, so you can weigh both options.
Still wondering whether to sell a house for cash in St. Louis? Try our Home Cash Offer Comparison Calculator above to get a clearer picture of what your home could sell for, depending on how you choose to list it. Then, request a no-obligation offer or connect with a trusted St. Louis expert.
There’s no universal right answer — but with the right tools and expert help, you can feel confident in your next step.
Header Image Source: (Imagenet/DepositPhotos)
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