I Buy Houses is a website that connects home sellers with real estate investors in their area. Owners can submit their information, and a buyer may contact them.
I Buy Houses can be a good option if you’re interested in selling to a cash buyer but don’t know where to start. It might also be ideal for those who need to sell quickly due to a pending foreclosure, divorce, or job relocation.
It’s important to understand, though, that I Buy Houses isn’t a cash buyer — it doesn’t provide any actual services to home sellers. The company sells your information as leads to potential buyers, but it can’t guarantee an offer. If a buyer does reach out, their offer will likely be significantly less than what you could get on the open market.
Only one investor can purchase your information from I Buy Houses, so be sure to compare offers from other companies that buy houses for cash. An offers marketplace like Clever Offers can help you easily compare multiple offers from reputable cash buyers. It’s free to use, and you can close in as little as 7 days.
I Buy Houses at a glance
| ⭐ Customer Rating | No verified 3rd-party reviews |
| 💲Offer range | Likely average* |
| 🤝 How It Works | Submit your information via an online form, and an investor may contact you with an offer for your home. |
| 💵 Fees & other costs | I Buy Houses is free for sellers, but there may be fees or expenses associated with your buyer. |
| 🚦Purchase criteria | Single- and multi-family homes, mobile homes, condos, townhomes, and commercial properties in nearly any condition |
| 🌎 Availability | Nationwide |
*Based on an internal survey of 764 real estate investors indicating that house flippers offer an average of 67.5% of a home's after repair value
I Buy Houses pros and cons
I Buy Houses can be a good option if you want to find a cash buyer, but there are some tradeoffs to consider.
Why I Buy Houses might work for you
✅ Free for sellers
There’s no cost to submit your information to I Buy Houses. Most cash buyers will also cover seller closing costs and repair expenses.
✅ Easy to submit your home info
The online form asks for your contact information, home address, and whether the property is listed with a realtor — that’s it.
✅ Easy way to find a local cash buyer
I Buy Houses saves you the hassle of seeking out local cash buyers. They’ll reach out to you if they’re interested in purchasing your home.
Why I Buy Houses might not be your best option
❌ No guarantee of a sale
I Buy Houses can’t guarantee that a local buyer will be interested in purchasing your home. They also can’t say how much an investor will pay for your house, although it’s typically about 70% of your home’s after-repair value (ARV).
❌ The company doesn’t vet its investors
Anyone can join the I Buy Houses investor network, so it’s impossible to say whether you’ll have a positive experience — or whether they’re even able to purchase your home.
❌ Only one investor can purchase your information
Only one cash buyer can purchase the information about your home, severely limiting your ability to find the best price.
❌ Sellers represent themselves
I Buy Houses owner, Cameron Dunlap, and his team may be able to answer some questions. But they won’t help you negotiate with the potential buyer, leaving you to represent yourself in the transaction.
How much does I Buy Houses pay?
Your offer won’t come from I Buy Houses but from a cash buyer who purchases your contact information from the company. Most investors pay around 70% of your home’s ARV. That means if your home is worth $500,000 after $30,000 in repairs, an investor would offer about $320,000.
To determine their offer, cash buyers usually consider:
- Your home’s location and condition
- Important repairs to make for resale and the costs
- The timeline for selling
- How motivated you are to sell
- The complexity and risk involved
- Whether they’ll flip the property or keep it as a long-term rental
- The overall profit potential
I Buy Houses vs. competitors
I Buy Houses can be an easy way to sell your house fast for cash, but it isn’t your only option. It’s crucial to seek multiple offers to get the best price for your home, even if it’s in poor condition.
The following cash home buyers are also highly rated and may offer you a better price or more flexible terms.
📍Find competing cash offers near you
When looking for a cash offer on a house, your best option may be local.
We researched hundreds of companies and compiled lists of the best cash home buyers for all 50 states and Washington, DC.
I Buy Houses vs. a realtor
I Buy Houses counts real estate agents among its clients, so a realtor may purchase your information as a lead and contact you. But whether you work with an I Buy Houses realtor or an independent one, the experience will differ from selling to a cash buyer across a few key areas:
Speed: Although the timeline for selling with a cash buyer will vary by the investor, most can close quickly — sometimes in as little as a week. Selling with a traditional realtor extends this timeline. Currently, U.S. houses spend a median of 52 days on the market[1].
Convenience: I Buy Houses lets you sell your home as-is, with no repairs, staging, or cleaning required. While you may lose some money, it’s a good option for those who might otherwise struggle to find a traditional buyer without making some improvements.
Sale price: The most significant difference is the final sale price. An offer from a cash buyer typically starts at 30% less than the home’s potential worth. But a traditional sale creates competition among buyers, helping you secure the highest possible price — even if your home needs work. Determining the fair market value of your home can help you evaluate cash offers.
Fees and other costs: I Buy Houses charges no fees or commissions, but the discount on your home’s value far exceeds what you’d pay in realtor commissions (typically 5–6%) on a traditional sale. Working with a reputable low-commission realtor can help you save significantly on agent fees while still maximizing your sale price.
I Buy Houses reviews: What customers say
We were unable to locate any third-party I Buy Houses reviews. However, the website does provide some testimonials[2].
The company also has no social media presence, which makes it almost impossible to determine what the overall selling experience is like, including what kind of offer you can expect.
Given the lack of customer reviews, we recommend carefully considering other cash buyers before working with an investor through I Buy Houses.
How I Buy Houses works
Selling to I Buy Houses is a straightforward process:
- Submit your home details. Complete an online form, and I Buy Houses will make the information available to its investor partners.
- Hear from an investor. A cash buyer will purchase your information from I Buy Houses and contact you to confirm the property details.
- Receive your offer. Negotiate with the buyer, sign the offer, close in as little as two weeks, and get paid.
Remember, there’s no guarantee that an investor will purchase your info from I Buy Houses, meaning you may not receive an offer.
Is I Buy Houses legitimate?
Yes, I Buy Houses is a legitimate company. It aims to connect homeowners with cash buyers for a fast and easy home sale. It was established in the mid-90s and claims to be the second-oldest real estate–related website[3].
I Buy Houses was founded by Cameron “Cam” Dunlap, a real estate investor. He’s also CEO of the Real Estate Wealth Network, a software and training company for real estate investors. Through this company, he has funded more than $50 million in deals[4] for his clients and students.
I Buy Houses makes money by charging investors a nominal fee to join its network, giving them access to home sellers’ information. According to the website, the I Buy Houses brand has been “trusted by millions” of sellers[5]. Dunlap has appeared as an expert[6] on CNN, Fox News, USA Today, CBS News, MoneyShow.com, Yahoo! News, and ABC News.
I Buy Houses fees and other costs
I Buy Houses doesn’t charge sellers any fees or commissions. Unlike traditional home sales, there are:
- No realtor commissions (typically 5–6% of the sale price)
- No closing costs for the seller
- No repair costs or renovation expenses
- No staging or preparation costs
- No inspection or appraisal fees
However, the significant discount on your home’s value (typically 30% or more below market value) represents an indirect cost that is often far greater than the savings on commissions and other fees. This discount is how cash buyers generate a profit after renovating and reselling the property.
What types of homes does I Buy Houses buy?
I Buy Homes investors will purchase property in any condition[7], including:
- Mobile homes
- Single-family homes
- Multi-family homes
- Condos
- Townhouses
- Commercial properties
I Buy Houses locations
I Buy Houses operates nationwide and claims to have investors in all 50 states[8].
Bottom line: Is I Buy Houses right for you?
I Buy Houses can be a good way to find a local cash buyer for your home, especially if you don’t know where to start. Whether you need to sell quickly or want to avoid the hassle of a traditional real estate sale, the company offers a decent option.
You might try I Buy Houses if:
- You need to sell fast
- You’re facing foreclosure or can’t pay your mortgage
- Your house needs work
- You’re experiencing a divorce, job relocation, or other life changes
- You want to save money on traditional transaction fees
However, there are some trade-offs to consider. You’ll receive less than what your home might sell for on the open market. Also, only one potential investor can purchase your information from I Buy Houses, which severely restricts your opportunity to find the best offer. You may not receive an offer from a qualified cash buyer at all!
If your home is in relatively good condition and your timeline is flexible, you probably have better options available:
- An iBuyer typically offers more money for homes than cash investors. Just be sure to factor in their added fees (around 5%). Not all homes will qualify, either.
- To make the most money on your home sale, a low-commission realtor is the way to go — even if you want to sell as-is. Most discount brokers provide full service at a fraction of the cost and work within your selling timeline.
- If you want the speed and certainty that a cash buyer can provide, consider getting competing offers to ensure you get a good deal. Free services like Clever Offers help you find the best offers from multiple vetted cash buyers in your area.
FAQs
Most 'we buy houses' companies are operated by legitimate investors, but "we buy houses" scams exist. If asked, a cash buyer should be able to provide you with proof of funds and a sizable earnest money amount deposited into an escrow account upon signing a contract. They should also have a professional website and decent online reviews on 3rd-party sites like Google, the Better Business Bureau, and Trustpilot. Check out our list of companies that buy houses for cash to find verified cash buyers near you! Are 'we buy houses' companies legit?
How quickly can I Buy Houses close on a house?
Most cash home buying companies can close on a property in as little as 7 days, though the typical timeframe is one to four weeks. This expedited process is possible because they make all-cash offers without financing contingencies or traditional home inspection periods. However, there are other ways to sell your house fast without sacrificing all of your equity to a cash buyer.
How much will an investor pay for my house?
As a starting point, cash investors typically offer about 70% of your home's after-repair value. The exact amount depends on your property's condition, location, and the current real estate market. This discount allows them to renovate the property and resell it for a profit.
Is selling to a company that buys houses for cash worth it?
By going directly to a cash investor, homeowners usually end up with a lot less cash than they could have gotten with an agent. A key benefit of selling to a cash home buyer is that they'll purchase homes in virtually any condition, including homes needing significant repairs or renovations. However, their business model depends on purchasing properties at a bargain, fixing them up, and renting them out or reselling them for a profit. So selling a house as is to an investor usually comes at a steep cost to your bottom line.
Related reading
About our reviews
Our company reviews are powered by hundreds of hours of research. To evaluate and rank cash home-buying companies, we analyze thousands of customer reviews, secret-shop each company, and look at publicly available data for indicators of offer quality, customer service, fees vs. value provided, trustworthiness, and more. Whenever possible, we also talk to customers, company reps, and industry professionals (such as real estate agents) who have had direct experience working with the brand.