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Edited by Andrew Whytock
Top We Buy Houses companies in Chicago | Should I sell to a We Buy Houses company? | How much do they pay? | Alternatives | FAQs
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If you need to sell a home quickly in the Windy City, We Buy Houses companies in Chicago are a possible solution. These companies can provide an offer on your home within 24–48 hours and close in just a few days, depending on your schedule.
Cash buyer companies like these are convenient because they’ll buy your home as is, without asking for any improvements. However, they usually pay much less than your home’s market value.
Before you sign a contract with a We Buy Houses in Chicago company, we strongly recommend getting multiple offers. This lets you compare your options, so you can be confident you’re getting a fair price for your house.
If you’re looking to sell your house fast for cash in Chicago, Cwe can help you compare your options easily. Our free service matches sellers with vetted cash buyers, saving them time and ensuring a competitive selling price. Request as many offers as you’d like, choose the best one, or walk away any time.
Get cash offers from top Chicago buyers now!
Quick view: Top 6 Chicago We Buy Houses for Cash companies
| 💰 Cash buyer | 💸 Time to offer | 🗓 Time to close |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Clever Offers | Varies | Varies |
| 2. Heartland Buys Houses | 24 hours | Varies |
| 3. Express Homebuyers Illinois | 7 minutes | 7 days |
| 4. Finally Sold | Offer times vary | 3-10 days |
| 5. We Buy Ugly Houses Illinois | After home evaluation | 21 days |
| 6. We Buy Houses IL | 24-48 hours | 7–14 days |
Top 6 We Buy Houses companies in Chicago
🏆 About our rankings: Our team of real estate experts spent hundreds of hours researching We Buy Houses companies in Chicago and across the U.S. to find the best options in every city. Our “We Buy Houses in Chicago” rankings include considerations like offer speed, closing time, customer reviews, and availability.
🥇 Clever Offers: Our top pick
Nationwide
- Compare multiple cash offers
- Free comparative market analysis
- Full support from Clever team
Clever Offers is a free service that matches sellers with offers from reputable local and national cash buyers. Sellers can choose the best cash offer, or they can explore alternative home sale options, like seller financing or listing with a local realtor. A Clever concierge will help you decide the best route to take.
Clever Offers is available nationwide, but its network of buyers may be limited in some rural areas. Enter your zip code to see if Clever Offers is available in your area.
Clever Offers is a free service that matches sellers with vetted cash buyers in their area. It’s ideal for sellers who want to compare various offers, get the best deal, and sell a home fast.
Alternatively, sellers can explore other home sale options, like seller financing or listing with a local realtor.
Your Clever concierge can also match you with a local realtor for a free comparative market analysis (CMA) of your property. You can use a CMA to negotiate with investors and get the best price for your home.
The Clever team is available for any support you need during the process, including buyer communications, offer rejections, and more.
» MORE: Clever Offers in review
🥈 Heartland Buys Houses: Decades of local experience
Local
- (800)-255-8250
- Offer in 24 hours
- Time to close varies
Heartland Buys Houses is a Spring Valley-based cash buyer that purchases houses in Illinois; its reps speak Spanish and Polish. It can make an initial cash offer within 24 hours and allows sellers to choose the closing date. Its online reviews are mostly positive, with former sellers saying that its reps are highly responsive and very knowledgeable.
Heartland Buys Houses all throughout Illinois .
Heartland Buys Houses focuses specifically on buying homes in the Greater Chicagoland area, though they do buy homes in a few other cities.
The company provides offers in 24 hours or less. The time to close varies depending on the condition of the property, so Heartland Buys Houses may not be a good fit for you if you need to close in a week or two.
However, the company has had a successful track record for over three decades and promises excellent service from its owner, who gives out his personal cell phone number to clients.
Customers said the service was fast and easy and they could always count on someone to pick up the phone and answer any questions they had.
🥉 Express Homebuyers: Best for the suburbs
Nationwide
- (877) 804-5252
- Offer in 7 minutes
- Close in 7 days
Express Homebuyers has been a nationwide cash buyer since 2003. It makes an all-cash offer after visiting a property and can close in as soon as seven days. Its reviews are largely positive, with previous sellers praising the quick and straightforward transactions it provides. There are a number of negative reviews, however, stating cases of predatory marketing, unresponsiveness, and excessively low offers.
Express Homebuyers purchases homes across the Cook County area.
Express Homebuyers is a national company that buys homes in and around Chicago. The company focuses on speed, providing a preliminary offer in minutes online and closing as soon as seven days.
Express Homebuyers says it will buy your home “no matter where you live in Illinois,” so even if you’re just outside of the Chicago Metro area, you can still count on it to give you an offer.
Customer reviews mention how fast and easy the selling process was. Some customers said a representative came to do a walkthrough of the house the same day as the initial call.
4. Finally Sold: Transparent pricing and speed
Nationwide
- (844) 669-7653
- Offer times vary
- Close in 3-10 days
Finally Sold is a cash buyer that purchases houses in all 50 states. It can make a no-obligation offer as soon as a property walkthrough has been completed and can close in 10 days. Reviews about the company are largely positive, with former sellers praising the fast process and the very reasonable offers — but a majority of these reviews were from before 2020.
Finally Sold buys homes in Illinios throughout Cook, Lake, McLean, and other counties.
Finally Sold is a cash buyer that operates throughout the U.S., including Chicago and all of Illinois. The company makes an offer after an in-home consultation and can close in as few as 10 business days.
In an effort to be transparent about pricing, Finally Sold will provide a comparison between its offer and what you could expect to earn by selling with an agent. (Of course, you should speak to an agent yourself to make sure the company’s estimate is accurate.)
Customers have praised the company’s speed and have said that Finally Sold’s offers tended to be a bit higher than others.
5. We Buy Ugly Houses: Best for first-time sellers
Nationwide
- (866) 200-6475
- Offer after home evaluation
- Close in 21 days
We Buy Ugly Houses is a network of cash buyer franchises that has been purchasing homes throughout the U.S. since 1996. It can make a final cash offer after completing a property walkthrough and close in as few as 3 weeks.
We Buy Ugly Houses purchases homes across Illinois, including Chicago, Chicago suburbs, and Peoria-Bloomington.
We Buy Ugly Houses is a national company with 800 franchises across the U.S., including several in the Chicago area. The company is a division of HomeVestors, an investment firm that has been in business for over 25 years. It can provide an offer in 48 hours and close in 21 days.
If you’re a first-time seller, We Buy Ugly Houses offers a recognizable brand with a reputation for customer satisfaction. As we note in our review for We Buy Ugly Houses, the national brand has a score of 4.4 out of 5 across 1356 reviews.
In reviews, customers mentioned being happy with the speed and convenience of the service. Many sellers also praised the responsiveness of company representatives.
6. We Buy Houses: Trustworthy reputation
Nationwide
- (877) 932-8946
- Offer in 24-48 hours
- Close in 7-14 days
We Buy Houses is a network of cash buyers that have been buying homes all over the U.S. since 1997. It can make an offer anywhere from 24–48 hours and can close as quickly as seven days. Sellers who left reviews said they were pleased with the fast and easy transactions that the company provided.
We Buy Houses purchases properties across Illinois.
We Buy Houses is a network of investors that stretches across the U.S. and includes cash buyers in the Chicago area. The cash buyer can provide an initial offer within 24–48 hours and can close in 7–14 days.
When we wrote our review of We Buy Houses, we found that customers were overwhelmingly happy with the company’s services.
In fact, we found very few negative reviews, suggesting the company offers consistent service, possibly due to the fact that We Buy Houses vets each location before issuing a franchise license.
Not seeing the right company for you? Check out our list of the top companies that buy houses for cash across the country!
Who should sell to a Chicago We Buy Houses company?
We Buy Houses for Cash companies are best for people who need to sell their house immediately, even if it means leaving a lot of money on the table.
Selling to an investment company that buys houses for cash may be a good option for you if:
- You’re facing imminent foreclosure
- You need to sell incredibly quickly (in a week or less)
- Your home is in poor shape and you don’t have time or money for repairs
Before you go with a We Buy Houses for Cash in Chicago company, take a moment to evaluate your situation. If you’re on an extremely tight timeline and can’t afford to make repairs, selling to a We Buy Houses company may be your best (or only) option.
But it’s often possible to sell your home quickly — and for a lot more money — on the open market. Even if you can’t pay for repairs, you may be able to list with an agent and sell it quickly in as-is condition.
If you’re considering selling to a cash home buyer in Chicago, we highly recommend comparing multiple cash offers with a service like Clever Offers.
A Clever concierge will gather details about your home and bring you cash offers from local and national companies with good reputations. You can also explore alternative home sale options, like seller financing or listing with a local realtor.
How do We Buy Houses for Cash companies work?
We Buy Houses for Cash companies in Chicago are typically owned by real estate investors. These investors look for deals, most often by searching for distressed or unwanted properties that tend to be less desirable to ordinary home buyers.
They purchase the homes by making fast, all-cash offers that allow them to buy at a discounted price. Then, they make the necessary repairs and re-sell the properties for a profit.
We Buy Houses for Cash pros and cons for Chicago home sellers
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| Fast, easy closing. These companies typically make an offer within 24–48 hours and close in as little as one week. | Significantly lower sale price. The biggest drawback is that you won't get what your home is actually worth on the open market. |
| No paperwork. Most reputable We Buy Houses companies will take care of all the paperwork for you. | Little room to negotiate. The offer they give you generally doesn't have much wiggle room. |
| No repairs. They'll buy your property as-is without requiring any repairs — even if your home is in poor condition. | No representation. Unlike in a traditional real estate transaction, you won't have an agent to represent your best interests. |
How much do We Buy Houses companies in Chicago pay?
We Buy Houses companies and local real ecity investors in Chicago generally use the 70% rule: never pay more than 70% of a home’s after-repair value (ARV), minus repair costs. You can get a ballpark idea of your home’s ARV by looking at listing/sale prices of comparable homes in your neighborhood that have been renovated recently.
The median listing price of homes in Chicago is $340,000. Assuming a We Buy Houses company believes that your home will be worth that after they’ve made the necessary repairs ($50,000 in this example), they would pay you around $188,000.
(After repair value x 0.70) − Repair costs = Purchase price
($340,000 x 0.70) − $50,000 = $188,000
When is selling to a We Buy Houses company worth it?
Selling to a We Buy Houses company may be worth it if you need to sell your home quickly and don’t have time to make any repairs.
But most sellers will be able to sell their home for a much higher price by listing on the open market.
You need to sell your house fast
| 🗓 Time to sell | 💰 Median listing price | |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 41 days | $340,000 |
| United States | 50 days | $427,250 |
One of the main benefits of a We Buy Houses company is that it can make almost instant cash offers — allowing you to close in as little as seven days.
The catch is that you won’t get the maximum value for your home.
While the average time to sell in Chicago is 41 days, a realtor who specializes in selling homes quickly may be able to help you sell your home faster on the open market — without sacrificing so much equity.
You’re selling a house in poor condition
Another great benefit of a cash buyer like We Buy Houses in Chicago is that it will purchase homes in as-is condition. If your home is in need of extensive repairs or is structurally unsound, it may be easier to sell to a We Buy Houses company instead of finding a buyer on the open market.
That said, we recommend talking to an experienced real estate agent before accepting an offer from a We Buy Houses Chicago company. In today’s market, there are buyers who are willing to purchase fixer-uppers, and you’ll almost always get more money for your home by selling on the open market.
If you’d like to get an agent’s professional opinion, our partners at Clever can connect you to a top local realtor. You’ll get a free expert home valuation to make sure you’re getting a fair price.
Better alternatives for Chicago home sellers
There are two main types of alternatives to selling to a We Buy Houses company in Chicago: selling to an iBuyer or listing with a traditional agent.
If you’re selling a newer home that doesn’t need extensive repairs, we recommend getting an offer from an iBuyer.
Listing with a real estate agent is the best way to sell your home for its full value — and an agent can help you compare cash offers to what your home may get on the open market.
Sell to an iBuyer
Like We Buy Houses companies, iBuyers make all-cash offers on homes. They offer the same fast closing timelines, but they typically pay much closer to market value.
But there’s a reason iBuyers pay more than traditional We Buy Houses companies. iBuyers have much stricter purchase criteria and are only available in select areas. If your home was built recently and only needs minor repairs, it may be a good candidate for an iBuyer. Otherwise, it probably won’t qualify.
If you need to sell your Chicago home quickly and it’s in good shape, we recommend seeing if there are any iBuyers available in your area. Requesting a cash offer only takes a few minutes, and you can walk away with no obligation if the offer is lower than what you think your home is worth.
List with a Chicago realtor who specializes in quick sales
Every seller should start their selling journey with an expert home valuation from a local real estate agent — even if you ultimately decide to sell to accept a cash offer from a We Buy Houses company or iBuyer.
Getting a home valuation is free, no-risk, and allows you to ensure that you’re making the right decision.
In the current Chicago real estate market, many top agents can still sell your home quickly. They can even target individual cash buyers and investors, allowing you to sell your home as-is while still getting top dollar for your home.
FAQs about We Buy Houses companies in Chicago
Who should use a We Buy Houses company in Chicago?
If you have a home in poor condition and need to sell it quickly, a We Buy Houses company in Chicago could be a convenient solution. You'll get a lot less from a cash buyer than you would by selling it on the open market, but a cash buyer will buy it in its current condition. Find out if selling to a We Buy Houses company is right for you.
Are We Buy Houses Companies in Chicago a ripoff?
Most We Buy Houses companies are legitimate businesses, but they will pay much less for your home as-is than you would get by fixing it up and selling on the open market. Find out more about what We Buy Houses companies pay.
More We Buy Houses for Cash resources
Want to learn more about how We Buy Houses companies work and what you should watch out for as a home seller? Check out these great resources!
Companies That Buy Houses for Cash [In-Depth Guide]: You might be willing to sell to a We Buy Houses company if you’re in a bind, but is it worth it? Find out how these companies operate.
Are “We Buy Houses” Companies a Ripoff? Cardboard signs at the side of the road don’t seem very professional, so what’s the deal with all of these companies that advertise “We Buy Houses in Chicago” on highway billboards? Learn how to tell the difference between a legitimate cash buyer and a scam.
How Much Will an Investor Pay for My House? Investors don’t buy houses because they love them — they buy them to make a profit. Learn more about how an investor would price your home if they were interested in buying it.
More Chicago home selling guides
We Buy Houses in Illinois | Top Companies: Looking to sell your home quickly for cash in Illinois? See our reviews for the top cash buyer companies in the state.
Cost to Sell a House in Illinois: What will it cost you to sell a house in Illinois? Our guide breaks down realtor commission, seller closing costs, and other expenses involved in selling a home.
The 5 Best Flat-Fee MLS Companies in Illinois: Thinking about selling a home in Illinois without a realtor? You’ll need to be on the MLS, an online database where buyers look for homes. These companies can help you list your home there without an agent.
Realtor Fees in Illinois: What does it cost to hire a real estate agent in Illinois? Our guide will tell you what you can expect to pay on average and how to save.
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