You got our cash offer, you read it over, and you said yes. Now what? This page walks through what happens between signing the purchase agreement and the money landing in your account, in the order it usually happens. We have been buying houses across the SF Bay Area since 2014 and have bought more than 300 homes, so we have walked a lot of sellers through these exact steps.
One thing up front: we always close as the buyer. We do not assign contracts or wholesale your house to someone else. The company that signs your agreement is the company that buys your house.
The short version
After you accept, we open escrow with a local title company. The title company checks the title for liens, gathers payoff figures for any loans, and prepares the closing paperwork. You fill out a few simple forms with our help, pick your closing date, and take what you want from the house. At closing you sign the deed in front of a notary, the title company pays off your loans and sends you the rest, and the deed is recorded with the county. We can close in 7 days or less, or on a later date you choose.
Step by step: from signed agreement to funds
1. You sign the purchase agreement
The purchase agreement is the contract between you and us. It lists the price, the property, and the closing date you picked. Read it, ask us anything that is unclear, and feel free to have your own attorney look at it before you sign. Because we pay cash with cash, there is no loan approval or appraisal in the agreement that could make the sale fall apart later.
2. We open escrow with a title company
Once the agreement is signed, we open escrow at a reputable local title company. Escrow is a neutral middle step: the title company holds the documents and the money and only releases them when everything the agreement requires has happened. In Northern California the title company usually handles escrow as well as title, so you will mostly hear from one escrow officer. They will reach out to introduce themselves and ask for a few basics, like your contact details and your ID.
3. The title search and any liens
The title company searches public records to confirm you own the house and to find anything recorded against it. Common items include:
- Your mortgage, and any second loan or home equity line
- Unpaid property taxes
- Tax liens or court judgments
- Contractor (mechanics) liens
- HOA dues that are past due
Finding a lien does not mean the sale is in trouble. Most liens are simply paid off out of the sale price at closing. Some take more work, like an old loan that was paid off but never released, or a name that is spelled differently on two documents. The title company tracks those down, and we work through them with you. Our guide to common title issues in the Bay Area covers the usual ones.
4. A little paperwork, and we help with it
You don’t need inspections, reports, or repairs, and you don’t have to know everything about your house. We buy it as-is. Escrow will send over a few standard forms, like a short property questionnaire and a tax withholding form, and we’ll go through them with you in plain English.
All we ask is that you tell us what you already know, in your own words. Things like “the roof leaked a few years ago” or “the garage was converted without a permit” are fine. Most houses we buy have issues like these, and they don’t change our offer after you accept. If you’re not sure about something, just say you’re not sure. There’s no wrong answer and no test to pass.
If you’re selling as an executor or trustee, some of these forms may not apply to you at all. Your escrow officer will let you know exactly what to sign, and you can always run a question by your own attorney or tax professional.
5. Scheduling the close
You choose the closing date. If you need the money quickly, we can close in 7 days or less. If you need time to find a new place, move a parent, or wait on a court or an estate attorney, we can close on a later date you choose. Tell us what works for your life and we will build the timeline around it.
6. Moving out and what you can leave behind
You do not need to clean, repair, or empty the house. Take the things that matter to you, like photos, keepsakes, and furniture you want to keep, and leave behind whatever you do not want. Old furniture, boxes in the garage, and a full shed are all fine. We handle the cleanout after closing.
7. Signing the closing documents
Before closing, the title company prepares the deed and the rest of the closing papers. Your signature on the deed has to be notarized. Ask your escrow officer about signing options, such as at the title office or with a notary who comes to you. If you live out of state, ask them how to sign with a notary where you live.
8. Payoffs and your proceeds
Before closing, the title company asks your lender, and anyone else with a lien on the house, for an official payoff amount. At closing, they pay those amounts directly out of the sale price. You do not have to bring money to pay off your own loan.
Here is how costs normally work with us: there are no fees or commissions, and we cover the standard seller-side closing costs at the title company. The cash offer we send is the amount you keep, minus only any existing mortgage payoff or liens, which are settled at closing. You can ask escrow for an estimated settlement statement before closing, so you can see every line and know your number ahead of time.
Once the payoffs are made, the title company releases the rest of the money to you, by check or wire transfer, based on the instructions you give them.
9. Recording with the county
The last step is recording. The title company sends the signed deed to the county recorder in the county where the house sits, such as Contra Costa, Alameda, or Santa Clara. Once the deed is recorded, the sale is officially closed and the house is ours. Your title company will confirm when recording is done.
Common worries, answered plainly
Will you lower the price after the fact?
We buy as-is, so we do not nickel-and-dime you with surprise deductions after a final inspection. We walk you through how we got to the number before you accept, and that is the number we work from.
What if I owe more than I thought?
Tell us early. If the payoffs turn out higher than expected, we look at your options with you before closing so there is no surprise at the signing table.
What if the house is in probate or a trust?
The steps are the same, with one more party in the loop. In probate, the executor needs authority from the court before the deed can be signed, and some sales also need a court hearing. A successor trustee selling a house held in a living trust can usually sign directly. Our guide to selling a house in probate in California and our page for families who inherited a house explain those paths.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a real estate agent to sell to you?
No. You are selling directly to us as the buyer, so there is no listing and no commission. You are always welcome to have your own attorney review the paperwork.
Who holds the money during the sale?
A neutral title company. Neither you nor we hold the funds. The title company releases money only when the conditions of the agreement have been met and the deed is ready to record.
Do I have to empty the house before closing?
No. Take what you want and leave the rest. We handle whatever is left after closing.
Can I pick a closing date that is weeks away?
Yes. We can close in 7 days or less, or on a later date you choose. The timeline is yours.
Will you sell my contract to another investor?
No. We always close as the buyer. We never assign contracts or wholesale.
Is this legal or tax advice?
No. This page is general information about how a cash sale to us usually works. For questions about your taxes, an estate, or a court case, talk to a California attorney or tax professional.
Ready to see your number?
If you have not gotten an offer yet, it starts with a few details about your house. There is no obligation and no pressure, and you will know exactly what happens next at every step. Request your free cash offer or read more about how our process works.