Are Cash Offers Better for Sellers?

Getting ready to sell your home? No matter the listing price, you may find yourself getting at least one cash offer. In February 2024, 33% of home buyers (including real estate investors) financed their purchases with cash, according to the National Association of Realtors.

But are cash offers better for home sellers? That depends on the offer — and the seller.

If you're looking to sell your house fast or don't want to deal with contingencies, a cash offer may be ideal for you. But if you might need more time to find a new home or want to be sure you're maximizing your profits, you could be better off with a mortgaged buyer. It really comes down to the details of the offer, not just where the buyer's getting their funds.

Who buys a house with cash?

Traditionally, cash buyers tend to be concentrated at either extreme of the housing market.

On the low end, they’d pay a low price for a home that might not qualify for a mortgage due to condition, price or both. On the high end, some people buy houses with cash just by virtue of being wealthy. Across the board, cash buyers could include:

• Homebuying companies or franchises.

• Local house flippers.

• iBuyers.

• Investors looking for rental properties.

• Individuals with equity from a prior home sale, such as retirees downsizing or people moving from a high-cost-of-living area to a more affordable one.

Pro tip: When reviewing potential buyers’ offers, consider their history of working with cash. If you get a cash offer from a buyer who's more or less a “regular,” — as in, they’ve bought numerous houses with cash before — it may go more smoothly than if you're working with a first-time cash buyer. Tasks like getting a purchase contract drawn up and securing title insurance are nothing new for regulars.

» MORE: Buying a house in today's market