5 Top We Buy Houses for Cash Companies in St. Petersburg, FL
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Richard Haddad Managing EditorRichard Haddad is the managing 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.
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.
If you’re a homeowner in St. Petersburg and find yourself needing a fast home sale, “We Buy Houses” companies might be on your radar. These businesses make all-cash offers for homes, especially those that might need a touch of TLC. A cash sale empowers sellers like you who might not have the time, expertise, or funds for repairs to swiftly secure a deal and move forward with your future plans.
Selling to a Cash-For-Homes company can provide a timely solution to unexpected or pressing circumstances. However, like all real estate transactions, it’s essential to be informed.
This post provides a helpful overview of the process and the pros and cons of these house-buying businesses in St. Petersburg, ensuring you have all the details you need to weigh your options effectively.
Sell Your House Fast in St. Petersburg With a Cash Offer
Get an all-cash, no-obligation offer on your St. Petersburg home 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 St. Petersburg, Florida.
Disclaimer: This post is meant to be used for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Links and mentions of St. Petersburg area “We Buy Houses” companies should not be considered an endorsement.
Working with house-buying companies in St. Petersburg
If you’re in a pinch and require a quick sale, house-buying companies in St. Petersburg can provide a straightforward path to relief. Here’s a breakdown of the primary steps you’ll encounter if you sell to a Cash-For-Homes company:
- Research companies: Start by identifying reputable house-buying companies in St. Petersburg. Look for testimonials, reviews, and any local references.
- Request an offer: Reach out to your chosen company and provide details about your property. They’ll typically assess the information and make a preliminary cash offer.
- Property inspection: The company will send a representative to inspect your home. This allows them to confirm details and potentially adjust the offer based on the home’s condition.
- Review the offer: Once you receive the final offer, take your time to review it. Ensure it aligns with your expectations and needs.
- Complete paperwork: If you agree to the offer, you’ll proceed with the necessary legal documentation, typically facilitated by the buying company.
- Close the deal: After all the paperwork is settled, you’ll finalize the sale and receive your cash payment, allowing you to move on to the next chapter in your life.
Popular We Buy Houses for Cash companies in St. Petersburg
If the process of selling to a house-buying company in St. Petersburg sounds good to you, it’s time to find an established business you can trust.
We’ve compiled some of the top companies that will pay cash for your Mediterranean-style home or your parents’ Bungalow. By selling to one of these companies, you should be able to sell your St. Petersburg home in as little as a week or two.
Pinellas Property Solutions
Pinellas Property Solutions is based in St. Petersburg and employs a real estate team with more than 30 years of experience in the Florida real estate market. The company can close in as little as seven days and buys homes as-is due to any situation, including relocating, foreclosure, divorce, probate, and more.
Locations: Pinellas, Hernando, Bay, and Orange Counties, St. Petersburg, Florida
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Pinellas Property Solutions covers them.
Pinellas Property Solutions has been BBB accredited since 2019 and holds an A+ rating. The company has a 5-star rating on Google. Customer reviews describe the selling process as “simple, easy to work with, and closed ASAP without any issues” and “they came through with the cash I needed on my timeline.” One reviewer states, “When my mother got sick and couldn’t stay in her home, Chris worked tirelessly to close as quickly as possible.”
Website: go.ppsflorida.com
Phone number: 727-800-4013
Simple Sale (a HomeLight platform)
Simple Sale, a solution from HomeLight, is an online platform where sellers in St. Petersburg (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 St. Petersburg.
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 St. Petersburg
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 4.6 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.
Learn more: homelight.com/simple
Phone number: 844-488-8455
The Local House Buyers
The Local House Buyers is a family-owned business founded by Brandyn Schwalm in 2015. Brandyn began working for a real estate investment company as soon as he graduated college. Since then, Brandyn has flipped more than 100 houses. After a potential seller fills out a form on The Local House Buyers’ website, a company representative will contact them within 24 hours for a quick phone call to find out more about the situation and home. If both parties feel it’s a good match, an offer is made.
Locations: Throughout Florida
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; The Local House Buyers covers them.
The Local House Buyers has been BBB accredited since 2020 and holds an A+ rating. The company has a 4.7-star rating on Google. Customer reviews note, “Brandyn and the team were great to work with! An immediate response to our inquiry quickly led to mutually agreeable terms” and always being available when someone had questions. One reviewer mentions The Local House Buyers provided an “extremely streamlined process”.
Website: thelocalhousebuyers.com
Phone number: 407-499-4995
We Buy Houses St. Petersburg
Founded in 1998, We Buy Houses is a national homebuying network with independent franchise offices around the country, including in St. Petersburg. They buy single-family homes, condos, land, and other types of real estate. The process includes the seller providing initial information on the property, and then sending a representative out to view the home and make an offer. Once an offer is accepted, the company sets the closing date, and sellers can expect to close within 7-14 days on average. We Buy Houses also works with foreclosures, sellers behind on payments, short sales, landlord-tenant situations, and vacant properties.
Locations: Nationwide, including St. Petersburg
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs. We Buy Houses covers them.
We Buy Houses has been BBB accredited since 2020 and has an A+ rating. Customer reviews for We Buy Houses speak to reliability, responsiveness, and fairness. They express that it was a quick and easy process, and an overall great experience.
Website: webuyhouses.com/FL/Saint_Petersburg
Phone number: 813-452-4844
FL Cash Home Buyers, LLC
FL Cash Home Buyers, LLC, established in 2011, boasts 800+ real estate deals, offering swift 2-4 week closings, adaptable to seller timelines. The company purchases homes in their current state with all-cash offers. Their “Novation” alternative involves property repairs, connecting with a third-party buyer, potentially yielding 10%-15% higher returns than a standard cash offer.
Locations: Throughout Florida
Closing costs: You pay no closing costs; FL Cash Home Buyers covers them.
FL Cash Home Buyers boasts an impressive reputation with a substantial 123 Google reviews, resulting in an impressive average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. The company has been BBB accredited since 2015 and holds an A+ rating. Notably, customers have expressed satisfaction with the expedited and uncomplicated nature of the closing process, a sentiment that holds true even in the face of challenging situations.
Website: floridacashhomebuyers.com/st-petersburg
Phone number: 954-519-7040
Why sell your St. Petersburg house for cash?
There are plenty of valid reasons a St. Petersburg home seller may choose to work with a Cash-For-Homes company. Leading the list are the benefits of speed, certainty, and remarkable convenience.
In St. Petersburg, it typically takes around 69 days to sell a home on the market using an agent. That includes an average of 26 days on the market, plus the typical 43 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 St. Petersburg, and it’s clear why these We Buy Houses groups are an attractive option, even though they don’t always offer top dollar for the homes they purchase.
Let’s take a quick look at some common scenarios that might make selling to a house-buying company in St. Petersburg a good choice:
- Financial distress: Your home’s mortgage is becoming a financial burden, and selling quickly for cash can provide relief.
- Job relocation: You’ve landed a new job in another city or state and need a rapid sale to facilitate your move.
- Avoiding foreclosure: Before your credit takes a severe hit, selling for cash can help you settle lender debts.
- Inherited property: You’ve inherited a St. Petersburg home and want an uncomplicated way to offload it without the traditional sales hassles.
- Tenancy troubles: Managing rental property is no longer appealing, especially if dealing with problematic tenants.
- Property conditions: Your home requires substantial repairs, and you’d rather not invest time or money before selling.
- Elderly transition: You or a family member are downsizing or transitioning to assisted living, and a swift sale is preferable to fund and facilitate the move.
- Divorce settlements: Splitting assets can be smoother with a quick home sale, helping both parties move on.
- Privacy preference: You favor a discreet sale without public listings, showings, or open houses.
- Out-of-state homeowner: Managing a St. Petersburg property sale from afar feels daunting, and a cash deal offers simplicity.
For homeowners in these situations, the allure of a fast, cash sale is undeniable. But, before diving in, it’s important to review the pros and cons and explore all your options.
Pros and cons of house-buying companies in St. Petersburg
House-buying companies in St. Petersburg can be both a boon and a bane. It largely depends on your specific circumstances and priorities. Below are some of the key advantages and drawbacks of working with such companies.
Pros
For many, the tallest upsides of house-buying companies in St. Petersburg lie in their promise of speed and their willingness to buy properties as-is, eliminating the need for costly repairs or intensive preparations. Here are the standout benefits:
- Speed: One of the major advantages is the swift transaction process. Often, you can close within days or weeks instead of months.
- No repairs needed: Regardless of your home’s condition, these companies will buy it, saving you time and money on renovations or fixes.
- Simple process: Bypassing the complexities of traditional real estate deals, you deal directly with the buyer, making transactions smoother.
- No commissions or fees: These companies don’t require commissions, and often cover all the closing costs, saving you potential expenses.
Cons
While the Cash-For Homes business model is fast and streamlined, you will likely not get the best bang for your real estate buck. The most notable drawback is that you will likely receive less than market value for your property.
- Below market value: Generally, offers from these companies tend to be lower than what you might get on the open market with an experienced agent.
- Less negotiation and competition: With a fixed offer in hand, there’s typically less room for price negotiation. You also forfeit the opportunity of starting a bidding war that can happen with a traditional sale.
- Potential for pressure: Some house-buying outfits may prey on your urgent situation, leading to pressure tactics or unfavorable deals.
- Potential for scams: As with all industries, there is a risk of being targeted in a scam. Ensure you’re dealing with a reputable company.
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
While house-buying companies in St. Petersburg offer a convenient and rapid solution for your selling needs, it’s essential to remember that the integrity and service levels can differ vastly from one company to the next. Your experience will largely hinge on the character and professionalism of the individual or group presenting the offer.
Before you commit to any cash offer, vet the company meticulously. Dive into online reviews, sift through testimonials, and investigate their market presence and track record. Knowledge is your ally. Moreover, always make sure to read the fine print in the buying agreement. Understand every clause, term, and implication before making a commitment.
HomeLight suggests you consult with an experienced St. Petersburg 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 local 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 St. Petersburg home quickly
iBuyers
National iBuyers (instant buyers), like Opendoor and Offerpad, offer a mostly online, quick home sale experience through automated valuation models. These models rapidly estimate home values using current and past market data. Generally, iBuyers provide all-cash offers closer to market value for homes in decent condition, with the entire process taking as little as a few days to two weeks. However, keep in mind they charge service fees, typically around 5%-6%.
Listing with an agent
Though it might seem counterintuitive in a discussion about rapid sales, listing with a top St. Petersburg real estate agent can be swift, especially in seller-friendly markets. A well-priced, strategically marketed property can sell fast. HomeLight data shows that the top 5% of agents sell homes for up to 10% more than average agents.
Beyond potential profits, agents offer a comparative market analysis (CMA). This report evaluates your home against recently sold similar properties, guiding your pricing decision and sale speed prediction. Many agents offer a CMA for free.
Moreover, some agents might link you with cash buyers offering a price nearer to your home’s market value. Considering an agent? HomeLight can connect you with St. Petersburg’s best.
FAQs on St. Petersburg house-buying companies
By and large, most We Buy Houses for Cash companies in St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg Bungalow-style home could sell for $450,000 after repairs, but it’s going to need $45,000 of work to get there.
($450,000 x .70) – $45,000 = $270,000
In this example, a St. Petersburg We Buy Houses company might offer you around $270,000 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 St. Petersburg We Buy Houses for Cash company, you will likely be coming to grips with a two-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.
- Research and vet the house-buying companies that serve your St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg vs. top St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg | Sell with a top Realtor in St. Petersburg |
| Selling timeline | 7 to 30 days | 69 days average; 26 to attract an offer, 43 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 St. Petersburg is currently worth about $420,000 and needs about $50,000 in repairs. Once the repairs are completed, the home might be worth around $470,000.
| Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in St. Petersburg | Sell with a top Realtor in St. Petersburg | |
| Estimated sale price | ($470,000 x .70) – $50,000 = $279,000 | $420,000 |
| Market preparations | 0 | $4,200 (1% of sale price) |
| Agent commissions | 0 | $24,360 (5.8% of sale price) |
| Closing costs | 0 | $6,300 (1.5%) |
| Estimated take-home for seller | $279,000 | $385,140 |
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 St. Petersburg 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: Cash-For-Homes companies in St. Petersburg offer a rapid sale process, freeing you from the hassle of traditional listings.
- Sell your house as-is: You can avoid repair and preparation costs. These companies buy your home regardless of its condition.
- Below market offers: These companies typically offer less than what you might receive on the open market with a seasoned real estate agent.
- Know your home’s worth: Always be informed about your home’s market value. This ensures you’re getting a fair deal, whether selling to a cash buyer or through an agent.
- Alternative options: From iBuyers to traditional real estate agents, there are multiple routes to selling your home quickly in St. Petersburg.
As you contemplate selling to a St. Petersburg Cash-For-Homes company, it’s prudent to gather multiple offers and carefully weigh your options. Taking a step back to consider all avenues can ensure you make the best decision for your unique situation.
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 St. Petersburg agent.
Header Image Source: (felixtm/ Depositphotos)
