When I decided to sell my house, one question stood out: cash home buyers vs realtors: which is faster for California homeowners? I needed to balance speed, costs and peace of mind. Drawing from my own experience and industry data, I’ll walk you through the key differences and help you decide which path makes sense for your situation.

My selling objectives

Before diving into options, I defined what mattered most:

• Speed of closing – I wanted funds in hand as soon as possible
• Net proceeds – I aimed to maximize what I kept after fees and repairs
• Certainty – I needed a sale that wouldn’t fall through at the last minute
• Minimal hassle – I preferred to avoid endless showings and costly preparations

Compare cash buyers and realtors

Closing timeline difference

With a traditional agent, homes in California average 37–56 days from listing to sale offer. After offer acceptance, closing can add 30–35 days more.
By contrast, 65 percent of sellers using cash buyers close within 30 days, and many wrap up in just 7–14 days (Bay Area House Buyer).

Fees and net proceeds

Working with a realtor typically means a 2.5–3 percent commission on the sale price. On a median California home value of $832,500 (February 2025), that’s nearly $25,000 gone in commissions alone (Bankrate). Add staging, photography and inspection costs, and your expenses climb higher.
Cash buyers skip realtor commissions entirely. For a $500,000 purchase, closing costs can total around $1,700, excluding taxes and HOA fees (Mylene Merlo). That means more of your sale price stays in your pocket.

Repair requirements and hassle

Traditional listings almost always involve pre-sale repairs, cosmetic updates and multiple showings. Nearly half of sellers spend thousands on cleaning, staging and minor fixes.\
While cash offers provide a quick sale, they also buy homes as-is, so you avoid repair bills and endless open houses. In fact, 54 percent of sellers working with cash buyer companies incurred no extra selling expenses like staging or professional clean-up (Bay Area House Buyer.

Review my transactions

Selling to a cash buyer

I contacted Bay Area House Buyers for a quick offer on my three-bedroom bungalow. They verified funds, inspected my home in its current condition and gave me a written offer within 48 hours. We closed in 12 days. I skipped $5,000 in repair requests and avoided paying nearly $18,000 in agent commissions. If you want more on the as-is process, see selling a house as-is in california: what you need to know.

Listing with a realtor

Next, I listed my condo with an experienced agent. We prepped the unit, staged it and hosted open houses for three weeks before an offer came in. After inspection negotiations and a 30-day escrow, the sale wrapped up in 60 days. I netted a higher gross price, but paid roughly $15,000 in commissions plus $3,000 in staging and repair costs. For help weighing agent vs cash buyer, check should i sell my california home to a cash buyer or list with an agent?.

Quick comparison table

Choose what suits

Select your path based on priorities:

• Urgent need to close or facing foreclosure – see how to sell a house fast in california if you’re facing foreclosure
• Property needs work and you want an as-is sale – check selling a house as-is in california: what you need to know
• You have time, want top dollar and are comfortable with showings – explore agent options via should i sell my california home to a cash buyer or list with an agent?
• Life change like divorce requiring fast funds – learn more at can i sell my house fast during divorce in california?

Conclusion and recommendation

Based on my experience, cash offers deliver unmatched speed, certainty and simplicity. If you value a quick, hassle-free sale—even at a slightly lower gross price—Bay Area House Buyers can provide a fair cash offer and close in as little as two weeks. If you can wait for the market to push your price higher and don’t mind inspections, repairs and agent fees, listing with a realtor may yield more gross proceeds. Ultimately, weigh your timeline, financial goals and property condition to pick the right strategy.

Frequently asked questions

1. How fast can cash home buyers close in California?
   Cash buyers often close in 7–14 days once you accept their offer, thanks to no mortgage contingencies.
2. Will I get full market value with a cash offer?
   Cash offers are typically below full market price—around 80 percent on average—but you save on commissions and repairs.
3. Do I need to repair my home before selling for cash?
   No, cash buyers purchase properties as-is, so you can skip costly fixes and staging.
4. Can I negotiate terms with a cash buyer?
   While cash offers are more streamlined, you can often negotiate closing dates and personal property inclusion.
5. Are realtor fees negotiable?
   Yes, you can discuss lower commission rates—every tenth of a percent matters in California’s high-value market.