Disclaimer: This post is meant to be used for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Links and mentions of Berkeley area “we buy houses” companies should not be considered an endorsement. Individual program details frequently change — please visit a company’s website for the most up-to-date information on each program’s fees, market coverage, business model, and more. HomeLight always recommends doing your own research to determine which selling option is best for your situation. We Buy Houses companies in Berkeley make all-cash offers for homes that often need some work, enabling 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 the company you worked for is downsizing, or you’ve landed a new job in another city and the employer needs you to start right away. Maybe you’re facing a financial deadline or an unexpected life change and need to move right away. Or it could be that you need to cash out an inherited Berkeley property to settle an estate. If you need to sell your Berkeley 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 a Berkley house-buying company might offer for your home and weigh 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. We Buy Houses companies in Berkeley 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 how the process generally works: If these benefits of selling to a house-buying company in Berkeley 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 Mediterranean or bungalow. By selling to one of these companies, you should be able to sell your Berkeley home in as little as a week or two. Website: brothersbuyhomes.com
Phone number: 415-877-5818
Locations: Bay Area (including Berkeley), Sacramento, and Los Angeles Brothers Buy Homes will purchase homes in any condition in several California counties including Alameda County, where Berkeley is located. Their process includes receiving details from the seller about their home in order to make a no-obligation cash offer. They don’t require repairs prior to the sale. When assessing a property they will consider the location, cost of the needed repairs, and the value of the surrounding properties. It may be possible to sell within seven days, depending on the home seller’s situation. Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Brothers Buy Homes covers them. Reviews: Since March 29, 2021, Brothers Buy Homes has been BBB accredited with an A- rating. Customer reviews for Brothers Buy Homes speak to a helpful and smooth process. Reviewers express how the company’s expertise and reliability make the home-selling process easier. Contact information: homelight.com/simple
Phone: 844-488-8455
Locations: Nationwide, including Berkeley Simple Sale, a solution from HomeLight, is an online platform where sellers in Berkeley (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 Berkeley. With Simple Sale, you can get an all-cash offer within five days and sell your home in as little as 10 days, skipping the months it can take to sell the traditional way. Closing costs: No prep costs, no agent commissions, and no fees charged by HomeLight. Individual investor fees may vary. Reviews: 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. Website: webuypropertiesinbayarea.com
Phone number: 415-895-0468
Locations: Bay Area (including Berkeley), San Francisco We Buy Properties in the Bay Area specializes in buying houses for cash in all types of conditions to help homeowners who are experiencing challenges such as sudden relocation, divorce, or bereavement. Their process includes getting the initial information about the seller’s property and doing a market analysis. Then they arrange an appointment with the seller to answer their questions and make a formal offer. This transaction may take 14 to 21 days. Generally, once the company owns the property, it will either make repairs for resale or rent the home out to a new tenant. Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; We Buy Properties in the Bay Area covers them. Reviews: Since March 29, 2021, We Buy Properties in the Bay Area has been BBB accredited with an A+ rating. Google customer reviews for We Buy Properties in the Bay Area speak to the company being professional and organized. Reviewers express how the process was hassle-free and no repairs or cleanup was necessary. Website: homevestors.com/california
Phone number: 877-268-3167
Locations: Bay Area (including Berkeley), San Francisco, California, and nationwide Since 1996, HomeVestors has purchased houses for cash in “as is” condition to help homeowners who may be facing potential issues such as foreclosure, a job relocation, or divorce. Their process includes visiting the home in person, making a cash offer, and providing closing options, which can be as little as three weeks. HomeVestors has been known to buy different types of properties, including single-family homes, condos, townhouses, and duplexes. According to their website, they strive for an honest and transparent process without pressuring the seller to accept their offer. Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; HomeVestors covers them. Reviews: Since October 10, 2011, HomeVestors has been BBB accredited with an A+ rating. Customer reviews for HomeVestors speak to being a professional and smooth process. They express HomeVestor representatives as being courteous, accommodating, and respectful. Website: webuyhouses.com
Phone number: 877-932-8946
Locations: Nationwide, including Berkeley Founded in 1997, WeBuyHouses.com will buy homes in as-is condition. The company has served over 1 million homeowners, according to its website. They typically help sellers who are facing difficult financial situations such as foreclosure or have problem tenants. Their home-buying process is to receive property details from the homeowner, conduct a market analysis, and visit the home in person. Usually, within 24 to 48 hours after their tour, they will offer a no-obligation cash offer. Once their offer is accepted, it typically takes between seven to 14 days to close the sale. Note: Because “We Buy Houses” is no longer a trademarked term, be aware that not every company using “We Buy Houses” in their marketing or name is associated with WeBuyHouses.com. Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; WeBuyHouses.com covers them. Reviews: WeBuyHouses.com is BBB accredited since April 2017, and has an A rating. Positive customer reviews for WeBuyHouses.com speak to their stress-free, fast, and fair offers. Reviewers express how WeBuyHouses.com representatives showed top-notch professionalism, kept their promises, and were prompt. There are plenty of valid reasons a Berkeley 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 Berkeley and the Bay Area, it typically takes around 78 days to sell a home on the market using an agent. That includes 33 days to get a signed offer, 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 Berkeley, 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. These companies are growing in popularity, especially for sellers who do not have the typically required long weeks or months to prepare, market, and close on a traditional home sale. Let’s look at some of the most common reasons Berkeley sellers decide to use a We Buy Houses for Cash company over listing a property the traditional way. 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. At this point, you’ve probably noticed that We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Berkeley can trigger a mixed bag of thoughts that can be difficult to sort. You may like the idea of speed and convenience, but you might be having trouble balancing these with the premium you might pay for a cash-offer service. In this next section, we’ll walk you through some of the pros and cons of using a We Buy Houses company so you can better weigh your options. One of the biggest advantages of working with We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Berkeley 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: That all may sound pretty great to you as a seller if you’re looking to move within weeks rather than the months it might take you to list and sell your home on the market with an agent. However, there are downsides to working with Cash-For-Homes companies. Namely, they typically offer substantially below market value for your home. When considering an offer from a We Buy Houses site, remember that these are house-buying companies, which means they’re ultimately trying to make a profit. They plan to fix up your home and either resell it or rent it out. That takes considerable time, skill, and investment. Here are some potential downsides to weigh: 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. For many home sellers, We Buy Houses for Cash companies can be a solid solution to get a property sold quickly or to access 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. 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. You can also use HomeLight’s free Home Value Estimator right now to get an initial ballpark estimate in less than two minutes. Within the Cash-For-Homes industry, you’ll also encounter a particular group of companies known as iBuyers, or instant buyers. iBuyer companies offer sellers many of the same conveniences of other house-buying operations, but they also leverage automated valuation models (AVMs), which use algorithmic technology to apply historic and current market data to their estimates. AVMs allow iBuyers to make a near-instant offer on your home and provide a user-friendly, mostly online home sale experience. iBuyers have only been around since the mid-2010s, but are now widely available across California. iBuyers provide all-cash offers for homes and can close a sale in a matter of days to a few weeks. However, unlike typical We Buy Houses for Cash companies, iBuyers generally seek out homes that are in better condition and usually provide cash offers that are closer to market value, typically in the 90% range. iBuyer offers can sometimes be even higher, depending on the location and market conditions. When considering the iBuyer option, it’s important to note that major iBuyer companies like Opendoor and Offerpad typically charge sizable service fees that can range between 5% and 13%. Sellers who may be a good fit to work with an iBuyer in Berkeley include those who prefer to skip staging and showing their home, who live in an area with somewhat similar housing, and who have a home in relatively good shape. It might be surprising to see this agent option included in our story about Cash-For-Homes businesses. Most homeowners seeking information about house-buying companies want to sell a home quickly, not in 78 days. But it’s wise to consider all your options. If your home is in a housing market that’s seller-friendly, listing your property with a top real estate agent can result in a fast sale, especially if the house is strategically priced and superbly marketed. Depending on the property and local market conditions, using an agent could pay off. Selling on the market typically yields the highest selling price, even more so if you partner with a proven professional. HomeLight’s internal real estate transaction data shows that the top 5% of agents sell homes for up to 10% more than average agents. Another significant benefit of consulting with a trusted agent is the insight they can provide through a comparative market analysis (CMA). This is a market report that real estate agents provide to home sellers that acts as a tool to calculate the value of a home. The CMA evaluates a home’s size, features, location, age, and other details in relation to similar properties that have recently sold in the area. A CMA can help you determine an appropriate listing price, which can help estimate how quickly it might sell. In addition, an experienced agent who knows your market may even be able to connect you with buyers who are willing to provide you with a cash offer that’s closer to your home’s market value. Many agents will provide a CMA for free, with no obligation to list your home with them. It can be a valuable tool to weigh your options. If, in the end, you decide to sell to a house-buying company, you can proceed with more confidence, knowing you fully examined your options and made a sound financial decision. If you are interested in exploring the agent option, HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing real estate agent in your area today. 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 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 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 Berkeley Mediterranean house could sell for $1,300,000 after repairs, but it’s going to need $30,000 of work to get there. ($1,300,000 x .70) – $30,000 = $880,000 In this example, a Berkeley We Buy Houses company might offer you around $880,000 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 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. 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. 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 Mediterranean home in Berkeley is currently worth about $1,370.000 and needs about $65,000 in repairs. Once the repairs are completed, the home might be worth around $1,435,000. 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. House-buying companies can be a good alternative for Berkeley 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!Working with house-buying companies in Berkeley
Popular We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Berkeley
Brothers Buy Homes
Simple Sale (a HomeLight platform)
We Buy Properties in the Bay Area
HomeVestors
WeBuyHouses.com
Why sell your Berkeley house for cash?
Pros and cons of house-buying companies in Berkeley
Pros
Cons
Vet cash buyers and know your home’s worth
Other options to sell your home quickly
iBuyers
Listing with an agent
FAQs on Berkeley house-buying companies
Are We Buy Houses for Cash companies legit or scams?
How much will We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Berkeley pay?
How much does selling a home to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Berkeley cost?
How do you sell a house for cash in Berkeley?
We Buy Houses for Cash in Berkeley vs. top Berkeley agent
Aspect of the sale
Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Berkeley
Sell with a top Realtor in Berkeley
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
Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Berkeley
Sell with a top Realtor in Berkeley
Estimated sale price
($1,435,000 x .70) – $65,000 = $939,500
$1,370,000
Market preparations
0
$13,700 (1% of sale price)
Agent commissions
0
$79,460 (5.8% of sale price)
Closing costs
0
$20,550 (1.5%)
Estimated take-home for seller
$939,500
$1,256,290
Key takeaways
