comparison · 9 min read
Cash offer vs. listing with a realtor: when does each win?
A practical comparison of the cash-buyer route vs. a traditional MLS listing. When each saves the most money, time, and stress.
The actual math
A realtor sale nets the seller more on the headline price most of the time — but the timeline, the showings, the staging, the repair credits, the inspection negotiations, and the 5-6% commission can chew through that delta fast. A cash sale is faster, more certain, and costs you nothing in commission or repairs, but the headline price will be lower.
When the cash route wins
Time pressure (foreclosure, divorce, relocation), condition issues that would scare off retail buyers, inherited property out of state, tenants in place who you don't want to disrupt, or simply not wanting to deal with showings.
When listing wins
Move-in-ready property in a hot market with no urgency, where the time and effort cost of showings is acceptable.
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Lockwood Home Buyers makes cash offers directly to homeowners — no fees, no commissions, and no obligation to accept. We are not a real-estate agent or broker; we buy houses for cash.