City of Dubuque ↗
Use the city’s official site for city services and property questions handled by the City of Dubuque.
Dubuque, IA · How selling to us works
How Selling Your Dubuque House to Us Works
USA Home Buyers buys houses as-is in Dubuque, Iowa and Dubuque County. Start with the address and what you know about the house; you do not need every payoff, lien, tax, title, or estate question settled before you call.
Questions before the paperwork is ready? Call 888-274-5006.
Tell us about the houseStart with what you know
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Start with the address and the details you have about the house.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
From first conversation to settlement
The sale, step by step
Talk through the property
Start with the address, condition, who lives there, access, and the timing you have in mind. Tell us what you know about a mortgage payoff, lien, tax balance, estate, or notice. You can call before every property question is settled.
Review the house as it is
We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. We talk about condition, occupancy, access, and the details that affect this property. You do not have to finish repairs or cleanout before the first conversation.
Read the written offer and terms
We give written cash offers in 24 hours. Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing. Read the price, responsibilities, possession, timing, costs, and property-specific terms before you decide whether to proceed.
Work through title and payoff details
The title company reviews the deed, ownership, who can sign, mortgage payoffs, liens, taxes, and documents needed for settlement. If an estate or court matter affects authority to sell, the title company can identify what still needs confirmation. Mortgage balances, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes remain separate settlement items.
Review the settlement sheet and close
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. If you decide to proceed, the title company confirms the final numbers and handles the closing documents.
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 | 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 Dubuque calculator →
Questions about the two options? Call 888-274-5006.
Dubuque and Iowa details
Local records and estate authority
Often, an inherited house can be sold before probate is finished, so you can start the conversation while estate questions are being sorted out. The sale normally goes through the court-appointed personal representative—the person responsible for handling the estate—not an heir acting alone. If the will gives that representative power to sell, the usual court-sale steps do not apply. Otherwise, the representative may need to petition the court, notify interested people, get an order for the sale, and later file a report for court approval. A homestead—a home with special protection under Iowa law—may be sold only as the court directs, and a surviving spouse may have the right to keep it. Ask the title company and estate attorney who can sign and what approval applies.
Iowa Code §633.383, sale power in a will ↗ · §633.386, purposes and homestead ↗ · §633.388, petition to sell ↗ · §633.396, order for sale ↗
Dubuque is in Dubuque County. The City of Dubuque and Dubuque County offices handle different records; start with the office responsible for the question. The county assessor is a starting point for assessment records, the treasurer for property-tax account questions, and the recorder for deed and recording questions.
Dubuque County Assessor ↗
Start here for county property assessment records.
Dubuque County Treasurer ↗
Use the Treasurer’s office for property-tax account questions.
Dubuque County Recorder ↗
The Recorder handles deed recording. Iowa real estate transfer tax is paid to the county recorder.
Before signing
Review the settlement sheet and Iowa transfer tax
The settlement sheet shows the sale price, mortgage and other payoffs, liens, taxes, costs, and the amount scheduled for you. 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 real estate transfer tax—the tax charged when a deed transfers—is 80 cents for each $500, or fraction of $500, of the price above the first $500. For example, on a $100,000 sale, $99,500 is taxable: 199 units of $500 at 80 cents each is $159.20. The tax is paid to the Dubuque County Recorder, which will not record the deed until it is paid; a declaration of value, the filing that reports the sale value, is submitted when required. Iowa law makes the person conveying the property, normally the seller, responsible for paying the tax. Some family, divorce, estate-distribution, and $500-or-less transfers are exempt, so the closing professional confirms whether the tax applies and the taxable amount.
Iowa Code §428A.1, rate and declaration of value ↗ · §428A.2, exemptions ↗ · §428A.3, who is liable ↗ · Iowa Department of Revenue tax and fee rates ↗
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Mortgage balances, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes are separate from this promise.
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.
Keep the next question local
Dubuque seller pages and planning tools
Dubuque process questions
Can I call before every property question is settled?
Yes. Start with the address and what you know about the house. Payoff, lien, tax, title, occupancy, and estate questions can be sorted out as the conversation moves forward. We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Do I need to repair, clean, or clear out the Dubuque house first?
We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. You can start the conversation with the property as it is.
Who checks the title, payoff, liens, and who can sign?
The title company reviews the deed, ownership, signing authority, mortgage payoffs, liens, taxes, and documents needed for settlement. Estate or court questions may also need the right attorney or court. You can call before every answer is ready.
How does Iowa real estate transfer tax affect closing?
Iowa charges 80 cents for each $500, or fraction of $500, of the price above the first $500. A $100,000 sale has $99,500 taxable, or 199 units of $500, for $159.20. Exemptions may apply, so the closing professional confirms the tax. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Mortgage balances, liens, back taxes, and your share of current property taxes are separate.
Can an inherited Dubuque house be sold before probate is finished?
Often, yes, but the sale normally goes through the court-appointed personal representative, not an heir acting alone. Whether the will gives the representative authority or a court order is needed depends on the estate. Ask the title company and estate attorney who can sign and what approval applies.
Ready to talk through your Dubuque house?
Call 888-274-5006 or start with the address, condition, occupancy, and timing in the form. Questions are welcome before every document is ready.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Start with the address and the details you have about the house.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.