We buy houses in California for cash. We put this guide together for anyone who wants to find a buyer for their California home. From start to finish, several important decisions must be made when you’re selling a home in California. Before you begin the process, it’s essential to understand the California real estate market and the state’s disclosure laws.
Once you have those under wraps, it’s time to consider how you want to sell, prepare your home for potential buyers, and decide how much you can negotiate.
If you’re looking for a hassle-free way to sell your home, Stars & Stripes buys homes for cash across Southern California.
Here is what to consider when looking for a buyer.
Buying a House in California – What’s the Market Like?
According to the Public Policy Institute of California, home values and rent in the state are among the most expensive in the country. When surveyed, 68% of residents say housing affordability is a serious issue. But how does this translate into getting more money for your home when you decide to sell? Let’s consider the market trends.
Many believe that the housing market in California is in a cooling-off period, leading to lower sale prices, reduced competition, and increased inventory. This is a big part of why it’s beneficial to know that we buy houses in California for cash, so you don’t settle for less than what you want out of your sale.
California faced an inventory deficit for several years after the pandemic. It’s taken time to adjust for supply and demand, but of the counties with more than 100,000 residents, nine have more houses for sale than they did several years ago, right before the pandemic. This means more houses on the market, and you need to be savvy to catch the eye of the right buyers.
California Disclosure Laws
One of the most critical aspects of selling a home is knowing the condition. California has special disclosure laws, so you must inform a potential buyer of any known problems with your home. Under the state’s law, you must only disclose known defects. This means you don’t have to look for defects before you sell, and only share the ones you are aware of.
Many homeowners choose to conduct a property inspection before listing their house for sale. You can share this final report with the buyers, which must be done during the purchase process. The good news is that the State of California Department of Real Estate offers an extensive outline, so you can meet the state’s strict requirements for disclosure.
Common things you may need to disclose include:
- Hazardous materials like lead-based paint or asbestos
- Condition of systems like HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and roof
- Natural hazards
- Special tax assessments
- Information about the homeowners’ association
- If a death occurred on the property within three years
These are just a few examples of the things we consider when we buy homes in California for cash, and they’re important for any prospective seller.
How to Find a Buyer for your California Home
Now it’s time to decide how you want to find a buyer. You have several options, and each comes with a set of pros and cons.
Agent
You can choose to hire an agent to help you sell your home. With this, you get access to more buyers, market knowledge and expertise, professional guidance, negotiation tactics, and time savings. The downside to working with an agent is that there is typically a commission fee. There may also be a potential conflict of interest if the agent represents both the buyer and seller. At times, choosing an agent gives you less control over the process.
FSBO
You can also choose to list the house on your own, known as for sale by owner (FSBO). The pros here are that you have more control and you save on commissions. It does require more time and energy, you may get a lower sale price, and there can be legal and financial risks. You also don’t have access to the same pool of buyers that an agent may have.
Investor or Cash Buyer
You can also choose a cash buyer or investor. At Stars & Stripes Real Estate, we offer speed and convenience, fewer headaches and open houses, reduced costs, and a certain sale. We also buy your house as-is. You know upfront what you’re getting when we buy a home in California.
While there are always risks associated when selling a home, we do our best to minimize them by offering fair sale prices, operating with integrity, and focusing on transparency.
Get Your Home Ready for the Buyer
You’ve decided to move, listed your home, understand the market, disclosed any problems, and decided how you wanted to sell. Now it’s time to get the home ready to show buyers with the following steps:
- Remove any excess furniture to make sure your rooms feel bigger.
- Depersonalize the space by removing family photos and personal items, allowing potential buyers to envision themselves in the space.
- Deep clean and repair things like chipped paint or leaky faucets.
- Enhance the curb appeal by updating hardware and cleaning up the exterior.
- Stage the home to highlight the best features, and add small touches like new rugs and fresh towels.
- Invest in professional photos to show your home.
Don’t Be Afraid to Negotiate the Sale
Your home is your sanctuary, and the largest investment you’ll ever make. It’s okay to negotiate and get the price you want for it. If you’re interested in selling a home and want a fair price, easy negotiation, and honest people to work with, come to Stars & Stripes Real Estate.
FAQs
1. How are property taxes figured in California?
You don’t have to pay property taxes if you made less than $250,000 from the sale, and you owned and occupied the house for more than two years.
2. Who pays closing costs?
Typically, the seller pays the closing costs, but that’s something you can negotiate during the buying process.
3. Who pays the transfer tax?
The seller is usually responsible for the Real Property Transfer Tax, but again, that’s something you can negotiate.
4. Does the seller need to provide any money up front?
Typically, the upfront costs include a down payment, and those come from the buyer. In most cases, you can deduct the closing costs and any other fees from the proceeds of the house sale.
Stars & Stripes – We Buy Houses in California
Selling your home in California doesn’t have to be complicated. At Stars & Stripes Real Estate, we make the process stress-free, transparent, and tailored to your needs. As a trusted, veteran-owned company serving Riverside, San Diego, and San Bernardino counties, we buy houses in California for cash. Our team will handle all the dirty work, meaning you don’t have to worry about repairs, showings, and a drawn-out closing process.
Contact us today to learn more and receive a free consultation.
