We Buy Houses Washington: 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.
Fast facts about We Buy Houses companies in Washington:
- Your home will sell quickly: House-buying companies offer a fast, hassle-free sale, often closing within a week.
- It’s an “as-is” purchase: This means you can sell your home without making repairs or preparing it for showings.
- Cash offers are below market value: WBH companies pay less than market value for your property in exchange for a fast sale.
If you need to sell your Washington home fast, a We Buy Houses company might be the answer you’re looking for. These companies offer all-cash deals for homes, even ones needing extensive repairs
Selling to a cash-for-homes company is great for urgent situations like financial difficulties, relocation, or inherited property. They offer a fast, convenient way to sell your home and get the proceeds quickly, avoiding market delays.
This post will discuss the pros and cons of working with house-buying companies in Washington. We will provide you with a list of companies that will buy your property, give you insight into 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 to and mentions of Washington area “We Buy Houses” companies should not be considered endorsements.
Working with house-buying companies in Washington
Here’s a step-by-step overview of what’s involved when you sell your home for cash to help you understand what to expect.
- Contact a house-buying company: Find a reputable cash-for-homes company in Washington and tell them you’d like to sell your home.
- Schedule a home evaluation: Arrange for a representative to visit your property and assess its condition to determine the cash offer.
- Receive a cash offer: After evaluating your home, the company will present you with a no-obligation, all-cash offer, often within 24-48 hours.
- Review the offer: Take the time to carefully review the terms and conditions of the offer to ensure it meets your needs and expectations.
- Accept the offer: If you’re satisfied with the offer, sign the agreement to proceed with the sale.
- Close the sale: Complete the necessary paperwork and close the sale, often within a few days, allowing you to receive your cash payment quickly.
Popular We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Washington
If the process of selling to a house-buying company in Washington 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’ Colonial or Contemporary home. By selling to one of these companies, you should be able to sell your Washington home in as little as a week or two.
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.
Locations: All over 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
Simple Sale (a HomeLight platform)
Simple Sale, a solution from HomeLight, is an online platform where sellers in Washington (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 Washington.
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 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 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
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: Several 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. Reviews recommended for anyone seeking a fast and respectful home-selling experience.
Website: kindhousebuyers.com
Phone number: 253-216-2497
Highest Offer Real Estate
Highest Offer Real Estate is a real estate brokerage and investment company based in Tacoma. 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: 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
NW Home Buy
NW Home Buy, established in 2005, prides itself on integrity, transparency, and professionalism, aiming to provide homeowners with optimal solutions tailored to their needs.
Locations: Greater Seattle and Eastside Washington area
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; NW Home Buy covers them.
NW Home Buy has been BBB accredited since 2023 and holds an A+ BBB grade rating. Clients consistently praise NW Home Buy for their exceptional client-oriented service and commitment.. They have a Google review rating of 4.8.
Website: nwhomebuy.com
Phone number: 206-203-1064
Why sell your Washington house for cash?
There are plenty of valid reasons a Washington home seller may choose to work with a Cash-For-Homes company. Speed and convenience are some of the primary factors, especially when compared to selling on the traditional market.
In Washington, it typically takes around 76 days to sell a home on the market using an agent. That includes an average of 33 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 Washington, 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 common scenarios where this might be the right choice for you.
- Job relocation: You need to move quickly for a new job relocation and can’t wait for the traditional home sale process.
- Divorce: You’re going through a divorce and want to sell the house quickly to move on with your life.
- Inherited: You’ve inherited a property and want to sell it without the hassle of repairs or finding a real estate agent.
- Downsizing: You’re ready to downsize and prefer a fast sale to free up funds for your next move.
- Repairs: Your home needs extensive repairs that you can’t afford or don’t want to deal with.
- Open houses: You prefer to avoid the stress and intrusion of preparing your home for multiple open houses and showings.
- Foundation: Your home has major issues, such as foundation problems, that make it difficult to sell on the open market.
- Foreclosure: You’re facing foreclosure and need to sell your home quickly to settle your debts.
- Tenants: You own a rental property with tenants, and selling to a cash buyer is simpler than coordinating with tenants for showings.
- Selling from out of state: You’re selling from out of state and want the convenience of a quick, hassle-free sale.
Pros and cons of house-buying companies in Washington
When considering selling your Washington home to a house-buying company, it’s essential to weigh the pros and cons.
A house-buying company lets you make a fast sale and will buy your house in any condition without needing repairs or preparations. Here are some key benefits:
- Speedy process: Cash transactions can be completed quickly, often within a week, providing fast relief for sellers in urgent situations.
- As-is condition: These companies purchase homes as-is, eliminating the need for you to make costly repairs or improvements.
- No contingencies: Sales typically don’t include contingencies, reducing the risk of the deal falling through.
- Convenience: The process is straightforward, with minimal paperwork and no need for staging or showings.
While these companies offer several advantages, there are also some drawbacks to consider. The most significant is that a house-buying company in Washington will likely offer you below market value for your home compared to selling on the market with an experienced real estate agent.
- Lower offers: Cash offers are typically below market value, meaning you may receive less money than if you sold traditionally.
- Potential for scams: Some unscrupulous buyers may take advantage of desperate sellers. It’s crucial to avoid scams.
- Lack of competition: Selling to a single buyer doesn’t create competition, which can drive up your home’s sale price.
- Limited negotiation: These companies often present take-it-or-leave-it offers, leaving little room for negotiation.
Vet cash buyers and know your home’s worth
When working with a house-buying company in Washington, it’s important to watch for potential scams. Here are some brief guidelines to follow:
- Check reviews: Look for reviews and ratings online to see what other sellers have experienced.
- Read testimonials: Pay attention to testimonials from past clients to gauge satisfaction and service quality.
- Research market presence: Investigate the company’s presence and performance in the market to ensure stability and reliability.
- Verify credentials: Confirm that the company is licensed and has a track record of successful transactions.
- Read the agreement carefully: Before signing, make sure you understand all terms and conditions in the buying agreement.
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 Washington home quickly
If you’re looking to sell your Washington home quickly, here are a few other options to consider:
- iBuyers: iBuyers use automated valuation models to provide near-instant cash offers for homes in good condition. The iBuyer process is fast, taking a few days to two weeks, but comes with service fees of 5%-6%. Examples include Opendoor and Offerpad.
- Listing with an agent: Selling with a top real estate agent can yield a higher price, even in a fast sale. Agents provide valuable services like a comparative market analysis (CMA), often free, to help price your home accurately. HomeLight can connect you with top-performing agents in your area.
FAQs on Washington house-buying companies
By and large, most We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington Contemporary house could sell for $550,000 after repairs, but it will need $30,000 of work to get there.
($550,000 x .70) – $30,000 = $355,000
In this example, a Washington We Buy Houses company might offer you around $355,000 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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington vs. top Washington 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 Washington | Sell with a top Realtor in Washington |
Selling timeline | 7 to 30 days | 76 days average; 33 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 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 Washington is worth about $550,000 and needs about $25,000 in repairs. Once the repairs are completed, the home might be worth around $575,000.
Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Washington | Sell with a top Realtor in Washington | |
Estimated sale price | ($575,000 x .70) – $25,000 = $307,500 | $550,000 |
Market preparations | 0 | $5,500 (1% of sale price) |
Agent commissions | 0 | $31,900 (5.8% of sale price) |
Closing costs | 0 | $8,250 (1.5%) |
Estimated take-home for seller | $377,500 | $504,350 |
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.
Ready to sell your Washington home for cash?
Remember, you should always be aware of your property’s estimated market value before you proceed with a cash-offer company.
At HomeLight, we’re happy to help you navigate 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 Washington agent.
Header Image Source: (Zac Gudakov / Unsplash)