Inherited
You stop paying for a house and get a fair price.
Sell Your House Fast in Chicago, IL — Cash Offer in 24 Hours
We buy houses as-is in Chicago and Cook 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. You get written terms before you commit, and closing is through a title company.
Call 888-274-5006 to talk through the house.
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 a Chicago sale
See what you'd actually walk away with. We started with Zillow's typical home value for Chicago, $334,030 as of August 2026 (Source: Zillow Home Value Index), and the verified local transfer taxes or filing fees of 1.2% total in Cook County. Pick your home's condition, from light touch-ups to fire damage, and change any number.
Chicago, IL illustrative estimate
Chicago, IL 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 Chicago, IL (As of August 2026): $334,030. 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 a Chicago house in a difficult situation
Foreclosure
Our agreement of sale will often get a foreclosure 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 Chicago calculator →
Questions about the two options? Call 888-274-5006.
Chicago market snapshot
These city-level measures give you context for comparing sale paths. The condition, size, access, occupancy, title, and timing of one house still matter.
Median sale price
$425,000
Redfin · Chicago, IL · Three months ending August 2026
Median days on market
49 days
Redfin · Chicago, IL · Three months ending August 2026
Homes sold
7,439 homes
Redfin · Chicago, IL · Three months ending August 2026
Typical home value
$334,030
Zillow · Chicago, IL · As of August 2026
For-sale inventory
5,576 homes
Zillow · Chicago, IL · As of August 2026
Redfin's median sale price and Zillow's typical home value are different measures; neither is an offer or an appraisal for a particular house.
Chicago selling costs: understand the transfer taxes
For a taxable transfer on a Chicago property in Cook County, the verified combined transfer-tax basis is $6 per $500 of taxable value, or 1.2%: $0.50 for Illinois, $0.25 for Cook County, and $5.25 for Chicago city taxes. The City layer generally includes a $3.75-per-$500 buyer portion and a $1.50-per-$500 CTA seller portion. Chicago includes property in Cook and DuPage counties, so confirm the parcel's actual county before applying a county tax layer. Exemptions, taxable value, and the contract can change the final settlement figures.
For a simple example, a $300,000 taxable Cook County Chicago transfer at $6 per $500 has $3,600 in combined transfer taxes before exemptions. Of the City layer, $2,250 is the general buyer portion and $900 is the CTA seller portion; the state and county layers account for the remaining $450. Check the written settlement figures for the property rather than treating the combined tax total as one person's bill.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including the Illinois state, county and city transfer taxes. Mortgage payoffs, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes remain separate.
What Chicago sellers should know
Bungalows and vintage homes
Chicago's residential stock includes Chicago bungalows and vintage homes. If you are weighing upkeep or updates on a bungalow, the Chicago Bungalow Association offers programs and educational resources on maintaining, preserving, and adapting these homes. You can look at those options while comparing a sale as the house stands.
City building and code questions
Chicago's Department of Buildings handles permitting, inspections, and code enforcement. If you have a City notice or open permit question, keep the notice and address together, check the City's instructions for that property, and share the paperwork when you compare sale options.
What sellers say about USA Home Buyers
Here's what sellers have said about working with us.
“We had a grease fire in the kitchen that spread to the wall and the cabinet above the range before we got it out. Insurance gave us actual cash value — $19,000 on a kitchen that would cost $35,000 to rebuild. I wasn't going to fight that for six months. USA Home Buyers bought the house as-is in nine days.”
“I worked at the Amazon distribution center in Kenosha and took a medical leave for six months. Fell behind on payments, the bank filed in Kenosha County Circuit Court — Wisconsin judicial foreclosure. USA Home Buyers explained exactly where the timeline was and moved fast. Written offer in twenty-four hours, closed in eleven days. Foreclosure dismissed.”
“We owned our Lakeview property for twenty-six years and the property taxes hit $6,400 this year. Both retired, two incomes gone to one Social Security check. The house had too many stairs for my husband's knees anyway. USA Home Buyers gave us a fair number and closed in seven days. We moved to a one-floor condo in Waukegan.”
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
Chicago is a market we serve.
Useful Chicago and Cook County offices
Chicago Department of Buildings
City permitting, inspections, and code enforcement.
Cook County Circuit Court Probate Division
A local court-office reference for estate-related seller situations.
Illinois Department of Revenue
Illinois real estate transfer-tax information, including county tax context.
City of Chicago transfer-tax code
The City’s real property transfer-tax ordinance and tax basis.
Questions about selling a house in Chicago
What transfer taxes apply to a Chicago home sale?
For a taxable transfer on a Chicago property in Cook County, the state, county, and City of Chicago layers total $6 per $500 of taxable value, or 1.2%, before exemptions. The City layer generally assigns $3.75 per $500 to the buyer and $1.50 per $500 to the seller for the CTA portion. Chicago includes property in Cook and DuPage counties, so confirm the parcel’s actual county before applying a county tax layer. Taxable value, exemptions, and the contract can change the final settlement figures. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs, including the Illinois state, county and city transfer taxes.
Can you buy a Chicago house that needs repairs or cleanout?
Yes. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. Tell us about the property and its condition so you can compare the written terms with another sale path.
What should I do about a City of Chicago building notice or permit issue?
The Chicago Department of Buildings handles permitting, inspections, and code enforcement. Keep the notice with the property information, check the City’s instructions for that address, and share the notice when you ask for a property review.
What if a foreclosure sale is scheduled?
Our agreement of sale will often get a foreclosure 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. Check the sale notice and deadline with your attorney or the court handling the case.
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.
Tell us about your Chicago house
Share the address, condition, who is living there, and what you need to know. 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 and what is making the sale difficult.
Hablamos Español
Nearby places and useful market pages
Nearby places include Oak Park, Evanston, Cicero, and Skokie. Check the exact property location when a city or county office needs to answer a parcel-specific question.
Browse other nearby market pages for Rockford, Illinois and Kenosha, Wisconsin.