Need to sell your house fast? It takes an average of 79 days to sell a house in Houston. If you don’t have that kind of time, you’ve got options.
Most people who need to sell a house fast will either:
- ⚡️Sell to a cash home buyer or iBuyer: These companies can make you an offer extremely quickly — sometimes in less than 24 hours — and you can close on your sale in about two weeks or less. However, you’ll make less than market value on your home (typically only 70%).
- 💵 Sell with a top real estate agent: An experienced agent can help you sell your home quickly and get more cash in your pocket, but you’ll likely have to wait longer than you would with a cash buyer.
But these aren’t your only options. If you want to avoid lowball offers and long selling timelines, try Clever Offers for free!
Compare Instant Cash Offers from multiple vetted investors in your area, and get up to 100% of your home's value. Or, choose our 7-Day-Sold program to sell your home on the open market in just 7 days. See your instant cash offer today.
Sell my house fast to a cash home buyer in Houston
🔎 Key takeaways: Selling to a cash buyer
- 🏠 Median home value: $314,506[1]
- 💵 Cash offer on a typical Houston home: $197,405
- ⏰ Average time to sell with cash buyer: 7-14 days (A traditional home sale in Houston takes around 79 days)
- 📈 National percentage of homes purchased with cash in the last year: 14%[2]
If you need to sell your house as fast as possible, selling to a vetted cash home buyer like We Buy Houses or Clever Offers can help you do it. A cash buyer can sell your home quickly, often closing within two weeks or less. These home sales are best for sellers who have distressed properties, are facing foreclosure, or need to sell as fast as possible.
When you sell with a cash buyer, you can expect to make less than 70% of your home’s value. If you’re selling your house as is in Houston (without making repairs), the cash buyer will factor in the cost of repairs after the inspection, which will be taken out of your cash offer.
For the typical Houston home with a home value of $314,506, the average cash offer would be around $197,405. This factors in the average repair costs of $22,749 and the reduction of 30% of the home’s estimated value.
Since the cash buyer doesn’t need to secure financing, the closing period is much faster than a traditional sale. Generally, houses on the open market take around 79 days to sell in Houston (from listing to closing), but when you sell with a cash buyer, it could take just 7-14 days.
Cash home buyers are typically real estate investors who buy distressed or as-is properties that they can flip for a profit after making repairs and updates. The process generally works like this:
- #1. Request an offer: Submit basic information about your home through an online form or over the phone with the company. Within a few days, you should receive an initial estimate of your cash offer.
- #2. Complete inspection: A company representative or a third-party inspector examines your property’s condition. After the inspection, the cash buyer will adjust your offer based on estimated repair costs.
- #3. Accept the offer and close: If you accept the company’s final offer, you can quickly sign the purchase agreement and choose a closing date. If all goes well, you can expect to close and receive payment within 1 to 2 weeks.
The best cash home buyer companies in Houston
-
✨ Best Overall
Clever Offers
Offers Marketplace⚡ Get Cash OffersCompare all cash offers and sell-fast options in one place.
-
Greenlight Offer
Cash InvestorLearn MoreGet cash fast for a fixer-upper or hard-to-sell property.
-
Homeward
iBuyerLearn MoreInstant cash offers for newer and well-maintained homes.
-
Orchard
Bridge LoanLearn MoreUnlock equity to buy your next house before you sell.
-
Xome
Online AuctionLearn MoreGet more bids for fixer-uppers if you can wait longer to sell.
» MORE: Compare all cash home buyer companies in Houston.
Pros and cons of selling with a cash home buyer in Houston
Pros
- You can sell fast and close quickly, sometimes within a week.
- Cash buyers are more likely to buy your home as is (no repairs required).
- It's a good option if you’re facing foreclosure or another difficult circumstance.
- You generally won’t have to worry about managing open houses or showings.
Cons
- You’ll likely sell for less than you’d make on the open market.
- Some real estate investors use high-pressure negotiating tactics.
- iBuyers may require expensive repairs before closing on a sale.
- Not all cash home buyers are trustworthy and ethical companies.
If you decide to sell with a cash home buyer, we recommend getting multiple cash offers and vetting the companies thoroughly before accepting. The best cash buyer companies offer initial offers in less than 48 hours, allow flexible closing dates, and vet their investors.
You should also consult a couple of real estate agents to see what your house could sell for as is (without making any repairs).
💡 Another option: Sell to an iBuyer
If you have a home in fairly good condition, an iBuyer can help you sell your home in under two weeks and generally pay closer to market value than a cash buyer. Examples of top iBuyers include Opendoor, Offerpad, Knock, and Homeward.
iBuyers specialize in buying residential homes in big cities that aren’t in distressed conditions and are comparable to other houses that are selling on the market. The best iBuyers offer flexible closing timelines, advances for repairs or moving expenses, and have consistent positive reviews.
An offer from an iBuyer is typically higher than one from a cash home buyer, but they may ask for repairs. Additionally, most iBuyers charge a 5-10% service fee, depending on how long they think the property will take to resell.
Sell my house fast with a real estate agent in Houston
🔎 Key takeaways: Selling with a realtor
- ⚖️ Market condition = Neutral market
- 🏠 Average listing price: $369,900 (up 1.34% compared to last month)[3]
- 💵 Average sale price: $323,333 (12.6% less than listing price)[4]
- 🛠 Average repair costs: $22,749
- 🗓 Average time to sell: 79 days[3]
If you want to sell your home quickly and receive fair market value, your best bet is working with a top real estate agent in Houston.
In the past 12 months, the average home sale price for a Houston home has been $323,333. This is 12.6% less than the average listing price of $369,900.
On average, homes have been on the market for 44 days before the seller accepts an offer. If you want to sell your house fast, it helps to know the best time to sell a house in Houston.
- 🟢 In May, listings have been on the market for the least amount of time, averaging just 41 days, making this month the best time to sell a house fast in Houston.
- 🔴 In January, houses were on the market for the most amount of time, averaging 62 days, making this month the worst time to sell a house fast in Houston.
Typically, it takes about 35 days to close once you’ve accepted an offer. This period can fluctuate depending on whether the buyer is paying with cash or using financing.
No matter when you sell your home, an experienced real estate agent can help you navigate the Houston housing market and make the most out of your situation. The only downside is that it might take more time than selling with a cash buyer.
| ⭐ In Houston, home sellers who list with Clever get their first qualified offer in an average of 24.1 days — that’s 20 days faster than the average time to receive an offer in Houston. Match with top-rated agents who offer a discounted 1.5% listing fee. |
Pros and cons of selling with a realtor in Houston
Pros
- You'll likely receive more money for your home than you would with a cash buyer.
- If it’s a hot market, you still can sell your home fairly quickly.
- Your agent will represent you in negotiations.
- You’ll get a free home evaluation so you’ll know how much your house is worth.
Cons
- Your home could take longer to sell on the open market.
- You’ll pay Houston realtor commissions and seller closing costs.
- You may need to pay for repairs or cleaning to get your home market-ready.
To save money on real estate commission in Houston (which average at 5.76%), consider working with a low commission realtor or discount real estate broker in Houston. These realtors offer full-service and limited-service packages for lower commission rates, letting you keep more money in your pocket, and you can sell your house as is.
Expert tips to sell my house fast in Houston
One benefit of using an agent is their knowledge of the Houston market, which is very valuable when seeking a quick home sale. Along with your own agent's advice, here are some other tips for selling your home quickly in Houston.
- Make sure your home is move-in ready: Brady Bridges, owner of Reside Real Estate in Fort Worth, says a home that's ready for immediate possession is more likely to attract cash home buyers, as cash house buyers are looking for homes that don’t require a ton of extra work to resell. "Most cash buyers are either flippers or seasonal buyers," says Bridges. "So allowing purchasers to move in without needing to do any repairs is a terrific selling factor to them."
- Price the home correctly: "Price the home at or below market value, and there will be a better chance of having more eyes on the property and receiving multiple offers, thus driving the price up," recommends Janis Smith, a Dallas realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty. Overpricing could lead to your home languishing on the market.
- Boost your home's curb appeal: First impressions matter to buyers. "A well-manicured lawn, trimmed trees and shrubs, and a pop of color from flowers, plants, or fresh mulch create an inviting exterior that attracts buyers," notes Smith. "A freshly painted front door, clean windows, and a pressure-washed driveway or walkway further enhance the home’s appeal."
- Market the home effectively: The more exposure your listing has, the quicker it can sell. Smith advises leveraging "high-quality listing photos, virtual tours, and targeted online marketing" to generate buyer interest. "Working with an experienced agent who understands how to market a fast sale effectively is crucial."
- Don't schedule an offer response time: Bridges notes that setting an offer deadline might backfire. "If a potential buyer knows that their responses will be looked at on a particular day and time, they may decide not to send it in." For the most part, buyers aren't interested in competition from other buyers. "Many potential buyers also insist they have no interest in bidding wars," says Bridges. "Once they find out, it could be too late to back out from existing commitments."
Frequently asked questions about how to sell my house fast in Houston
One of the fastest ways to sell a house in Houston is selling to a cash home buyer. These companies pay for houses in cash, don’t require repairs, and can typically close within 7-14 days. Keep in mind that you’ll likely make less money for your sale (typically only 70% of its value).
It takes about 79 days to sell a house in Houston, from listing to closing.
Factors that influence selling speed include method of sale (traditional sale, cash buyer, for sale by owner, etc.), seasonality, and local market conditions.
According to Zillow, Houston is experiencing a neutral market. In a balanced market, neither buyers nor sellers hold a significant advantage. Homes that are competitively priced and in good condition will still attract interest, but sellers may need more patience than in a seller's market. You can still sell your house fast in Houston, but it can require strategic pricing, effective marketing, and professional support to stand out from the competition.
In Houston, you can sell your house directly to a cash home buyer company (without using a realtor) and close within 7-14 days.
If you want to sell your house on the open market, selling without a realtor in Houston might not be the fastest option. You'll need to handle all marketing, showings, and negotiations yourself while learning complex real estate processes. Unless you use a service to list your house on the MLS, your listing receives significantly less exposure, resulting in fewer potential buyers and extended time on the market.
When you sell your house to a cash home buyer, you typically pay fewer closing costs compared to a traditional sale. Most legitimate cash buyers cover many of the standard closing costs to make their service more appealing.
However, you may still be responsible for some expenses:
- Houston property taxes up to the closing date
- Any outstanding HOA fees or liens
- Houston transfer fees in some cases
- Your own attorney fees if you choose to have representation
- Service fees (iBuyers typically charge these at closing)
Why trust us
Data sources
For this article, our Research Team used real estate data from Zillow, Realtor.com, and Redfin to create this guide about how to sell a house fast in Houston. As these sources update, we refresh our pages to ensure the information is timely and accurate.
About Clever Real Estate
Clever Real Estate is a trusted platform that has helped over 154,000 people successfully buy and sell homes. We partner with over 16,000 top-performing agents nationwide at reputable brokerages and make real estate more accessible (and affordable!) for everyone.
Our free services have earned a reputation for excellence, with a 5-star rating on Trustpilot and more than 3,400 positive customer reviews. Our industry-leading researchers are dedicated to educating buyers and sellers through comprehensive guides and expert insights, featured in publications such as The New York Times, Business Insider, Inman, and Housing Wire.
Whether you're looking to buy or sell a home, Clever Real Estate provides the tools and expertise you need to make informed decisions and achieve your real estate goals. Learn more about Clever.
