Option 1: Sell your San Diego house fast for cash
HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform can give you immediate access to the largest network of cash buyers in the U.S. We use the information you provide about your home plus local neighborhood data to get you an all-cash offer within a week, allowing you to close in as little as 10 days.
Simple Sale is a great option for homeowners who don’t have time for repairs, preparing for the sale, or multiple showings of the home. It’s one of the fastest, most convenient ways to sell a house in San Diego.
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Who else will buy your San Diego house for cash?
- Investors: Usually, investors will purchase property to resell or hold as a rental
- iBuyers: Also known as instant buyers, these companies typically purchase properties based on automated valuation model estimates (AVM)
- Flippers: Generally, flippers buy distressed properties to renovate and resell in a short period of time
All investors, iBuyers, and flippers will buy houses for cash. Flippers and “we buy houses” companies will often look for houses that need renovation. They’ll buy them at a discounted rate, repair them, and make a profit once the property is sold or rented.
According to Brian Cane, a top San Diego agent who works with over 71% more single-family homes than the average agent in his market, sellers typically focus on three things:
- Getting the most amount of money for their home
- Reducing the number of hassles
- Wanting a timeline that is convenient for them
Cane says, for speed and convenience, a cash investor or house-buying company is hard to beat. “I could personally bring 25 cash buyers to their door, and I’m just one agent who would come in, no hassles, buy it in any condition, as-is.” But Cane adds, “They’re probably going to buy that property at a ten to twenty percent discount on whatever current market value is.”
Cane gave an example of a home that needed tenants to be removed and put on the market for $750,000, which generated 14 cash offers, and all the buyers were willing to remove the tenants. Once that house is spruced up, Cane said it would likely be worth around $925,000.
Cash buyers in San Diego
There are quite a few cash buyers in the San Diego area, and all require getting initial information about the condition, financial situation, and timeline for selling. Some examples of these local cash buyers include:
Any Home Any Price San Diego: Any Home Any Price San Diego provides a 100% no-obligation cash offer to purchase homes in any condition and can typically close within 14 days. They often buy homes that are facing foreclosure, tax liens, or need repair. Better Business Bureau Rating = A.
BeHomefree: BeHomefree specializes in the local San Diego market and will assess the property value based on the repairs needed. They can close in 72 hours, and cash payment is typically received after the title has cleared. No fees or repairs are needed. Better Business Bureau Rating = A+.
GG Homes: GG Homes will typically buy houses in any condition, including to alleviate stressful financial situations. They don’t require any fees or preparation of the property by the owner and could close in as little as 10 days. Better Business Bureau Rating = A+.
Gordon Buys Homes: Gordon Buy Homes can purchase homes in any condition, including unfinished properties, and will usually present a cash offer the same day. They can close in as little as seven days without the owner needing to pay real estate commissions. Better Business Bureau Rating = A+.
Trusted Home Buyers: Trusted Home Buyers is a local company that purchases homes in any condition and often can close within a few days. They have helped homeowners who are in financial distress and usually can provide a cash offer within 24 hours. Better Business Bureau Rating = A+.
We Buy Houses San Diego: We Buy Houses has real estate investors that purchase homes in San Diego and the surrounding areas. They will buy homes, condos, and land in any condition and price, and typically close within seven to 14 days without requiring repairs. Better Business Bureau Rating = A.
Pros and cons of selling your San Diego house for cash
As with anything, there are pros and cons to selling your home quickly for cash.
Pros
- Fast closing: A cash sale is significantly faster than a traditional mortgage-backed home purchase, often allowing you to close in as few as three to 10 days.
- No repairs needed: You can sell your home as-is, in most cases, with no repairs or renovations.
- No fees or commissions: Many cash buyers will cover closing costs and fees.
- No showings or open houses: You won’t have to stage the home for listing photos or prepare the property for showings or open houses.
- No obligation until you commit: After you receive a no-obligation offer, you can compare it to other offers. You can even consult a Realtor® for comparisons.
- Step away from a problem: With a fast cash sale, you can often avoid dealing with problem tenants or potential foreclosure.
- No contingencies: Cash buyers can waive contingencies that can make negotiations difficult, namely the financing contingency and appraisal contingency.
- No negotiating: You won’t have to deal with multiple buyers or the pressure of back-and-forth negotiating on price, credits, or repairs.
- Move on with life: If you inherited a home, facing divorce, dealing with a death, or having financial challenges, a cash sale can help you move on from the home and possibly resolve some issues faster.
Cons
- Lower sale price: Cash sales typically result in a lower selling price than a traditional sale with the help of a qualified real estate agent.
- Repairs cost may be deducted: If the home does need major repairs, the cost of those may be deducted from the offer, depending on the cash buyer.
- May be harder to find a buyer: Depending on the condition or location of your home, you may have limited cash buyer options, especially if you have a unique property that will be harder for investors to flip.
- You’ll need to vet companies: It’s important to do research on “we buy houses for cash” companies to make sure they are legitimate and reputable.
- Transparency may be limited: Some cash buyers won’t share their home evaluation process or how they calculated their offer, which is sometimes reduced last minute.
- Hidden fees: As you vet cash buyers, watch for hidden or unexpected fees. Read your purchase contract carefully before signing.
Option 2: Work with a top agent to sell fast in San Diego
If you want to sell your home quickly but not immediately, having the time to do a traditional listing by working with a top agent will often result in a higher sale price than a fast cash offer.
HomeLight’s data also shows how the top 5% of agents sell homes for up to 10% more than average agents in the same area. Also, their turnaround time is often 10%-50% quicker, along with the ability to maximize your home sale. This can be a better option in times of divorce or when you need to reduce debt or increase an inherited estate.
How fast are homes selling in San Diego?
Cane says he has seen San Diego become what he calls the “Silicon Valley of biotech.” Due to the popularity of the area and the growth that comes with it, San Diego’s housing market continues to experience high demand and low inventory rates.
“We have the Pacific Ocean to the west, we have Camp Pendleton marine base to the north, we’ve got the desert to the East and Mexico to the South,” he says. “So we’re just out of land.”
The lack of land and the inability to build new construction has also limited development of additional housing, according to Cane. Also, the World Population Review has listed San Diego as the 2nd largest city in California, with a current population of 1,410,791, and this has been the result of a 0.57% annual increase.
According to market data from the Greater San Diego Association of Realtors, the housing demand is still very competitive. However, the sales volume has slowed, and days on market and prices have increased since 2022.
| San Diego Home Sales Trends 2022 | San Diego Home Sales Trends 2023 | Change |
| Median sales price: $870,000 | Median sales price: $929,300 | + 6.8% |
| Number of homes sold: 24,926 | Number of homes sold: 16,760 | – 32.8% |
| Average days on market: 21 | Average days on market: 29 | + 38.1% |
| Months supply of inventory 0.8 | Months supply of inventory 1.1 | + 37.5% |
| Sale to list price: 103.4% | Sale to list price: 99.3% | – 4.0% |
Source: Greater San Diego Association of Realtors, single-family homes data (March 2023)
Usually, a housing supply of more than three months would be a buyer’s market, and less than three months would be a seller’s market. San Diego currently has a little over one month’s supply.
Cane says there are 3.6 million people who live in the county and only 2,200 homes currently for sale, which include single-family houses, townhomes, and condos. He believes this may be the third-lowest inventory that he worked in for the last 20 years. The majority of current buyers are high earners who are 35 to 55 years old.
“So, we’re seeing multiple offers, we are seeing homebuyers compete up to maybe one, two, three, four percent over list price or over perceived current market value, but we’re not seeing the type of overbid that we saw in 2021 and 2022.”
Cane says the market has shifted to capped offers. One example is when a home is worth $1.1 million and listed for $1.099 million, then the multiple offers will typically range between $1.090 million and 1.15 million. But during the previous year, buyers used to pay 10%, 20%, or 25% over the appraised value.
8 strategies to sell a home fast in San Diego
Use these expert tips to boost the timeline for your home sale:
1. Set your price competitively
In any market, pricing correctly is key to generating interest in a property and bringing in competitive offers. It’s even more important when you’re trying to sell quickly but want to balance proceeds with speed.
An experienced top agent will perform a comparative market analysis (CMA) to help you set the best price to sell a house fast in your market.
If you’re curious about your home’s current value, try HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator. While it shouldn’t dictate your final pricing strategy, an online home value estimate can give you a ballpark price range. You can get a preliminary estimate in less than two minutes.
2. Do the brunt work upfront
Oftentimes, sellers are eager to get their house on the market and will forgo essential renovations. Experienced agents all agree that new listings get the most exposure, so make sure your house is in optimal shape when you put it on the market.
3. Make the home stand out
It’s important that you make your home seem “special” before you list it. Add fresh paint where needed, update outdated trends in the home, and do a deep clean to make sure the home is in top condition.
4. Hire a professional photographer and videographer
According to a survey by the National Association of Realtors, 97% of homebuyers use the internet in their search for a home. That means buyers will likely first view the property via the photos and videos you post in a listing. High-quality pictures and videos give buyers the best view and perspective on a property when viewed online.
5. Showcase your outdoor area
Since the pandemic, more homebuyers are looking for usable outdoor space. This means extending your living space outdoors can be extremely appealing. More people are transforming their outdoor area to include a full furniture set, smoker, and television to watch the Chargers on a Saturday night.
6. Advertise your neighborhood’s walkability
Walkability is important for many buyers. This makes it important for sellers to highlight parks, coffee shops, and local restaurants in the neighborhood.
7. Promote additional space for lodging
If your property has an auxiliary dwelling unit (ADU), such as a mother-in-law cottage, emphasize this in your listing. If you are selling a home with large square footage, leverage this.
8. Take advantage of market timing
Along with the recommendations above, it can be helpful to know the level of market activity in your area during different times of the year. HomeLight’s Best Time to Sell Calculator uses housing market data for your area to show you the best and worst months to sell your home. See when is the best time to sell a house if you want to make the most money and which months are best to sell your house fast.
Are all home improvements necessary?
With the current housing conditions, Cane advises sellers to be selective when considering large improvements, such as a new roof.
“I would take value off for a broken roof or a leaking roof that needs immediate repair. But an old roof, for example, doesn’t necessarily lessen the property value in a market where there’s more demand than there is supply,” says Cane.
Although Cane explains that when soil erosion compromises the integrity of the property, then it would need to be fixed. And if the homeowner is unable to repair it, a cash buyer would be a better option in that case.
Ready to sell your San Diego home?
Overall, Cane says the best way to sell fast in San Diego is to consider how urgent the seller’s timeline is and price appropriately for the condition and location of the home.
“It will sell their property in under three weeks, as far as getting an accepted offer.”
As you can see, a top real estate agent in San Diego can help you navigate the many nuances that you might not otherwise discover until you’re swamped in the process. Their organization efficiencies and marketing expertise can help you sell your San Diego house fast.
If you need an even faster sale, HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform provides cash offers for homes in almost any condition in San Diego. If you don’t have the time or the means to prepare your home or move through the traditional listing process, you can skip the repairs and showings and close in as few as 10 days. Complete a short questionnaire and receive a no-obligation cash offer within a week.
Writers Amna Shamim and Emma Woodward contributed to this story.
Header Image Source: (Vita Vilcina / Unsplash)
