Inherited
You stop paying for a house and get a fair price.
Sell Your House Fast in Ames, IA — Cash Offer in 24 Hours
We buy houses as-is in Ames and Story County, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us.
You're going to get a fair price and not have to do anything. Just show up at settlement.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours. Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing.
Call 888-274-5006 to talk through the property.
Hablamos Español
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Share the address, condition, and what is making the sale difficult.
Seller reviews
Read homeowner reviews
See what sellers say about working with us
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Estimate what you could keep from an Ames sale
See what you'd actually walk away with. We started with Zillow's typical home value for Ames, $303,902 as of August 2026, Source: Zillow Home Value Index, and Iowa's real estate transfer tax of 0.16% ($0.80 per $500 or fraction of $500 above the first $500). Pick your home's condition, from light touch-ups to fire damage, and change any number.
Ames, IA illustrative estimate
Ames, IA illustrative home sale net proceeds estimate
The sale price is only the starting point. What matters is what you keep after your payoff, repairs, fees, and other costs come out. That's your net proceeds.
The home value starts with Zillow’s typical value for the area. Your house may be worth more or less. You can change the value and every cost below. Adjust anything you know, including your payoff, repair or credit risk, cleanout cost, agent commission, and how long you expect to carry the property.
Starting-value basis: Zillow typical home value for Ames, IA (As of August 2026): $303,902. Editable estimate, not an appraisal. Source: Zillow Home Value Index
See what you'd actually walk away with.
Your starting home-value estimate may come from a public source when one is available. You can edit that estimate and each cost input above; your property's actual value and closing costs may differ.
Choose the condition that best fits your home, then update the value, mortgage payoff, and cost inputs with what you know. The local-cost input is an editable cost reserve, not a verified local tax rate.
Three simple steps
1
Tell us about your house
Share the address, what needs work and who lives there. Tell us when we can see it and when you want to sell.
2
Get your offer
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
3
Close
Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing.
Choose the question closest to yours
Selling an Ames house in a difficult situation
Foreclosure
Our agreement of sale will often get a sheriff's sale postponed so we can close. Signing alone doesn't postpone it automatically; we use the agreement to ask for the postponement, and it works more often than people think.
Fire damage
You keep the insurance money and don't have to worry about the house anymore — we'll take care of it.
Confirm how the proceeds and any mortgage requirements apply to your claim with your insurer and mortgage servicer.
Liens and back taxes
When you sell to us, we can set it up so you don't have to prepay anything — it comes out at closing.
Tenants
You're done — no turnover, no repairs, no more bad tenants.
Code violations
The fines don't stop while you think about it. They pile up, they add new ones, and every month takes another bite out of what the property is worth to you. We can buy it quickly, violations and all, so you stop the bleeding and keep your equity.
Divorce
You only have to agree on one thing — the price. After that we handle the rest, so there's nothing to argue about over repairs, contractors, showings, or who pays for what.
Cash Offer or EZ Sale: compare the written numbers
We have two ways to buy. A Cash Offer is built for speed, condition, and tough situations — heavy repairs, tight timelines, difficult circumstances. EZ Sale is often the better fit when the house doesn't need major repairs and you want a higher number. Either way, you compare written numbers and you pick what works best for you.
Swipe across the table to compare all four selling options.
| Factor | List with a realtor | FSBO | Cash Offer | EZ Sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Timeline | Market-dependent | Market-dependent | 30 days or less | 60 days or less |
| Price | Highest, if it sells | Varies | Lower price | Higher price than the Cash Offer |
| Repairs | Repairs may be needed before listing or after inspection | The seller handles repair decisions | No repairs | No repairs |
| Commissions | Agent commissions apply under the listing agreement | No listing-agent commission; the seller handles the sale | No commissions | No commissions |
| Closing costs | Seller costs depend on the contract and settlement statement | Seller costs depend on the contract and settlement statement | No closing costs | No closing costs |
| Showings | The seller prepares for and coordinates showings | The seller markets the property and coordinates showings | None | None |
| Who buys | Retail buyer | Retail buyer | USA Home Buyers buys directly | Goes to one of our partners |
| Certainty | Depends on the buyer, inspections, financing, and contract | Depends on finding and qualifying a buyer | Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing. | Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing. |
| Net proceeds | Compare the expected sale price after commissions, repairs, costs, and waiting | Compare the expected sale price after seller-managed costs and work | Compare the written price after your payoff and other property obligations. No commissions. No closing costs. | Compare the written price after your payoff and other property obligations. No commissions. No closing costs. |
Compare what you would keep after costs with the Ames calculator →
Questions about the two options? Call 888-274-5006.
Ames market snapshot
These are market measures, not an appraisal or offer for one house. Each card keeps its source, geography, and period with the number.
Median sale price
$330,000
Redfin · Ames, IA · Three months ending August 2026
Median days on market
16 days
Redfin · Ames, IA · Three months ending August 2026
Homes sold
188 homes
Redfin · Ames, IA · Three months ending August 2026
Typical home value (Zillow ZHVI)
$303,902
Zillow · Ames, IA · As of August 2026
For-sale inventory
181 homes
Zillow · Ames, IA · As of August 2026
Ames selling costs: Iowa real estate transfer tax
Iowa charges 80 cents for each $500, or fraction of $500, of the sale price above the first $500. That is a 0.16% rate applied in $500 units. For a $100,000 sale, $99,500 is taxable: 199 units at $0.80, or $159.20. The county recorder collects the tax and will not record the deed until it is paid. The person conveying the property—normally the seller—is liable under the statute. Some transfers are exempt, so the closing professional confirms whether the tax applies and the taxable amount.
The calculator starts with an editable 0.16% Iowa transfer-tax estimate; the final tax is figured in statutory $500 increments. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including Iowa real estate transfer tax. That does not pay a mortgage payoff, liens, back taxes, or your share of current property taxes.
Iowa Code §428A.1, rate → · §428A.2, exemptions → · §428A.3, liability → · Chapter 428A, including recording rules → · Iowa Department of Revenue tax and fee rates →
What Ames sellers should know
Old Town’s documented housing mix
The City of Ames identifies Old Town Historic District as a 12-block area just north of downtown. Its documented residential architecture ranges from late-19th- and early-20th-century Queen Anne and Italianate homes to bungalows and vernacular styles. If you are planning exterior work before selling, check the City's historic-preservation information for the property address before budgeting the work.
Ames is in Story County. Campustown is an Ames neighborhood; nearby Story County communities include Nevada, Huxley, Gilbert, and Kelley. Tell us where the property sits and what needs attention so we can keep the review tied to the right address and county records.
What sellers say about USA Home Buyers
About USA Home Buyers
Experience and reach
Our founder bought his first property in 2004 — more than 20 years of buying houses.
We've helped homeowners in just about every situation you can imagine — thousands of times. When you're working with someone, you want to know they've seen it before. We have.
We buy nationwide and focus on the country's most promising markets — not tied to one region, so we don't get stuck when a local market turns.
Your offer and closing
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing.
We always review the settlement sheet with the seller and walk through how the money breaks down so there is no confusion. We try to do that the day before closing so settlement is smooth; the title company confirms the final numbers.
It's real estate. Sometimes there are bumps in the road. We won't disappear when that happens, and we'll be fighting to get this to the closing table.
Cash Offer and EZ Sale
We have two ways to buy. A Cash Offer is built for speed, condition, and tough situations — heavy repairs, tight timelines, difficult circumstances. EZ Sale is often the better fit when the house doesn't need major repairs and you want a higher number. Either way, you compare written numbers and you pick what works best for you.
Read our Google reviews
Ames is a market we serve.
Useful Ames and Story County offices
City of Ames Planning and Historic Preservation
Local landmark and historic-district information for checking a property address and planned exterior work.
Story County Recorder and Vital Records
Deed recording and the county real-estate transfer-tax payment path; the Recorder also handles vital records.
Story County Real Estate and Property Records
County property-record information for checking a parcel and its recorded-property details.
Story County Assessor
Assessed values and property valuation information.
Questions about selling a house in Ames
Can I sell an Ames house as-is?
Yes. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. Tell us what is going on with the house and compare the written terms before you decide.
How is Iowa real estate transfer tax calculated?
Iowa charges 80 cents for each $500 or fraction of $500 of the sale price above the first $500. On a $100,000 sale, that is 199 units, or $159.20. Some transfers are exempt; the closing professional confirms whether an exemption applies and the taxable amount.
Will signing an agreement automatically postpone a sheriff’s sale?
Our agreement of sale will often get a sheriff's sale postponed so we can close. Signing alone doesn't postpone it automatically; we use the agreement to ask for the postponement, and it works more often than people think.
What happens to insurance proceeds if you buy a fire-damaged house?
You keep the insurance money and don't have to worry about the house anymore — we'll take care of it. Confirm how the proceeds and any mortgage requirements apply to your claim with your insurer and mortgage servicer.
What should I know about Ames’s Old Town Historic District?
The City describes Old Town as a 12-block area just north of downtown, with documented late-19th- and early-20th-century residential styles. If you are planning exterior work, check the City’s historic-preservation information for your address before budgeting the work.
Tell us about your Ames house
Share the address, condition, who is living there, and what you want to compare. Call 888-274-5006 if you would rather talk first.
Hablamos Español
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Share the address and what is making the sale difficult.
Hablamos Español
Nearby places and Iowa market pages
Nearby Story County places include Nevada, Huxley, Gilbert, and Kelley. USA Home Buyers also has Iowa market pages for Marshalltown and Waterloo.