4 Top We Buy Houses for Cash Companies in Orange County
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Allison Bethell, Contributing AuthorClose
Allison Bethell Contributing AuthorAllison Bethell is a writer, real estate investor, broker, small business owner, and consultant and has a B.A. from Villanova University in Sociology and Business. She has over 15 years of real estate experience, including flipping properties, selling houses, property management, luxury condominium development, as well as marketing and recruiting for large real estate brokerages. She has been featured in articles by outlets such as Forbes, The New York Times, The Street, and Realtor Magazine.
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Richard Haddad, Executive EditorClose
Richard Haddad Executive EditorRichard Haddad is the executive editor of HomeLight.com. He works with an experienced content team that oversees the company’s blog featuring in-depth articles about the home buying and selling process, homeownership news, home care and design tips, and related real estate trends. Previously, he served as an editor and content producer for World Company, Gannett, and Western News & Info, where he also served as news director and director of internet operations.
“We Buy Houses” Orange County, California, companies make all-cash offers for homes that often need some work. This allows sellers who lack the time, expertise, and money for repairs to move quickly and receive the cash proceeds from their home sooner if they need it.
Perhaps you need a fast home sale to start a new job. Maybe a family member is facing an unexpected health challenge and needs to relocate right away. Or you may need to cash out an inherited Orange County property to settle an estate.
Need to Sell Your House Fast in Orange County?
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 in Orange County.
If you need to sell your Orange County home quickly, a We Buy Houses for Cash company could be the best solution. However, before you request a cash offer, it’s important to understand how much an Orange County house-buying company might offer for your home and consider your options. Once you’re familiar with the process, you can opt to select a company on our list of some of the top contenders and get moving.
Working with house-buying companies in Orange County
We Buy Houses companies in Orange County typically promise to give home sellers quick, convenient all-cash offers and exceptionally speedy closings, often wrapping up the property sale in as few as seven days. These house-buying companies have polished their processes to help sellers who need to move ASAP and tend to target distressed homes in need of repairs.
Here’s an overview of the process of selling your home for cash:
- Contact the company: Find a reputable house-buying company in Orange County and provide them with details of your property.
- Schedule an evaluation: The company will schedule a time to visit your home and assess its condition and value.
- Receive an offer: After the evaluation, the company will present you with a cash offer, typically within 24 to 48 hours.
- Accept the offer: If you agree to the terms, you will accept the cash offer and proceed with the sale.
- Close the deal: The company will handle the necessary paperwork and coordinate the closing process, often within a few weeks.
- Receive your payment: At closing, you will receive the agreed-upon cash amount, and the transaction is complete.
Popular We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Orange County
If the benefits of selling to a house-buying company in Orange County sound 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 parent’s bungalow or your modern beach house. By selling to one of these companies, you should be able to sell your Orange County home in as little as a week or two.
So Cal Home Buyers
Founded in 2011 by a husband and wife team, So Cal Home Buyers is a professional real estate investment company. Their goal is to help homeowners quickly sell real estate with as little stress as possible. The company works to provide a reliable and trustworthy home-selling solution. To date, they have helped more than 500 homesellers.
According to their website, they have a three-step process to sell your California house. Request your offer online or over the phone. Then, receive a cash offer, usually within a few days of contacting them. Close when you need to. Funds will be provided via wire or check.
Locations: Various locations in California, including Orange County, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Diego
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; So Cal Home Buyers covers them.
Recognized for its transparency and reliability, So Cal Home Buyers has been BBB accredited since 2018 and holds an A+ rating. It earned a 4.8-star rating on Google, and customer reviews emphasize the company’s professionalism and integrity.
Clients say the team is friendly and supportive throughout the entire process. Many appreciated the clear communication and willingness to answer every question along the way. Overall, working with this company felt reassuring and easy, making the experience a positive one from start to finish.
Website: socalhomebuyers.com
Phone Number: 951-331-3844
Simple Sale (a HomeLight platform)
Simple Sale, a solution from HomeLight, is an online platform where sellers in Orange County (and across the country) can request a cash offer for their home. It has one of the largest networks of cash buyers on its platform, and 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 Orange County.
With the platform, you can get an all-cash offer in 24 hours and sell your home in as few as 7 days, skipping the months it can take to sell the traditional way.
Locations: Nationwide, including Orange County, California
Closing costs: No prep costs, no agent commissions, and no fees charged by HomeLight. Individual investor fees may vary.
Simple Sale is a platform by HomeLight, a real estate solutions company founded in 2012. Given its strong focus on excellent customer service, it received BBB accreditation in 2019 and now holds an impressive A+ rating. The company has 4.6 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.
Website: homelight.com/simple
Phone Number: 844-488-8455
John Medina Buys Houses
Founded in 2014, John Medina Buys Houses is a local, family-owned home-buying investment company that prides itself on making fair offers and providing smooth transactions. The company was started to solve problems for homeowners by providing a simple, no-hassle process.
It usually makes an offer within 24 hours of seeing the property and closes within 14 days. The company is involved in its local community and focuses on keeping its renovation budgets low so it can make the best offers to homebuyers.
Locations: Orange County and surrounding areas, including Los Angeles and throughout Southern California
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; John Medina Buys Houses covers them.
John Medina Buys Houses has been BBB accredited since 2015 and holds an A+ rating from the bureau. Its Google Business Profile reflects a high average review score of 4.7 stars. Customer reviews emphasize the company’s excellent communication and professionalism. Reviewers express gratitude for how smooth the transactions were and for the company’s friendly, courteous team members.
Website: johnmedinabuyshouses.com
Phone Number: 310-928-9688
OC Home Buyers
OC Home Buyers is a home-buying company known for making quick, transparent, and hassle-free cash offers. They purchase properties in any condition and move swiftly, typically providing a cash offer within 24 hours. Sellers can choose the closing date that best suits their needs, whether it’s in a few days or later.
The process is straightforward, with no hidden fees or complicated steps. At closing, funds are delivered promptly via bank wire or check for the seller’s convenience.
Locations: Orange County and the surrounding area
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; OC Home Buyers covers them.
With a proven track record, OC Home Buyers earned a 4.8-star rating on Google. Customer reviews detail how highly organized and professional the team is and how it exceeds expectations and reflects the high standards it’s committed to. Many said the home-selling process was easy and straightforward. OC Home Buyers is accredited with the BBB and has an A- rating.
Website: ochomebuyers.com
Phone Number: 949-288-4767
Why sell your Orange County house for cash?
If you’ve ever sold your home through the traditional real estate market, you know the process can drag on for months, and there’s no guarantee of a sale. But when you sell to a We Buy Houses company, you’re looking at a guaranteed sale in just a matter of days. Speed, convenience, and certainty are the top reasons many homeowners choose to work with a cash-for-homes firm.
In Orange County, selling a home on the open market using an agent typically takes around 73 days. That includes an average of 32 days on the market, from listing to signed contract, plus the typical 41 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 Orange County, 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 some of the most common reasons homeowners choose to sell their homes for cash:
- Job relocation: You need to move quickly for a new job and can’t wait for a traditional home sale.
- Divorce settlement: You want to quickly divide marital assets and move on with your life.
- Unwanted inheritance: You’ve inherited a house and prefer a quick sale to dealing with maintenance or renting.
- Downsizing transition: You’re looking to move into a smaller home or retirement community without the hassle of prepping and showing your current home.
- Repairs needed: Your home is in poor condition and requires significant repairs that you can’t afford or don’t want to manage.
- Open house stress: You prefer to avoid the stress and inconvenience of multiple showings and open houses.
- Structural damage: Your home has foundation issues, making it less attractive to traditional buyers.
- Foreclosure solution: You’re facing foreclosure and need to sell quickly to settle your debts.
- Problem tenants: You’re a landlord tired of managing tenants and want to sell your rental property quickly.
- Remote home sale preference: You own a property in Orange County but live elsewhere so you’re looking for ways to sell quickly and easily from out of state.
If you are a homeowner facing any of these circumstances, requesting a cash offer from a We Buy Houses company might be a good option to consider. However, it’s prudent to think of this as a starting point in your search for solutions. You won’t know if it’s your best move until you know more about other options available to you, which we’ll help you review in a minute.
Pros and cons of We Buy Houses in Orange County
One of the biggest advantages of working with We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Orange County is that you can sell your home as-is with no repairs required, and they’ll buy homes in any condition.
If your home was severely damaged in a weather event, or you’ve fallen years behind on routine maintenance, you can still sell without needing to make the extensive repairs that financed buyers may require.
Here are some other pros to consider:
Pros
- Speedy transaction: You can typically sell your house in as few as seven to 10 days, providing a quick solution for urgent situations.
- As-is sale Companies will let you sell your house as-is, meaning no repairs or cleaning are required before the sale.
- Guaranteed deal: These companies offer firm cash deals with few or no contingencies, ensuring a smoother, more predictable process.
- Convenient process: You can skip the hassle of showings, open houses, and negotiations, making the sale process much easier and less stressful.
Cons
The most significant con of selling to a house-buying company is that they will likely offer you below market value for your home compared to selling on the market with an experienced real estate agent. Here are some of the key drawbacks:
- Lower offers: Expect offers to be lower than what you might receive on the open market.
- Scam risks: Be cautious of house-buying scams and dishonest companies; always vet your buyers.
- Limited negotiation: There’s typically little to no room for negotiating the price.
- No agent expertise: You miss out on the professional guidance and market knowledge that a real estate agent provides.
Your home is more than a place where you make memories with family, it’s also likely your biggest asset. Sure, you want to sell quickly, but you could be leaving major money on the table if you choose to work with one of these We Buy Houses for Cash companies.
Always do your research, compare your options, and consult with a trusted advisor before accepting any offer.
Vet cash buyers and know your home’s worth
For many home sellers, We Buy Houses for Cash companies can be a solid solution to selling a property quickly or accessing cash for an expected life challenge. On the other hand, the “cash for your home” rehabbing business model has also led to what some housing advocates call predatory tactics.
The level of integrity and customer service you experience can vary, even within an established house-buying company that strives to maintain consistent business standards. This is because many We Buy Houses for Cash companies are franchises and often use independent investors or local wholesaling outfits. Your experience greatly depends on the character of the person or group making the offer.
If you are considering a cash offer, vet the company thoroughly. Check reviews, read testimonials, and research its presence and performance in the market. And, of course, read the buying agreement carefully before signing.
Get a home value estimate
Before committing to a We Buy Houses for Cash company, HomeLight suggests you consult with a top agent to get a better idea of what your home might be worth if sold on the open market. Then compare cash offers to what a top agent might be able to get for your home. HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing agent in your market.
Other options to sell your home quickly
Working with iBuyers
Instant buyers, or iBuyers, use automated valuation models (AVMs) to offer near-instant home value estimates. They provide a mostly online experience, offering all-cash deals typically closer to market value for homes in good condition.
The process from offer to closing is quick, usually within a few days to two weeks. However, iBuyer companies like Opendoor and Offerpad charge service fees of 5% to 6% of the home’s sale price.
Listing with an agent
Listing with a top real estate agent can also result in a fast sale, especially in a seller-friendly market. An agent can provide a comparative market analysis (CMA), which helps determine an appropriate listing price and estimate the time to sell. Many agents offer CMAs, often for free.
Partnering with a proven agent can yield the highest selling price, and they may even connect you with cash buyers willing to pay closer to market value. If you are interested in exploring the agent option, HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing real estate agent in your area today.
FAQs on Orange County house-buying companies
By and large, most We Buy Houses for Cash companies 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 legitimate.
That said, as with any financial transaction, it’s a good idea to be on 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 BBB website. Watch for anything that just doesn’t seem right.
Most We Buy Houses for Cash companies apply the 70% rule, meaning they’ll offer you about 70% of your home’s after-repair value (ARV), 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 Orange County bungalow could sell for $1,120,000 after repairs, but it’s going to need $65,000 of work to get there.
($1,200,000 x .70) – $65,000 = $775,000
In this example, an Orange County We Buy Houses company might offer you about $775,000 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 they look for homes in better condition. An iBuyer might pay you 90% or more of the market value while charging a fee for their services.
When you accept an offer from a We Buy Houses for Cash company, you will likely be coming to grips with a two-edged sword. On 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 ask the company if there are any hidden program fees that might affect your bottom line.
- Research and vet the house-buying companies that serve your area. Our list above is a good place to start.
- Submit offer requests to a few 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 Orange County vs. top Orange County 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 Orange County | Sell with a top Realtor® in Orange County |
| Selling timeline | 7 to 30 days | 73 days average; 32 to attract an offer, 41 to close the loan |
| Home preparations | None | Deep clean, declutter, make necessary repairs, landscape, and stage the home |
| Showings | None | 10 to 25 showings on 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 the 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 | 3% to 6% of the home’s sale price |
| Closing costs | None | 1% to 3% of the home’s sale price on top of the agent’s 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 modern beach house in Orange County is currently worth about $1,135,000 and needs about $65,000 in repairs. Once the repairs are completed, the home might be worth about $1,200,000.
| Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Orange County | Sell with a top Realtor® in Orange County | |
| Estimated sale price | ($1,200,000 x .70) – $65,000 = $775,000 | $1,135,000 |
| Market preparations | 0 | $11,350 (1% of the sale price) |
| Agent commissions | 0 | $34,050 (3% of the sale price)* |
| Closing costs | 0 | $17,025 (1.5% of the sale price) |
| Estimated take-home for seller | $775,000 | $1,072,525 |
As this example illustrates, it’s usually in your best financial interest to partner with an experienced real estate agent.
However, net proceeds are not the only consideration when selling a home. What’s best for your situation will depend on the condition of your property, the level of repairs needed, and your selling objectives. It could be that selling on the open market will be a challenge in your area, or the agent’s timeline might not fit your immediate needs.
Agent commission changes
*On March 15, 2024, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) announced a landmark lawsuit settlement that changed the way real estate agent commissions are handled in the future. These changes “decouple” seller and buyer agent compensation. Industry experts predict that this decoupling will likely lower agent fees and give buyers the ability to negotiate commission amounts directly. Learn more.
Key takeaways
- Quick home sale: We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Orange County can help you sell your home in as few as seven days with no repairs, showings, or hassles.
- Due diligence: There are many reputable cash homebuying companies across California, but it’s important to perform thorough research to ensure that your partner aligns with your selling goals.
- Selling alternatives: You could leave significant money on the table using a cash-for-homes company versus going with a top agent or an iBuyer.
- Legitimate cash buyers: HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform provides all-cash offers for homes in almost any condition in California, including Orange County. Because the platform has partner investors with different buying parameters across the state, it can be a great starting point if you aren’t sure who would buy your home.
House-buying companies can be a good alternative for Orange County sellers in need of a quick home sale, but it’s important to consider both the benefits and drawbacks. When it comes to selling your home, it’s wise to avoid making any hasty decisions.
Before making a commitment to a cash-for-homes company, gather multiple offers and take the time to weigh your options. Consider consulting with a top agent for expert insights on how soon and for how much your property might sell on the market. Whatever you decide, HomeLight would be happy to help with your real estate needs.
Editor’s note: This post is for educational purposes only. Links to and mentions of Orange County area “We Buy Houses” companies are not endorsements. Moreover, the program details mentioned above may change. Visit the home-buying company’s website for the most up-to-date information.
Header Image Source: (Ariel Blanco / Unsplash)
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.
Homelight
949-325-8272
Orange County, CA