5 Top We Buy Houses for Cash Companies in Tacoma
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Joseph Gordon Associate EditorJoseph Gordon is an Associate Editor with HomeLight. He has seven years of experience reporting on the commercial real estate and insurance industries. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of San Francisco.
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.
In Tacoma, homeowners needing to make a quick home sale can find a solution in We Buy Houses companies. These companies specialize in making all-cash offers, often for properties needing repairs, a boon for those short on time or resources for home improvements. If you’re dealing with a situation that requires an immediate sale, this guide is tailored for you.
A cash sale with a house-buying company in Tacoma can be straightforward, especially when traditional selling avenues seem daunting or time-consuming. These companies cater to various needs, from avoiding foreclosure to managing inherited properties, offering hassle-free processes.
This article will explore the intricacies of working with house-buying companies in Tacoma. We’ll dig into the advantages and challenges, providing a balanced view to help you make an informed decision.
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Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Links and mentions of Tacoma area “We Buy Houses” companies should not be considered an endorsement.
Working with house-buying companies in Tacoma
Selling your home in Tacoma to a house-buying company can be a seamless process, ideal for those needing a rapid transaction. Let’s break down the basic steps involved in this approach:
- Initial Contact: Reach out to the company to express your interest in selling your home.
- Home Assessment: The company evaluates your property, often considering its condition and market value.
- Receive an Offer: Based on their assessment, you’ll receive a cash offer for your home.
- Accept the Offer: If you’re satisfied, accept the offer to move forward.
- Complete Paperwork: Handle the necessary paperwork and legal formalities.
- Close the Deal: Finalize the sale and receive your cash payment.
Popular We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Tacoma
If the process of selling to a house-buying company in Tacoma sounds good to you, it’s time to find a legitimate operation you can trust.
We’ve compiled some top companies that will pay cash for you or your Bungalow or your parents’ Victorian home. By selling to one of these companies, you should be able to sell your Tacoma home in as little as a week or two.
Highest Offer Real Estate
Highest Offer Real Estate is a real estate brokerage and investment company based in Tacoma, WA. It offers homeowners the flexibility to sell their houses quickly for cash offers, regardless of the property’s condition or the seller’s situation.
Locations: Tacoma and surrounding areas in Washington.
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Highest Offer Real Estate covers them.
Highest Offer Real Estate holds a BBB accreditation of A+ and a 5.0 Google rating. Reviews praise the staff for their efficiency and knowledge in making home buying and selling seamless, solid communication, and a stress-free process.
Website: highestoffer.com
Phone number: 253-201-3000
Simple Sale (a HomeLight platform)
Simple Sale, a solution from HomeLight, is an online platform where sellers in Tacoma (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 in different locations throughout Tacoma, even those that need some or a lot of work.
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 Tacoma, Washington.
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 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: 844-488-8455
Kind House Buyers
Kind House Buyers was founded by CEO and Founder Keith Sant in 2018. They pride themselves on ethical practices, committing to the agreed-upon price without post-offer adjustments. Kind House Buyers offers fast closings within as little as 10 days.
Locations: Tacoma and surrounding areas in Washington.
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Kind House Buyers cover them.
Kind House Buyers holds a BBB accreditation rating of A+ and a 4.8 Google rating. Clients commend their transparency and knowledge. Keith and his team at Kind House Buyers are highly recommended for anyone seeking a fast and respectful home-selling experience.
Website: kindhousebuyers.com
Phone number: 253-216-2497
Know The Plan
Founded by a local family, Know The Plan offers an alternative to working with real estate agents for those wanting to sell their home quickly. The company prides itself on offering homeowners a straightforward and convenient solution.
Locations: Tacoma and surrounding areas in Washington.
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Know The Plan covers them.
Know The Plan, BBB accredited with an A+ rating, receives praise from Google reviewers, holding a 5.0 on Google reviews. Clients highlight their ability to act swiftly, facilitating quick sales even in challenging markets.
Website: knowtheplan.org
Phone number: 253-265-5153
253 Houses
253 Houses, a Pierce County-based real estate investment company, was founded in 2004. It purchases homes directly from property owners, offering fast transactions to sellers. The company focuses on helping property owners facing various situations sell their homes quickly.
Locations: Tacoma and surrounding areas in Washington.
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; 253 Houses cover them.
253 Houses, holds an A rating BBB accreditation and a 4.6 Google rating. Clients appreciate the clear communication, responsiveness, and honest guidance provided throughout the process, even in complex situations.
Website: 253houses.com
Phone number: 253-330-8228
Why sell your Tacoma house for cash?
There are plenty of valid reasons a Tacoma home seller may choose to work with a Cash-For-Homes company. The primary benefits are speed, sale certainty, and remarkable convenience.
In Tacoma, selling a home on the market typically takes around 78 days using an agent. That includes an average of 33 days on the market plus the typical 45 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 Tacoma, and it’s clear why these Cash-For-Homes groups are an attractive option, even though they don’t offer top dollar for the homes they purchase.
Opting for a cash sale in Tacoma has unique advantages, especially when circumstances demand a quick and uncomplicated home sale. Let’s explore some common scenarios where choosing a house-buying company might be the right fit:
- Significant Repairs Needed: If your home requires major repairs like roof or foundation work.
- Quick Cash Requirement: Ideal for urgent situations like a divorce, medical need, or financial strain.
- No Funds for Repairs: When you lack the resources for costly home improvements.
- Stress-Free Sale: Avoiding the hassle of traditional home selling processes like staging, showings, and open houses.
- Privacy Matters: Desiring a discreet, off-market sale.
- Foreclosure Avoidance: Settling debts quickly to prevent credit damage or foreclosure.
- Inherited Property: A convenient option for selling an inherited home.
- Landlord Issues: For landlords wanting to offload rental properties due to tenant fatigue.
- Elderly Relocation: Helpful for seniors relocating to care facilities because of downsizing.
- Out-of-State Owners: Beneficial for looking to sell a property while located in another state.
Pros and cons of house-buying companies in Tacoma
Using a house-buying company in Tacoma comes with its advantages and limitations. Here, we outline the key pros and cons to help you make a more informed decision:
Pros:
- Speed of Sale: Experience rapid transactions, often closing within days.
- No Repairs Needed: Sell your house as-is, without investing in renovations.
- Simplified Process: Avoid the complexities of the traditional selling route.
- Immediate Payment: Receive a quick cash payout without delays.
Cons:
- Lower Offers: Typically, receive less than market value for your property.
- Limited Negotiation: Offers are often non-negotiable.
- Fewer Options: Less room to explore different selling strategies.
- Potential for Scams: Be cautious of less reputable companies.
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
When considering a cash offer for your Tacoma home, it’s crucial to vet the house-buying company thoroughly. Research their reputation, read reviews, and understand their market presence. Always read the buying agreement carefully before signing. Knowing your home’s worth is also essential. Understand its market value to ensure the cash offer you receive is fair.
HomeLight suggests you consult with an experienced local agent to better understand 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 for an initial ballpark estimate in less than two minutes.
Other options to sell your Tacoma home quickly
Tacoma homeowners have other avenues for a quick sale. iBuyers and real estate agents offer alternative solutions, each with its unique benefits. iBuyers, short for instant buyers, provide a fast, mostly online process with near-market value offers for homes in good condition. On the other hand, selling through a real estate agent, especially in a seller-friendly market, can yield higher prices and professional insights. In short:
- iBuyers: Offer a fast, such as Offerpad or Opendoor, such as mostly online selling process with offers close to market value. Ideal for homes in good condition but often comes with service fees, usually around 5% to 6%.
- Listing with an Agent: While slower, it can yield higher selling prices, especially when paired with strategic pricing and effective marketing. Real estate agents can also provide valuable insights through a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), often for free.
FAQs on Tacoma house-buying companies
By and large, most We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Tacoma 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 it’s legit.
As with any financial transaction, it’s a good idea to be 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 Tacoma 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 look at an example offer equation. Let’s say your Tacoma Victorian home could sell for $450,000 after repairs, but it will need $30,000 of work to get there.
($450,000 x .70) – $30,000 = $285,000
In this example, a Tacoma We Buy Houses company might offer you around $285,000 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 Tacoma 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 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.
We Buy Houses for Cash in Tacoma vs. top Tacoma 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 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 Tacoma | Sell with a top Realtor in Tacoma |
| Selling timeline | 7 to 30 days | 78 days average; 33 to attract an offer, 45 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 Tacoma is currently worth about $450,000 and needs about $25,000 in repairs. Once the repairs are completed, the home might be worth around $475,000.
| Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Tacoma | Sell with a top Realtor in Tacoma | |
| Estimated sale price | ($475,000 x .70) – $25,000 = $307,500 | $450,000 |
| Market preparations | 0 | $4,500 (1% of sale price) |
| Agent commissions | 0 | $26,100 (5.8% of sale price) |
| Closing costs | 0 | $6,750 (1.5%) |
| Estimated take-home for seller | $307,500 | $412,650 |
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 challenging in your area, or the agent timeline might not fit your immediate needs.
Key takeaways
- Understand Your Options: Explore different selling methods before deciding.
- Vet Buyers Thoroughly: Ensure the credibility of the house-buying company.
- Know your home’s worth: Always be aware of your property’s estimated market value before you proceed with a cash-offer company.
- Seek Professional Advice: Consult a top Tacoma agent for market insights.
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 Tacoma agent.
Header Image Source: (Zayn Shah / Unsplash)
