Burlington, Iowa · Des Moines County · How it works
How Selling Your Burlington House to Us Works
1. Tell us about the house
USA Home Buyers buys houses as-is in Burlington, in Des Moines County, Iowa. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us.
Start with the address, condition, who lives there, access, ownership, and timing. You can start the conversation before every property question is settled.
Call 888-274-5006 with a question or to talk about the house. You do not need every answer before you call.
Request a written cash offer2. The sale, step by step
From the first conversation to settlement
Talk through the house and situation
Tell us what you know about the Burlington house, its condition, occupancy, access, ownership, and timing. An estate, tenant, lien, payoff, tax account, or move date can be part of the conversation even if some details are still open.
Review the property as it sits
We ask practical questions about the house and review its current condition. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. We can also talk through listing, repairs, waiting, or another sale path.
Read the written offer and terms
We give written cash offers in 24 hours. You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company. Read the price, responsibilities, possession, timing, costs, and property-specific conditions before you decide whether to proceed, compare another option, or stop before signing.
Work through title and payoffs
If you choose to proceed, the title company checks the deed, who can sign, mortgage payoffs, liens, taxes, and the documents needed for settlement. Bring the statements, notices, or estate papers you have so it can check what applies to this property.
Review the settlement sheet and close
A settlement sheet shows how the sale money breaks down. 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. You're going to get a fair price and not have to do anything. Just show up at settlement.
3. Two ways to sell
Compare the 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.
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 | Yes, partner visits |
| 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 | You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company. | You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company. |
| 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. |
Mortgage payoffs, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes remain separate settlement items.
4. Burlington and Des Moines County
Check the property's actual location
Burlington is the Des Moines County seat. The county lists Burlington separately from Danville, Mediapolis, Middletown, and West Burlington, so an area name alone does not establish which municipal and county records apply to an address. Confirm the property's location using the county's mapping and community information before relying on a local record.
5. Closing numbers
Review the settlement sheet and Iowa transfer tax
The settlement sheet shows the sale price, mortgage payoff, liens, taxes, other costs, and the amount scheduled for you. Ask about any line you do not recognize before signing. 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.
Iowa's real estate transfer tax is 80 cents for each $500, or fraction of $500, of the price above the first $500. On a $100,000 sale, the taxable $99,500 is 199 units of $500, so the tax is $159.20. Iowa law generally makes the person conveying the property, normally the seller, liable for the tax. The county recorder will not record the deed until it is paid. Some family, divorce, estate-distribution, and $500-or-less transfers may be exempt, so the title company confirms whether the tax applies and the taxable amount.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your mortgage payoff, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes remain separate settlement items.
Compare what you might keep after costs with the Burlington home-sale net-proceeds calculator →. It is an estimate; the title company confirms the final settlement figures.
6. When things get difficult
We stay with the process
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.
7. Questions and contact
Burlington guidance for your situation
If an estate, foreclosure notice, tenant, code issue, fire damage, or lien affects the next steps, open the page for that situation:
Burlington selling-process questions
Can I start before every question about the Burlington house is settled?
Yes. Start with the address and what you know about the house, its condition, who lives there, access, ownership, and timing. Bring up the open questions during the first conversation.
What is the difference between a 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.
Who pays Iowa real estate transfer tax when I sell to you?
Iowa law generally makes the person conveying the property, normally the seller, liable for the tax. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. The title company confirms whether an exemption applies and what amount is taxable. Your mortgage payoff, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes remain separate.
What does the settlement sheet show?
It shows how the sale money breaks down. 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.
Talk with us about your Burlington house
Call 888-274-5006 or start with the address and what you know in the form above. You can call before every property detail is settled.
Tell us about the house