If you’re looking to sell your Pennsylvania property fast, a “We Buy Houses” Erie, PA company could be the answer you need. These businesses make straightforward, all-cash offers, even for homes needing repairs or updates.
Selling to a cash buyer is ideal when you’re in a pinch, such as dealing with sudden job relocation, managing an out-of-state property inheritance, or trying to avoid a pending foreclosure.
In this post, we’ll walk you through the pros and cons of selling to an Erie house-buying company, explain how the process works, and give you some alternatives if you want to go with a different approach.
Sell Your House Fast in Erie With a Cash Offer
Get an all-cash, no-obligation offer through HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform whenever you’re ready. Receive your offer in 24 hours and close in as few as 7 days. No showings, no repairs, no open houses. Available to sellers throughout Erie, PA.
Working with house-buying companies in Erie
Working with a house-buying company in Erie is designed to be a simple, straightforward process that can get cash in your hands quickly. Here’s an overview of the process of selling your home for cash:
- Contact a company: Reach out to a few Erie-based house-buying companies to share details about your home and your reason for selling.
- Schedule a home visit: After learning more about your property, the company will likely schedule a walkthrough to assess the condition and any necessary repairs.
- Receive an offer: Based on the property condition and market conditions, the company will provide a take-it-or-leave-it cash offer for your home.
- Review the terms: Carefully read through the terms of the offer, including any fees, timelines, and as-is sale conditions.
- Accept the offer: If the offer works for you, let the company know you’re ready to move forward with the sale.
- Close the sale: With an accepted offer, you’ll proceed to a fast closing, often within a week or two, and receive your payment in cash.
Popular We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Erie
If the process of selling to a house-buying company in Erie sounds good to you, it’s time to find a legitimate operation you can trust.
We’ve compiled some of the top companies that will pay cash for your or your parents’ property, whether that’s a French Norman or Tudor Revival. By partnering with one of these companies, you should be able to sell your Erie home in as little as a week or two.
717 Home Buyers
717 Home Buyers delivers fair, all-cash offers within 24 hours of receiving essential property information, with no contingencies and multiple selling options tailored to each homeowner’s situation. They purchase properties in as-is condition, so there’s no need for repairs, updates, or even cleaning.
The company also offers flexible closing schedules, with the ability to complete transactions in as few as 7 days. By skipping the traditional listing process, sellers can move on more quickly.
Locations: Throughout Pennsylvania, including Erie
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; 717 Home Buyers cover them.
Praised for responsible and ethical operations, 717 Home Buyers has been accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 2021 and currently holds an A+ rating. Past clients left positive feedback on its Google Business Profile, generating a high review score of 4.7 stars.
Reviewers commend the team for being responsive, helpful, and quick to answer calls, texts, or emails, which made communication simple throughout the process. Many highlight the staff’s real estate expertise and positive attitude, noting that their professionalism and willingness to assist make every transaction smooth and enjoyable.
Website: 717homebuyers.com
Phone number: 717-639-2164
Simple Sale (a HomeLight platform)
Simple Sale, a solution from HomeLight, is an online platform where sellers in Erie (and across the country) can request a cash offer for their home. It features one the largest networks of cash buyers in the U.S., and partner investors have a wide range of investment strategies, including fix-and-flip and buy-and-hold.
This enables Simple Sale to provide cash offers for a wide array of properties, even those that need some or a lot of work, in different locations throughout Erie. With the platform, you can get a no-obligation, all-cash offer in 24 hours and sell your home in as few as 7 days, skipping the months it can take to sell the traditional way.
Locations: Nationwide, including Erie
Closing costs: No prep costs, agent commissions, or fees charged by HomeLight. Individual investor fees may vary.
Simple Sale is a platform by HomeLight, a real estate solutions company founded in 2012. Given its strong focus on excellent customer service, it has been BBB-accredited since 2019 and now holds an impressive A+ rating. The company has 4.5 stars on Google based on hundreds of user reviews.
Below, you can hear about how Baohan Wu, a seller who used Simple Sale to sell his high-rise apartment, closed within three and a half weeks, and what he thought of the process overall.
Website: homelight.com/simple
Phone: 844-488-8455
We Buy Houses, Erie
Founded in 1997, We Buy Houses operates across 200 markets in 30 states, purchasing homes in any condition. The process begins with collecting key property details from the homeowner, followed by thorough market research and a property walkthrough.
Within 24 to 48 hours of the visit, a no-obligation cash offer is typically extended. If accepted, the transaction can close in as little as seven to 14 days, offering sellers a streamlined and efficient alternative to traditional listings.
Locations: Nationwide, including Erie
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; WeBuyHouses.com covers them.
Accredited by the BBB since 2020, We Buy Houses holds an A+ rating. It earned 3.7 stars on Google, as client feedback is varied. Many rave about the excellent service and give high ratings, praising the overall experience. Others, however, raise concerns about how they were contacted, especially when callers didn’t introduce themselves.
Website: webuyhouses.com
Phone number: 877-932-8946
Freedom Sky Real Estate
Freedom Sky Real Estate buys houses throughout Pennsylvania, including Erie and nearby areas, offering homeowners a fast and fair cash price. The company helps property owners facing diverse challenges such as divorce, foreclosure, inherited estates, or difficult rental properties.
Within 24 hours of contact, sellers receive a competitive all-cash offer. Closings align with each homeowner’s schedule and can happen in as little as seven days.
Locations: Throughout Pennsylvania, including Erie
Closing costs: Sellers pay no closing costs; Freedom Sky Real Estate covers them.
Freedom Sky Real Estate has been BBB accredited since 2019 and now holds an A+ grade. On Google, it received positive customer feedback, which generated a high review score of 4.6 stars.
Clients commend the team for going above and beyond to make the selling process smooth, fair, and stress-free. Many appreciate the supportive approach, noting how the staff helps resolve challenges while keeping everything clear and straightforward. The experience is described as both seamless and personable, making clients feel valued throughout.
Website: freedomsky.com
Phone number: 814-208-9894
Why sell your Erie house for cash?
If you’ve ever sold your home through the traditional real estate market, you know the process can drag on for months, and there’s no guarantee of a sale. But when you sell to a We Buy Houses company, you’re looking at a guaranteed sale in just a matter of days. Speed, convenience, and certainty are the top reasons many homeowners choose to work with a cash-for-homes firm.
In Erie, selling a home on the open market using an agent takes around 57 days. That includes an average of 16 days on the market, from listing to signed contract, plus the typical 41 days a buyer needs to close on a purchase loan.
Compare that to the usual seven to 10 days promised by many house-buying companies in Erie, and it’s clear why these Cash-For-Homes groups are an attractive option, even though they don’t always offer top-dollar for the homes they purchase.
Here are some common scenarios where a cash sale might provide the best solution for your situation.
- Job relocation: You’re relocating for a new job and need a quick sale to ease the transition.
- Divorce settlement: You want to divide marital assets quickly and avoid the drawn-out process of listing on the market.
- Unwanted inheritance: You’ve inherited a home you don’t plan to keep and need to simplify the sale.
- Downsizing transition: You’re moving to a smaller home and don’t want the hassle of open houses or showings.
- Expensive repairs: Your home is in poor condition and requires major repairs, and you lack the funds or time to complete them.
- Open house stress: You prefer to skip open houses and endless showings, aiming for a faster, private sale.
- Structural damage: You’re dealing with foundation issues that might deter traditional buyers.
- Foreclosure fix: You want to avoid or manage foreclosure as you struggle with mortgage payments.
- Tenant complications: You’re selling a rental with tenants still in place and don’t want the complexity of evictions.
- Remote home sale: You’re planning to sell from out of state without the hassle of traveling back and forth.
Pros and cons of house-buying companies in Erie
House-buying companies in Erie can be a great fit if you need a fast sale and want to skip the hassle of repairs. Here’s a quick look at the main pros and cons of selling to one of these companies.
Selling to a cash buyer offers two major advantages: speed and simplicity. Most house-buying companies will allow you to sell your home as-is, meaning there’s no need for repairs or showings. Here’s a breakdown of the top benefits.
- Fast closing: Cash sales often close within a week or two, letting you avoid the lengthy traditional sale process.
- No repairs needed: You won’t have to invest in fixing or updating your home, which can save both time and money.
- Guaranteed sale: Cash buyers eliminate contingencies, reducing the risk of a deal falling through.
- Minimal preparation: Skip the cleaning and staging, as house-buying companies will purchase your home without requiring any preparations.
The main drawback of selling to a house-buying company is that you might walk away with a lower profit. Be sure to consider these cons when choosing a cash sale transaction:
- Lower sale price: Cash buyers generally offer less than what you’d receive by listing with an agent, impacting your total profit.
- Limited buyer competition: Without multiple offers, you may miss out on a higher price that competition among buyers can bring.
- Potential scams: Some cash-buying companies may not be legitimate, so watch out for house-buying scams or unclear terms.
- Little room for negotiation: Offers are often presented as non-negotiable, so you’ll need to decide quickly to accept or decline.
Curious What Your Home Is Worth?
Get a near-instant real estate house price estimate from HomeLight for free. Our tool analyzes the records of recently sold homes near you, your home’s last sale price, and other market trends to provide a preliminary range of value in under two minutes.
Vet cash buyers and know your home’s worth
Before committing to a cash offer, it’s crucial to vet the company thoroughly. The level of service and integrity you experience from a house-buying company can vary, so make sure to:
- Research market presence: Investigate how long the company has been buying homes in your area and how they’ve performed in the market.
- Check reviews: Look for online reviews and ratings to see what other sellers have said about their experience with the company.
- Ask for referrals: Go beyond reviews and ask actual clients to get a better sense of the company’s reputation and trustworthiness.
- Examine the agreement: Before signing anything, read the buying agreement carefully to ensure you fully understand the terms and conditions of the sale.
HomeLight suggests you consult with an experienced local agent to get a better idea of what your home might be worth if sold on the open market. Then, compare your cash offer.
HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing agent in Erie. You can also use our free Home Value Estimator to get an initial ballpark estimate in less than two minutes.
Other options to sell your Erie home quickly
Working with iBuyers: Instant buyers or iBuyers use automated valuation models to provide near-instant cash offers. They specialize in fast, mostly online transactions for homes in good condition and typically close within days to two weeks. While iBuyer companies like Opendoor and Offerpad may offer closer to market value, they often charge service fees ranging from 5% to 6% of the home’s sale price.
Listing with an agent: In a seller-friendly market, partnering with a top real estate agent can help you achieve a quick sale while maximizing your home’s price. Real estate professionals provide a comparative market analysis (CMA), often for free, to set a competitive price. If you’re interested in exploring this option, HomeLight can connect you with a top-performing agent.
FAQs on Erie house-buying companies
By and large, most We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Erie are legitimate businesses. Their services and transaction fees may differ, but the business model has been around for decades. If you use an established group with a track record, you can be fairly confident that it’s legit.
That said, as with any financial transaction, it’s a good idea to be on the alert for scams. Always research companies before you sign a contract. Check customer reviews, look at their online presence, verify professional licenses, get a referral if possible, and vet the company on the BBB website. Watch for anything that just doesn’t seem right.
Most Erie We Buy Houses for Cash companies apply the 70% rule, meaning they’ll offer you about 70% of your home’s after-repair value (ARV), then deduct their estimated repair costs.
Here’s an example of what a simplified formula might look like:
(Your home’s ARV x .70) – repair costs
To see how this might work in a real-world scenario, let’s take a look at an example offer equation. Let’s say your Erie Tudor Revival could sell for $205,000 after repairs, but it will need $30,000 of work to get there.
($205,000 x .70) – $30,000 = $113,500
In this example, an Erie We Buy Houses company might offer you around $113,500 for your home. However, different types of house-buying companies will offer varying amounts for homes.
As mentioned previously, iBuyers tend to pay more than We Buy Houses companies because they look for homes in better condition. An iBuyer might pay you 90% or more of the market value while charging a fee for their services.
When you accept an offer from an Erie We Buy Houses for Cash company, you will likely be coming to grips with a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it shouldn’t cost you any additional money because these companies make an offer and handle almost everything once it is accepted. On the other hand, you’ll likely get less money overall for your home.
Because We Buy Houses for Cash companies tend to focus on distressed homes, they typically have zero fees. Many will even cover your closing costs. In most cases, this means that the cash offer you receive will be the price you walk away with at the end of the deal. Ask the company if any hidden program fees might impact your bottom line.
- Research and vet the house-buying companies that serve your Erie area. Our list above is a good place to start.
- Submit offer requests to a few companies you like best.
- Schedule any required on-site property visits.
- Compare offers. Weigh the pros and cons and choose the best option for you.
- Close the sale in a week to 30 days and get paid. (Some companies will let you choose a closing date up to 90 days after accepting the offer, which can be helpful when planning a move.)
We Buy Houses for Cash in Erie vs. top Erie agent
Another helpful exercise is to compare how a We Buy Houses for Cash company might stack up against working with a real estate agent. Let’s take a glance at how different aspects of the sale might look and compare possible proceeds.
| Aspect of the sale | Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Erie | Sell with a top Realtor in Erie |
| Selling timeline | 7 to 30 days | 57 days average; 16 to attract an offer, 41 to close the loan |
| Home preparations | None | Deep clean, declutter, make necessary repairs, landscape, and stage the home |
| Showings | None | 10 to 25 showings on average |
| Inspections and repairs | None | May need to make additional repairs for the buyer or renegotiate the price |
| Appraisal | None | May need to lower your asking price if the appraisal comes in low |
| Title search | Cash-For-Homes companies often handle title issues | Must clear the title before you can sell the home |
| Financing contingency | None | Mortgaged buyers use a financing contingency that could hold up the deal if the buyer’s loan doesn’t clear |
| Agent commission | None | 3% to 6% of the home’s sale price |
| Closing costs | None | 1% to 3% of the home’s sale price on top of the agent’s commission |
Example net proceeds
Below, we’ve compiled one example of how net proceeds may differ between selling a home to a We Buy Houses for Cash company and an agent-assisted sale.
Let’s say your home in Erie is worth about $175,000 and needs about $30,000 in repairs. Once the repairs are completed, the home might be worth around $205,000.
| Sell to a We Buy Houses for Cash company in Erie | Sell with a top Realtor in Erie | |
| Estimated sale price | ($205,000 x .70) – $30,000 = $113,500 | $175,000 |
| Market preparations | 0 | $1,750 (1% of the sale price) |
| Agent commissions | 0 | $5,250 (3% of the sale price) |
| Closing costs | 0 | $2,625 (1.5% of the sale price) |
| Estimated take-home for seller | $113,500 | $163,375 |
As this example illustrates, it’s usually in your best financial interest to partner with an experienced real estate agent. However, net proceeds are not the only consideration when selling a home.
What’s best for your situation will depend on the condition of your property, the level of repairs needed, and your selling objectives. It could be that selling on the open market will be a challenge in your area, or the agent’s timeline might not fit your immediate needs.
Key takeaways
- Fast, convenient process: Selling to a Cash-For-Homes company can offer a quick, hassle-free sale, allowing you to skip repairs, staging, and showings.
- Lower sale price: Cash offers from house-buying companies in Erie are often below market value, so you may sacrifice some profit for the convenience of a quick sale.
- No repairs needed: Cash buyers purchase homes as-is, so you won’t need to spend time or money on renovations or updates.
- Fixed cash offers: Offers from house-buying companies are generally non-negotiable, which can limit your flexibility compared to a traditional market sale.
- Home value insights: Always be aware of your property’s estimated market value before you proceed with a cash-offer company to avoid extremely low offers.
At HomeLight, we’re happy to lend a guiding hand in navigating your real estate journey. Let us help you make an informed and confident decision, whether you’re looking for a no-obligation cash offer through a trusted platform like Simple Sale or seeking to consult with a top Erie agent.
Editor’s note: This post is for educational purposes only. Links to and mentions of Erie area “We Buy Houses” companies are not endorsements. Moreover, the program details mentioned above may change. Visit the home-buying company’s website for the most up-to-date information.
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