Investment

What does a cash offer look like?

A cash offer is an all-cash bid to purchase property without the involvement of a mortgage or lender financing. Buyers who offer cash for entire properties pay for the house through a check or wire transfer which means they have the entire amount at hand. The transaction is never made through hard cash in hand. This may sound too good to be true. However, this happens more than you think.

Do people take cash offers more than selling through the traditional route?

1 in 4 home offers in 2022 was all-cash. This makes it 25% of all buyer offers. Cash offers make it easy for sellers to close a deal in less than a month without making a substantial investment in the property. From a seller’s perspective, the entire risk associated with such a deal is transferred to the buyer. However, buyers offering cash deals have an in-depth understanding of the markets they invest in. On average, cash offers tend to pay up to 80%-85% of the market value. The final offer also depends on the house’s condition and prevailing market conditions.

Why does a cash offer give more money in less time?

Cash offers, by nature, provide an alternate route to swifter and easier dealings in a crowded market. The main theme behind offering cash is to avail a lower price for the appeal of a cash deal in a market run on credit- something that would typically take months to come through. However, the market is now competitive due to the boom of cash options.

Sellers in areas of high demand can use cash offers to sell off old and troubled houses without severe losses in days and move on to better opportunities.

For buyers, the real estate market opened to serious investors looking for profits. By making all-cash offers, investors could buy houses of all kinds, modify them and resell or rent them at good prices, creating a win-win situation for everyone.

What makes cash offer different?

Apart from having an economic advantage, cash offers come with specific advantages that mortgages or financing schemes typically avoid:

1. No appraisals: Cash buyers do not require appraisals of the property. Buyers are only interested in improving the property for a futuristic gain. However, some cash buyers do an appraisal to ensure they are not paying more than the asset is worth. On the other hand, lenders may not approve paperwork if the appraisal returns less than standard findings.
2. Cash buyers show proof of funds: All cash buyers must show proof of funds to the sellers before proceeding with the paperwork of the deal. Much like a pre-approval letter required for a mortgage, proof of funds is shown to convince the seller. The most common type of proof is a signed letter from the buyer’s bank stating the presence of funds. A bank statement can also serve as proof of funds. However, bank statements tend to be at least 24 hours old, which is not proof that the buyer has the cash on the day of the transaction.
3. Lower cost of sales: The cost of sales for the buyer and seller is substantially reduced. Closing costs, homeowners insurance, and taxes are not exempt, but other costs associated with traditional selling, like commissions, staging, and inspections, are done away with. Most of the sale cost is borne by the buyer in an all-cash sale.
4. All kinds of houses and neighborhoods are eligible: Houses in not-so-ideal neighborhoods tend to take a long time to sell. Even if the house is in perfect condition, the notoriety of the neighborhood can slow down offers through the traditional route. This is where all-cash offers come in. Investors with cash are interested in all kinds of neighborhoods because their aim is an investment for returns. Similarly, a run-down house is of no use to anyone unless they are willing to invest substantial money to rebuild it. With cash offers, owners can sell with confidence that their old, crumbling structure will be rebuilt and sold off for the better.
5. Cash buyers can start a bidding war: For prime properties and locations with high demand, cash buyers may be willing to pay above the market value. This means any offers coming in through the traditional financing routes will need to top those offers to win. This makes cash offers very competitive and may start a bidding war.

Is a cash offer on a house in Tulsa different from others?

Different states may have different laws pertaining to housing; however, cash offers in Tulsa follow the generic pattern followed elsewhere in the country. In addition to the benefits mentioned earlier, cash offers in Tulsa are mostly investments where the buyers do not expect to move into the house on closing dates. Most cash buyers will allow a move-out time frame which will help sellers relocate at their own pace.

In a nutshell, both the buyer and seller face certain pros and cons of the cash-buying process:

Pros and cons of making a cash offer on a house

Pros

1. The buyer’s credit score is not relevant to the process.
2. No interest payments.
3. Higher seller confidence.

Cons

1. Takes significant liquidity away and ties it up in one asset.
2. The buyer can not avail of mortgage-related tax deductions.

Pros and cons of accepting a cash offer on a house

Pros

1. Closing is swift.
2. Getting an appraisal, inspection, or house staged is not a requirement.
3. The payment is secure.

Cons

1. The offer may be lower than the asking price.
2. There is no way to vet the buyer.

Considering buying or selling with a cash offer, consider all your options and consult your financial advisor (if you have one). Make sure you understand everything before making or accepting the deal.