We Buy Houses Hawaii: Top 5 Companies
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Joseph Gordon EditorCloseJoseph Gordon Editor
Joseph Gordon is an Editor with HomeLight. He has several years of experience reporting on the commercial real estate and insurance industries.
If you have a Hawaii home that you need to sell quickly, you might want to consider a We Buy Houses company. These companies purchase homes regardless of their condition, typically in only a few days.
For a homeowner facing the threat of foreclosure, a sudden inheritance, or the need to relocate for a new job, a fast cash sale can help relieve a massive burden.
In this post, we’ll explore the pros and cons of selling to a cash-for-homes company in Hawaii, show you how the process works, and provide you with some alternatives.
Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Links and mentions of Hawaii area “We Buy Houses” companies should not be considered endorsements.
Working with house-buying companies in Hawaii
If you need a fast home sale in Hawaii, working with a house-buying company can provide a straightforward solution. Here are the basic steps to sell your house to a cash-for-homes company:
- Contact the company: Find a reputable house-buying company in Hawaii and provide them with information about your property.
- Schedule a visit: Set up a time for the company to visit your home and assess its condition. This is usually a quick and simple process.
- Receive an offer: After the assessment, the company will present you with a no-obligation, all-cash offer for your home.
- Accept the offer: If you are satisfied with the offer, you can accept it and move forward with the sale.
- Sign the paperwork: The company will handle most of the paperwork, making the process smooth and hassle-free for you.
- Close the sale: Once everything is in order, you’ll close the sale and receive your cash, typically within a few days.
Popular We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Hawaii
If the process of selling to a house-buying company in Hawaii 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 your or your parents’ plantation, midcentury, territorial, and contemporary. By selling to one of these companies, you should be able to sell your Hawaii home in as little as a week or two.
We Buy Houses Hawaii
We Buy Houses Hawaii, led by Owner Daniel Kong, are seasoned Oahu house buyers with cash ready for purchase. They can make an offer on your home as quickly as 24 hours, and can work with you on a closing date that works best for you.
Locations: All over Hawaii, including Oahu, Honolulu and surrounding areas
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; We Buy Houses Hawaii covers them.
We Buy Houses Hawaii has been BBB accredited since 2021 and holds an A+ rating. We Buy Houses Hawaii holds a 5.0 Google star rating from over 70 reviews. One recent review commends the team for their expertise, ease of collaboration, and dedication to serving Hawaii’s residents.
Website: webuyhouseshawaii.com
Phone number: 808-342-3775
Simple Sale (a HomeLight platform)
Simple Sale, a solution from HomeLight, is an online platform where sellers in Hawaii (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 Hawaii.
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 Hawaii
Closing costs: No prep costs, agent commissions, or 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 hundreds of 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
Oahu Home Buyers
Oahu Home Buyers, founded by Michael Borger, can typically provide a fast all-cash offer within 24 hours of receiving your information. They offer flexible closing, allowing for completion in as little as seven days or according to your schedule.
Locations: Serves Hawaii and surrounding areas
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Oahu Home Buyers cover them.
Oahu Home Buyers holds a 5.0 Google star rating based on 12 reviews. A client, with over 30 years of legal and real estate experience, acknowledges their integrity and reliability. They confirm having had entirely positive experiences in two separate dealings. The owner’s commitment to delivering on promises is commendable and evident through their satisfied clientele.
Website: oahuhomebuyers.com
Phone number: 808-333-3677
We Buy Your House Hawaii
We Buy Your House Hawaii, a local cash home-buying company in Hawaii, primarily purchases homes for cash. However, if cash isn’t suitable, they offer home sellers more creative real estate options beyond the typical cash offer.
Locations: Serves Hawaii neighborhoods from Waipahu to East Honolulu and Kaneohe and surrounding areas
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; We Buy Your House Hawaii covers them.
We Buy Your House Hawaii has a 5.0 Google star rating, though from only 5 reviews. A satisfied client commends the team for their ease of dealing and fair pricing, expressing gratitude for their exceptional service.
Website: webuyyourhousehawaii.com
Phone number: 808-515-8355
Maui Home Buyers
Maui Home Buyers, located in Makawao, Hawaii, is a real estate solutions company. They purchase houses in Maui and surrounding areas directly, bypassing the listing process. With cash on hand, they offer quick closings tailored to your schedule.
Locations: Serves Maui and surrounding areas
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Maui Home Buyers covers them.
Maui Home Buyers has a 5.0 Google rating based on 28 reviews. A recent client commends the team for its impressive responsiveness and extensive knowledge of the home buying/selling process.
Website: mauihomebuyers.com
Phone number: 808-359-3121
Why sell your Hawaii house for cash?
What causes someone to sell their home for cash? If you’ve ever sold your home via the traditional real estate market, you know the process can often take months, and a sale is not guaranteed. When selling your Hawaii home to a We Buy Houses company, however, you’re looking at a guaranteed sale in only a matter of days.
In Hawaii, it typically takes around 109 days to sell a home on the market using an agent. That includes an average of 67 days on the market plus the typical 42 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 Hawaii, 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.
Here are a few situations where selling your home for cash might make sense:
- Job relocation: You need to relocate immediately for a new job opportunity and don’t have time to wait for a traditional sale.
- Divorce: You want to quickly and cleanly separate your assets, including your home, during a divorce.
- Inherited property: You’ve inherited a house that you don’t want to keep and prefer to sell it quickly for cash.
- Downsizing: You’re looking to move to a smaller home and want a fast, hassle-free sale of your current property.
- Extensive repairs: Your home needs significant repairs that you can’t afford or don’t want to handle before selling.
- Avoiding open houses: You want to sell your home without the inconvenience and intrusion of open houses and multiple showings.
- Foundation issues: Your home has foundation problems or other major structural issues that might deter traditional buyers.
- Facing foreclosure: You need to sell your home quickly to avoid foreclosure and settle your debts with the lender.
- Problem tenants: You’re a landlord with difficult tenants and want to sell your rental property without dealing with eviction.
- Selling from out of state: You live in another state and need a quick, straightforward sale of your property in Hawaii.
Pros and cons of house-buying companies in Hawaii
When considering selling to a house-buying company in Hawaii, it’s important to weigh the benefits and drawbacks. Below are key pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.
Selling to a house-buying company in Hawaii offers speed and convenience. These companies buy your house in any condition, meaning you don’t need to make repairs or preparations.
- Quick sale: House-buying companies often close deals within days, providing a fast solution for urgent situations.
- As-is condition: They purchase homes as-is, saving you the time and money needed for repairs or upgrades.
- No showings: You can avoid the hassle of staging your home and hosting multiple showings.
- Guaranteed sale: With no contingencies, you can be sure the sale will go through without unexpected delays or cancellations.
While house-buying companies offer convenience, they usually offer below-market value for your home compared to selling on the market with an experienced real estate agent.
- Lower offers: Expect to receive offers that are significantly less than what you might get through a traditional sale.
- Potential scams: Be cautious of scams and fraudulent companies that might take advantage of your situation.
- Limited negotiation: House-buying companies typically present a take-it-or-leave-it offer, leaving little room for price negotiations.
- Loss of potential profit: By not selling on the open market, you may miss out on maximizing your home’s value.
Vet cash buyers and know your home’s worth
When working with a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Hawaii, the level of integrity and service you experience can vary widely. Here are some key steps to ensure you make an informed decision:
- Check reviews: Look up online reviews and testimonials from previous clients to gauge the company’s reputation.
- Research the company: Investigate the company’s presence and performance in the market. A well-established company is more likely to provide reliable service.
- Read testimonials: Personal experiences from other sellers can offer valuable insights into what you can expect.
- Verify credentials: Ensure the company is legitimate by checking for necessary licenses and accreditations.
- Read the buying agreement: Before signing, carefully review the agreement to understand all terms and conditions.
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 Hawaii home quickly
iBuyers: iBuyers like Opendoor and Offerpad use automated valuation models to provide quick, all-cash offers for homes in good condition. The process is mostly online and can close in a few days to two weeks. However, they often charge service fees of 5%-6% and are best for homes in areas with homogeneous housing. Learn more about iBuyers and the iBuyer process.
Listing with an agent: While it might take longer, listing with a top real estate agent can result in a higher selling price, especially in a seller-friendly market. Agents provide valuable insights through a comparative market analysis (CMA), often for free. An experienced agent might even connect you with buyers offering cash closer to your home’s market value. If you decide to sell to a house-buying company, you’ll do so with more confidence. HomeLight can connect you with top-performing agents in your area.
FAQs on Hawaii house-buying companies
By and large, most We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Hawaii 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 Hawaii 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 Hawaii Plantation could sell for $1,140,000 after repairs, but it will need $50,000 of work to get there.
($350,000 x .70) – $50,000 = $748,000
In this example, a Hawaii We Buy Houses company might offer you around $748,000 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 Hawaii 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 it is accepted. Conversely, 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 will be the price you walk away with at the end of the deal. Of course, asking the company if any hidden program fees might impact your bottom line is always a good idea.
- Research and vet the house-buying companies that serve your Hawaii area. Our list above is a good place to start.
- Submit offer requests to a few of the companies you like best.
- Schedule any required on-site property visits.
- Compare offers. Weigh the pros and cons and choose the best option for you.
- Close the sale in a week to 30 days and get paid. (Some companies will let you choose a closing date up to 90 days after accepting the offer, which can be helpful when planning a move.)
We Buy Houses for Cash in Hawaii vs. top Hawaii 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 Hawaii | Sell with a top Realtor in Hawaii |
Selling timeline | 7 to 30 days | 109 days average; 67 to attract an offer, 42 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 the 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 compiled 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 Hawaii is worth about $1,140,000 and needs about $40,000 in repairs. Once the repairs are completed, the home might be worth around $1,180,000.
Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Hawaii | Sell with a top Realtor in Hawaii | |
Estimated sale price | ($1,180,000 x .70) – $40,000 = $786,000 | $1,140,000 |
Market preparations | 0 | $11,400 (1% of sale price) |
Agent commissions | 0 | $66,120 (5.8% of sale price) |
Closing costs | 0 | $17,100 (1.5%) |
Estimated take-home for seller | $786,000 | $1,045,380 |
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
- Speed and convenience: Cash-for-homes companies offer quick sales without the need for repairs or preparations.
- Lower offers: Expect offers that are below market value compared to traditional sales.
- Avoiding repairs: You can sell your home as-is without investing in costly repairs.
- Simple process: The selling process is straightforward, with minimal paperwork and quick closings.
- Potential scams: Be cautious of fraudulent companies and thoroughly vet potential buyers.
- No negotiations: Most offers are take-it-or-leave-it, with little room for price adjustments.
- Alternative options: Consider iBuyers and listing with an agent for potentially higher offers and a broader market reach.
- Know your home’s worth: Always know 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 Hawaii agent.
Header Image Source: (EpicStockMedia / Deposit Photos)