A cash home sale is legally the same transaction as any other home sale: a written purchase contract, a title search, and a closing at a licensed title company that records the new deed with the county. The only thing that changes is the missing bank, which is why it moves faster. Here is what each legal step means in Ohio, Texas and Georgia.
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)
What does the purchase contract actually commit you to?
The contract states the price, the closing date, and the as-is condition. Until you sign it, nothing binds you. After signing, the buyer deposits earnest money with the title company, not with you and not with themselves, and the title company begins its work. You should always have the right to review the contract with your own attorney, and any buyer who resists that is telling you something important.
What does the title company legally do?
The title company is a neutral, licensed and insured third party. It searches the county records for liens and ownership problems, holds all funds in escrow, prepares the deed, verifies identities, and records the transfer. In Georgia an attorney supervises closings by law; in Ohio and Texas title companies handle it directly. Either way, no legitimate sale skips this step.
A written offer costs nothing and decides nothing yet. Written numbers, licensed title company closings, zero pressure.
What must you legally disclose?
Selling as-is does not remove your duty to answer disclosure questions honestly. Ohio, Texas and Georgia each have a seller disclosure form covering what you actually know about the property: leaks, defects, disputes. Answer truthfully and the as-is contract protects you; hide a known problem and it can follow you after closing.
When is the sale legally final?
When the deed is recorded with the county and the title company disburses the funds. Before that moment you have not lost the house; after it, the buyer owns the property and its problems. This is also why you should never sign or hand over a deed outside a closing.
Get a free written cash offer here, or book a free consultation if you want to talk it through with a real person first.
