How Selling Your House for Cash Works in California
Quick Answer
Selling your house for cash in California with Quick Home Offers® takes four steps: tell us about its condition and features, get a no-obligation offer, pick a closing date, and close. Once you accept, escrow holds the deed and the money until closing, and we cover the seller’s closing costs. Most of our sales close in 7 to 30 days, but the closing date is up to you.
300+
Transactions Closed
Across California since 2013
1 Business Day
To a Cash Offer
Cash offer within 1 business day
Owner-Reviewed
Every Cash Offer
Reviewed by Adam or Josh Justiniano, never by an algorithm
Direct Buyer
Not an Agent
No real estate commissions or seller fees
Speak directly with co-founder Adam Justiniano
No call centers. No automated offer algorithms. Close on the date that works for you.
How Do You Get a Cash Offer From Quick Home Offers®?
You tell us about the house and your situation, and we send you a written cash offer within 1 business day. There is no cost to ask, and you do not have to accept the offer. If you do, you pick the closing date and the sale goes into escrow.
Step 1: Tell Us About Your Property
The first step is telling us about the house and your situation. It takes a few minutes by phone, text or our online form.
- Reach out: Call or text us at 805-870-5749, or fill out the form on this page with the address.
- Describe the house: Tell us about its condition and features, and any repairs it needs.
- Share your timeline: Tell us when you want to sell. Let us know about anything that makes it hard, like repairs, tenants or probate.
- What we buy: Houses, apartment buildings and land in California.
Step 2: Get Your Fair, No-Obligation Cash Offer
Next, we review the house and send you a written cash offer within 1 business day. You do not have to accept it.
- Property review: We look at the details you shared and recent sales of similar homes nearby.
- Photos or a visit: If we haven’t seen the house yet, we may ask for photos and a few details about its condition. For some homes, we visit before we make an offer.
- Your choice: You get your offer, and it’s up to you if you’d like to accept or take another route.
What this can mean for you: You can learn what your house could sell for without listing it, fixing it or signing anything.
What Happens After You Accept a Cash Offer in California?
After you accept a cash offer in California, the sale goes into escrow. Escrow ends when the escrow holder pays off what is owed, records the deed with the county and sends you the rest. Your role here is mostly signing paperwork.
Step 3: You Choose the Closing Date
Once you accept, you pick the closing date and the sale goes into escrow. This is where most of the work happens, and escrow and the title company do most of it.
- Sign the agreement: You and Quick Home Offers® sign the purchase agreement, which sets the price and your closing date. Nothing binds you until you sign. We go through our one-page agreement with you, and you can always have an attorney look it over.
- Escrow opens: A neutral escrow holder gets the signed agreement and opens a file for the sale. Quick Home Offers® pays both sides of escrow and title fees.
- Title search: The title company checks county records for the mortgage, liens and anything else tied to the house. 1 in 4 of the properties we have taken on had a lien beyond the mortgage. In nearly every case, the lien was paid through escrow and the seller did not have to come out of pocket for it.
- Disclosures: Most sellers fill out California’s Transfer Disclosure Statement based on what they know about the house. Some sales by an estate or a trust don’t need one, and escrow or your attorney can tell you if yours does. If your sale needs one, we give you the blank form. You fill it out yourself.
- Property visit: If we haven’t seen the house in person yet, someone from our side visits during escrow. Someone from our team, or someone we work with, sees every property in person before closing. Our price adjusts only if our in-person visit finds something material that was not disclosed in our earlier conversations about the property. For example, a roof leak, unsafe wiring, or a heater or AC that does not work.
- Moving out: Take what you want to keep. Leave behind whatever you don’t want to take. We take care of what is left. Moving help is available to every seller, including tenants.
- Tenants: If your house has tenants, tell us early. We talk with your tenants during escrow, so you do not have to. We may offer them money to help them move out before closing, and any move is their choice. Learn more about selling a house with tenants in California.
Step 4: Close and Get Paid
You sign the final papers, and escrow records the deed with the county recorder. Some counties offer same-day recording and others do not, so recording can take up to 1 business day. After recording, escrow pays you by wire or check, whichever you choose.
- Signing: You sign the deed and the closing papers. About half of our transactions closed remotely; out-of-state sellers welcome.
- Payout: Escrow pays off the mortgage and liens from the sale and sends you the rest.
- Closing costs and timing: We cover the seller’s closing costs. You can close in as little as 7 days, and most of our sales close in 7 to 30 days.
- Staying after closing: Quick Home Offers® can offer a lease-back of up to 29 days after closing.
How Does Staying in the House After Closing Work?
If you need more time to move, Quick Home Offers® can offer a lease-back of up to 29 days after closing. You close and get paid on closing day, then keep living in the house while you pack. Escrow holds back part of your proceeds until you move out, then releases the rest to you.
- Plan ahead: If you want to stay after closing, tell us early. Then the lease-back and the holdback can go into the agreement.
- Who qualifies: It depends on the house and your situation. A house that is not safe to live in may not qualify.
- The holdback: The amount held back covers damages if you stay past the date you agreed to.
- Moving out: Take what you want to keep. Leave behind whatever you don’t want to take. We take care of what is left.
- Getting the rest of your money: Escrow sends you the rest once you move out and the house is in the condition we agreed on.
What this can mean for you: Quick Home Offers® has closed 300+ transactions since 2013, and about half of them closed remotely. If you live out of state or can’t get to an escrow office, the steps still work the same way.
Ready to see what your house could sell for?
Call or text 805-870-5749, or fill out the form on this page for a written cash offer within 1 business day.
"*" indicates required fields
What Does Escrow Do When You Sell Your House for Cash?
In escrow, a third party holds the deed, the money and the paperwork until the conditions of the sale are met. When the conditions are met, escrow records the deed and pays you. Neither you nor the buyer can change the escrow instructions alone.
Who Runs Escrow in California?
Escrow in California is run by a company or person the law allows. Most escrow companies need a license from the state. That license comes from the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI). Title companies, lawyers and real estate brokers can also run escrow. You can ask the escrow officer which type yours is. The California Department of Real Estate explains each type in its escrow guide.
What Does an Escrow Officer Do in a California Home Sale?
An escrow officer follows the written instructions that both sides sign. The officer works with the title company and asks lenders and lien holders how much is owed. The officer also gets your signatures and sends the deed to the county recorder. The officer does not take sides or settle disagreements.
Here is a basic example of how escrow pays off debts. Say a seller owes back property taxes and has a mortgage. Escrow asks each one for a payoff amount, pays both from the sale price on closing day, and sends the seller what is left. This is a made-up example to show the process. We are not lawyers.
What this can mean for you: Your payout is the sale price minus your mortgage and any liens, because we cover the seller’s closing costs. If your home is listed with an agent, you pay your own agent’s fees.
What Does the Title Company Check When You Sell Your House?
Before closing, the title company checks county records to confirm who owns the house and what is tied to it. It looks for the mortgage, liens, unpaid property taxes and other claims. Anything owed is usually paid from the sale through escrow, so the buyer gets clear title and you get paid.
- Title report: Early in escrow, the title company sends a report called a preliminary title report. It lists the owners and anything recorded against the house.
- Who has to sign: Everyone listed as an owner usually has to sign. If an owner can’t sign, the title company may accept a power of attorney. If the owner has died, it will ask for papers that show who has the right to sell, like a death certificate, court papers or trust documents. Learn more about selling an inherited house in California.
- Liens: Most liens, like back taxes or a judgment, are paid from the sale through escrow. Learn more about selling a house with liens in California.
- Fixing problems: Sometimes the report shows a problem, like an old loan that was paid off but never cleared from the records, or a name that does not match. Escrow and the title company work to fix it before closing.
- Title insurance: At closing, the title company insures the buyer’s title. This protects the buyer if an old problem shows up later.
What this can mean for you: We pay both sides of escrow and title fees, so the title check costs you nothing.
How Long Does It Take to Close a Cash Sale in California?
Most of our sales close in 7 to 30 days, and you can close in as little as 7 days. You pick the closing date, so you can take longer if you need to. A few things can add time, like a judge’s approval in probate, a title problem or tenants living in the house.
- Probate approval: If a judge has to approve the sale, closing waits for that approval.
- Title problems: Fixing an old loan record or a name that does not match can take extra time.
- Tenants: If the house has tenants, it can take extra time to work with them on access and moving out before closing.
- Signatures: If the owners live in different places, getting everyone to sign can take a few extra days.
- Your move: If you need more time, you can pick a later closing date or ask about staying after closing.
Can a Seller Back Out After Accepting a Cash Offer in California?
Accepting an offer and signing a contract are not the same. Before you sign, you can say no to any offer. Once you sign a purchase agreement, it is a binding contract in California, and whether you can cancel depends on what it says. Both sides can also agree in writing to cancel.
Many agreements already say what happens if the buyer misses the closing date. If your sale depends on something else, like buying another house first, you can ask to have it written into the agreement before you sign.
What Happens if the Buyer Breaks the Contract?
Many purchase agreements include a deposit from the buyer, often called earnest money. They also say what happens to it. If the buyer breaks the agreement, you may be able to keep that deposit. Under California law, that clause only counts if both sides sign or initial it separately. It depends on what your agreement says, so talk with a California real estate attorney.
What this can mean for you: Agreements are generally binding. Talking through your needs ahead of time lets everyone plan around your situation and put it in writing.
This is general information, not legal advice. For help with your situation, talk with a California real estate attorney.
Can You Leave Furniture and Belongings Behind When You Sell for Cash?
Yes. When you sell to Quick Home Offers®, you can leave furniture, appliances, clothes, boxes and tools in the house. Leave behind whatever you don’t want to take. We take care of what is left. Depending on what it is, we donate it, recycle it or haul it to the dump.
Take anything you want to keep before closing, or before your lease-back ends if you have one.
What Stays With the House When You Sell?
Things permanently attached to the house, like built-in appliances, light fixtures and ceiling fans, usually go with the sale. Furniture and other loose items are yours to take or leave. If there is an attached item you want to keep, like a chandelier, we can write that into the agreement.
What Should You Take Before You Leave a Family Member’s House?
You do not have to sort the whole house before you sell. Before you leave, look for papers you may need later, like a will, deeds, tax returns and bank statements. Family photos and keepsakes are easy to miss in a full house, so check closets and drawers.
If we find something of yours while we work on the house, we will get it back to you. For example, if a package arrives after you move out, we will mail it to you.
What this can mean for you: You can skip the yard sale, the donation runs and the dump trips. Pack what matters to you and leave the rest.
Is Selling Your House for Cash the Right Choice for You?
Selling for cash usually makes the most sense when the house needs work, you are short on time, or your situation is complicated. If your house is in good shape and you are not in a hurry, listing it with an agent will usually net you more. We will tell you which one fits your situation.
When Is a Cash Sale Usually a Good Fit?
- Needs repairs: The house needs work you can’t or don’t want to pay for.
- Inherited: You inherited the house and don’t want to manage it or fix it up.
- Tenants: The house has tenants, and you want to sell without handling their move-out yourself.
- Liens or back taxes: There are liens or unpaid property taxes on the house.
- Code violations: The city has cited the house, or it has unpermitted work.
- Fire damage: The house was damaged by fire.
- Foreclosure: You are behind on payments and running out of time.
- Out of state: You live far away and can’t be there to manage a sale.
- Privacy: You don’t want a parade of people walking through your house before you get an offer.
When Is Listing With an Agent Usually Better?
- Your house is updated and you have time: The roof, plumbing, wiring and heating all work. A house like that will usually sell for more on the open market.
- You can do the work yourself: You have the money, time and skills to fix it up first. Then you will usually get a higher price.
- You don’t mind showings: Open houses and buyers walking through the house are fine with you.
What this can mean for you: If listing makes more sense for your house, we will say so and point you to an agent. Call or text 805-870-5749, and we can talk through both options.
Frequently Asked Questions About Selling Your House for Cash
How fast do I get paid after closing?
Escrow pays you after the deed is recorded with the county. Some counties offer same-day recording and others do not, so recording can take up to 1 business day. You choose how you get paid: a bank wire or a mailed check.
Will I still owe property taxes after I sell?
Usually not. Escrow splits the property taxes for the year between you and the buyer at closing. You pay only for the time you owned the house. If you already paid ahead, you get credit for the part that covers time after closing. You will see these numbers on your closing statement.
When should I cancel my utilities and home insurance?
Cancel your utilities and home insurance once escrow tells you the sale has closed. If you are staying in the house on a lease-back, keep the utilities on until you move out. Ask your insurance agent how to cover your belongings while you stay, since you will no longer own the house.
What happens to the money in my mortgage escrow account?
Your lender sends it back. This is the account your lender used to pay your property taxes and insurance. Federal rules say the loan servicer must return what is left within 20 business days after the loan is paid off. Your loan is paid off at closing, so watch for that refund in the weeks after.
Will I owe taxes when I sell my house for cash?
It depends on your gain, not on the cash. If the house was your main home and you owned and lived in it for at least 2 of the last 5 years, you may be able to exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or up to $500,000 if you file jointly with your spouse. Talk with your CPA.
Do I owe taxes if I sell a house I inherited?
Often less than people expect. For most inherited homes, your starting value for taxes is the home’s fair market value on the date the owner died, not what they paid for it. If you sell for about that value, there may be little or no gain to tax. Your CPA can check your numbers.
Will escrow hold back money for California taxes?
Sometimes. California can require part of the sale price to be held back for state income tax and sent to the Franchise Tax Board. It is not required when the house was last used as your main home, when you have no gain, or when the price is $100,000 or less. You certify this on FTB Form 593.
Will I get a 1099-S after the sale?
Usually, yes. The escrow or title company reports most home sales to the IRS on Form 1099-S. It can skip the form if the price is $250,000 or less ($500,000 if you are married), the house was your main home, and you certify that all of your gain is tax-free. Keep the form with your tax records.
Can you sell your house for cash while it is in probate?
Yes, but probate can add a step after you accept. Depending on the executor’s authority, the sale may need a judge’s approval before it can close. About 1 in 3 of the properties we have taken on were inherited or in probate. Learn more about selling an inherited house in California.
This is general information, not tax or legal advice. For help with your situation, talk with a CPA, tax professional or California real estate attorney.
Quick Home Offers® is run by brothers Adam and Josh Justiniano. Since 2013, we have closed 300+ transactions in California. Want to learn more about the team and our experience? Meet the team behind Quick Home Offers®.
See what we can offer you for your house…