San Diego, CA · San Diego County › How the sale works
How Selling Your San Diego House to Us Works
USA Home Buyers buys houses as-is in the City of San Diego and San Diego County. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. Start with the address and what you know; you do not need every property question settled before you call or send the form.
Questions now? Call 888-274-5006.
Tell us about the houseWe'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Share the address and what you know about the house. Unanswered property questions can be sorted out in the conversation.
Start with what you know
Tell us about the San Diego house
The address, condition, occupancy, access, and timing give us a place to start. A payoff, lien, estate detail, or deadline can be checked as questions come up; you do not need every answer before the first conversation. Call 888-274-5006 or use the form above.
From the property conversation to settlement
The sale, step by step
Start with what you know about the house
Start with the San Diego address, the condition, who occupies the house, access, and the timing you have in mind. You can start the conversation before every property question is settled. If an estate detail, payoff, lien, tax item, or deadline is unclear, tell us what you know so far.
Talk through the property and your choices
We talk about the house as it sits, including its condition, access, occupancy, and what you want the sale to address. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us. You can compare a direct sale with listing or another option.
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 conditions before you decide. You can ask questions, compare another path, or stop before signing.
Work through title, payoffs, and closing details
The title company reviews the deed, ownership, who can sign, mortgage payoffs, liens, tax items, and the documents needed for closing. A payoff is the amount needed to satisfy a mortgage or other obligation; a lien is a claim for money against the property. You can start before these details are all settled.
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.
Compare the written numbers
Two ways to sell to us: Cash Offer or 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 | 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 might keep after costs with the San Diego home-sale net-proceeds calculator →
A local detail that can affect closing
Confirm the property's city and county
The City of San Diego is in San Diego County, but a San Diego mailing address alone does not establish whether a particular property is inside City limits or determine its tax account or title. The title company checks the actual deed, ownership, who can sign, payoffs, liens, taxes, and closing documents. If an estate, lien, or sale notice is part of the situation, start with what you know and bring the current papers when available.
Before the signatures
Review the settlement sheet and transfer tax
Read the settlement sheet for the sale price, mortgage and other payoffs, liens, taxes, other costs, and the amount scheduled for disbursement. Ask about a line you do not recognize and compare the sheet with the written terms 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.
California counties generally charge documentary transfer tax at $0.55 for each $500 of taxable value, or fraction of $500 ($1.10 per $1,000), on covered consideration over $100. Any lien or loan that stays on the property is excluded from that consideration. A city may collect a credited share of the county tax, and some cities impose an additional tax. The property and transaction determine the applicable city tax, exemptions, and taxable amount; title or escrow can confirm them. California documentary transfer tax rate ↗ and city tax credit and allocation rule ↗.
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs.
This does not pay your mortgage balance, liens, back taxes, or your share of current property taxes; those are separate amounts.
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
San Diego seller questions and resources
Open the page that matches your situation or compare the numbers in the calculator. Questions are welcome before every property detail is settled.
Common San Diego process questions
Can I start before every property detail is settled?
Yes. Call or send the form with the address and what you know about condition, occupancy, access, and timing. Unknown details can be worked through in the conversation.
What happens after I ask for a San Diego cash offer?
We give written cash offers in 24 hours. Written offer and written terms before you commit; title-company closing. The title company reviews the deed, who can sign, mortgage payoffs, liens, taxes, and closing documents. You review the settlement sheet before signing and closing through the title company.
What is the difference between 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. Cash Offer — USA Home Buyers buys directly. 30 days or less. Lower price. No repairs, no commissions, no closing costs. EZ Sale — goes to one of our partners. 60 days or less. Higher price than the Cash Offer. Still no repairs, no commissions, no closing costs.
How are California documentary transfer taxes handled?
California counties generally charge documentary transfer tax at $0.55 for each $500 of taxable value, or fraction of $500, on covered consideration over $100. A city may collect a credited share, and some cities impose an additional tax. The property and transaction determine the applicable city tax, exemptions, and taxable amount; title or escrow can confirm them. When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. This does not pay your mortgage balance, liens, back taxes, or your share of current property taxes; those are separate amounts.
How do I check the amount scheduled at closing?
Read the settlement sheet for the sale price, payoffs, liens, taxes, costs, and amount scheduled for disbursement. 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.
Ready to talk about your San Diego house?
Call 888-274-5006 or start with the address and what you know about the property. Questions before documents or other details are ready are welcome.
We'll give you a written cash offer within 24 hours.
We give written cash offers in 24 hours.
Start with the address and what you know. Unanswered property questions can be sorted out in the conversation.