Real cash buyers close through licensed title companies, show the math behind their offers, and never ask you for money. Fraudulent ones reveal themselves through a handful of repeatable signals. Check any buyer, including us, against this list.
KEY FACTS FROM THIS GUIDE
- A written cash offer should show comps, repair estimate and margin, every time
- All closings run through licensed title companies (OH, TX) or closing attorneys (GA)
- Never sign a deed outside a closing; never pay a fee to sell your house
- Primary-residence gains up to $250,000/$500,000 are usually tax-free (IRC 121)
1. They ask you to pay anything upfront
Processing fees, contract fees, insurance fees: no legitimate buyer charges a seller anything before closing. Money flows toward you, never from you.
2. They want the deed before closing
The classic equity theft: sign the deed now and get paid later. The deed transfers only at a title company closing, simultaneously with the money. No exceptions, no matter how convincing the story.
A written offer costs nothing and decides nothing yet. Written numbers, licensed title company closings, zero pressure.
3. No title company involved
If the closing happens at a kitchen table with notarized papers and promises, walk away. Ask early: which title company will handle this? Then call that company and confirm.
4. The offer math is secret
Honest buyers show how they reached the number: comparable sales, repair estimate, margin. A price with no explanation is a price designed to move later.
5. Pressure and fake deadlines
Sign tonight or lose the offer is a manipulation, not a business practice. A real offer survives a few days of scrutiny by your attorney.
6. The price drops right before closing
Some operators bank on your exhaustion: lock you in, then cut the price at the closing table. Protection: a contract your attorney reviewed, with earnest money large enough to hurt if the buyer walks.
7. They cannot prove funds
Ask for a proof of funds letter dated this month. Real buyers have one ready; pretenders improvise.
Get a free written cash offer here, or book a free consultation if you want to talk it through with a real person first.
