Columbia, Maryland · Howard County, Maryland

How Selling Your Columbia House to Us Works

We buy houses in Columbia and throughout Howard County. Tell us what is happening with the house and when you want to sell. You can start before every detail is settled.

We answer 24/7 at 888-274-5006.

Tell us about the house

We give written cash offers in 24 hours.

Share the address, condition, occupancy, and timing so we can start with the actual house.

From the first conversation to settlement

The sale, step by step

Step 1: Tell us what you know about the house
Start with the address, condition, who lives there, and your timing. If an estate, notice, payoff, lien, or tax issue is part of the picture, tell us what you know. You can start before every detail is settled.
Step 2: Talk through the house and your choices
We talk about the house as it stands, including repairs, access, occupancy, and timing. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. We explain the Cash Offer and EZ Sale choices, and you can compare them with listing or another option.
Step 3: Read the written offer and terms
You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company. Read the price, timing, costs, and property-specific terms before you decide whether to proceed.
Step 4: Let the title company check ownership and payoffs
If you choose to go ahead, the title company checks the deed and who can sign, then gathers current mortgage, lien, and tax payoff figures. We talk through occupancy, access, belongings, and moving timing with you and put the agreed details in the written terms.
Step 5: Review the settlement sheet
The 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.
Step 6: Sign and close
If you decide to proceed, the title company arranges signing and gives you instructions for receiving the money. Close as fast as 7 days when title and closing details allow.

You're going to get a fair price and not have to do anything. Just show up at settlement.

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	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.

Compare what you would keep after costs with the Columbia calculator →

Questions about the two options? Call 888-274-5006.

Columbia and Howard County details

Estate papers and closing figures

Who signs for an estate?

After the estate is opened, the appointed personal representative—the executor named in the will or an administrator if there is no will—signs for the estate, not the heirs. Unless the will or a court order limits that power, Maryland lets the representative sell estate property without court approval or ratification. If the will restricts a sale or family members disagree, the representative can ask the court for permission. We can talk through the papers you have. If you need an estate attorney, we can help you find one.

Maryland personal-representative power to sell ↗ · Asking the court for permission ↗ · Howard County Register of Wills ↗

Maryland transfer and recordation taxes

Maryland's state transfer tax is generally 0.5% of the sale price. Howard County sets its recordation-tax rate and county transfer-tax rate. These taxes are generally split between buyer and seller unless the contract says otherwise. If the buyer is a first-time Maryland home buyer who will live in the home, the state rate is 0.25%, and the seller pays the state transfer tax, recordation tax, and local transfer tax unless the parties expressly agree otherwise. Some transfers are exempt; the settlement company can confirm whether one applies.

Maryland state transfer-tax law ↗ · Maryland recordation-tax law ↗ · Maryland rules on who pays these taxes ↗ · Maryland transfer-tax exemptions ↗ · Howard County recordation and transfer taxes ↗

Before the signatures

Review the settlement sheet and closing costs

When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. No agent commissions when you sell to us. No fees.

When the process gets 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.

What our sellers say

BBB A rating Read our Google reviews

“LISTEN, PROPERTY TAXES GOT TOO HIGH FOR MY FIXED INCOME. SOLD IT TO THEM. WALKED AWAY WITH CASH. GLAD IT'S OVER.”

Alex Pproperty taxes

“Facing foreclosure ... Very stressful time... They handled it professionally and got me out of the debt...”

Alice Wforeclosure

“no open houses. no realtors tracking dirt in. just a straight cash sale for our house so we could move. Glad it's over.”

Angela Rmoving

More help for your situation

Columbia seller resources

Selling an inherited house →Foreclosure sale dates and notices →Selling a house during divorce →Selling a tenant-occupied house →Liens and back taxes →Selling with code notices →

Questions about selling a Columbia house

Can I talk with you before every detail about the house is settled?

Yes. Start with the address, condition, who lives there, and your timing. Tell us what you know about an estate, notice, payoff, lien, or tax issue; you can call while details are still being sorted out.

Who signs when a Maryland house is part of an estate?

After the estate is opened, the appointed personal representative—the executor named in the will or an administrator if there is no will—signs for the estate, not the heirs. Unless the will or a court order limits that power, the representative can sell estate property without court approval. If the will restricts a sale or family members disagree, the representative can ask the court for permission.

Do I have to accept an offer after asking about the house?

No obligation. You get a written offer and written terms before you commit, and we close through a title company.

How soon can we close?

Close as fast as 7 days when title and closing details allow.

Want to talk through your Columbia house?

Call us at 888-274-5006 or use the form above. You can call before every detail is settled.

Return to the Columbia home-selling overview →