San Jose, CA · Santa Clara and Alameda Counties · How the process works
How Selling Your San Jose House to Us Works
USA Home Buyers buys houses as-is in San Jose and across Santa Clara and Alameda Counties. You can start before every property question is settled. Tell us what you know about the house, and we will talk through the next steps and written choices.
Prefer to talk first? 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. You can start before every property question is settled.
From the first conversation to settlement
The sale, step by step
Step 1: Tell us about the house
USA Home Buyers buys houses as-is in San Jose, CA, and in Santa Clara and Alameda Counties. 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, and the timing you are considering. You can start the conversation before every property question is settled.
Step 2: Talk through the property and your choices
We discuss the house as it stands, including repairs, occupancy, access, ownership, and timing. We can talk through the sale choices that fit the property and identify what still needs to be checked.
Step 3: 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 deciding whether to proceed.
Step 4: Work through title, signing authority, and payoffs
The title company checks the deed, who can sign, mortgage payoffs, liens, taxes, and the documents needed for closing. If a payoff or record is still unclear, start with what you know while the needed information is identified.
Step 5: 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. You're going to get a fair price and not have to do anything. Just show up at settlement.
Two ways to sell to us
Cash Offer or EZ Sale: compare the written numbers
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 San Jose calculator →
Questions about the two options? Call 888-274-5006.
San Jose and the county line
Confirm the county for the property address
San Jose is served across Santa Clara and Alameda Counties, but city-level maps do not settle the county for a particular parcel. The City of San Jose incorporated-area layer overlaps both county boundaries; the Census San Jose place layer overlaps Santa Clara County only. The maps differ at a small edge, so the title company or escrow should confirm the property's county and whether a city transfer tax applies.
Closing numbers
Review the settlement figures and transfer tax
The settlement sheet shows the 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.
California county documentary transfer tax is $0.55 for each $500 of taxable consideration, or fraction of $500 ($1.10 per $1,000). It applies when consideration is over $100, excluding a lien or loan that stays on the property after the sale. A city may take half of the county rate as its share, credited against that tax; some cities add a larger tax on top. State law identifies who is responsible for the tax, while the purchase agreement can allocate the cost. The title company or escrow confirms the applicable county, any city tax, and taxable amount.
- California Revenue and Taxation Code §11911 — county documentary transfer tax ↗
- California Revenue and Taxation Code §11912 — persons responsible for the tax ↗
- California Revenue and Taxation Code §11931 — city tax credit and allocation ↗
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs.
Your mortgage payoff, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate settlement items.
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.
Questions and contact
Find the next step for your San Jose house
Call 888-274-5006 or use the form at the top of this page. You can begin with what you know before every property question is settled.
To compare possible net proceeds, open the San Jose home-sale net proceeds calculator →
- Inherited property →
- Foreclosure questions →
- Selling during a divorce →
- Tenant-occupied property →
- Code notices and repairs →
- Fire-damaged property →
- Property liens and back taxes →
Return to the San Jose home-selling overview →
Questions about selling to us in San Jose
Can I start before every property question is settled?
Yes. Start with the address and what you know about the house, its condition, who occupies it, access, and timing. You can tell us which details about a payoff, lien, or signing authority are still unknown.
Do you buy houses as-is in San Jose?
Yes. USA Home Buyers buys houses as-is in San Jose, CA, and in Santa Clara and Alameda Counties. We buy houses as-is, in any condition — no repairs, no cleaning, no cleanout required to sell to us.
What are the Cash Offer and EZ Sale choices?
A Cash Offer is built for speed, condition, and tough situations. EZ Sale is often a better fit when the house does not need major repairs and you want a higher number. You compare written numbers and pick what works best for you.
Who checks title, payoffs, and signing authority?
The title company checks the deed, who can sign, mortgage payoffs, liens, taxes, and the documents needed for closing. It reviews the actual property records and payoff information for the sale.
Which closing costs and transfer taxes do you pay?
When you sell to us, we pay the closing costs. Your mortgage payoff, liens, back taxes, and share of current property taxes are separate. The title company or escrow confirms the property's county, any city tax, and the taxable amount.
What will I see on the settlement sheet?
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.
Ready to talk about your San Jose house?
Call 888-274-5006 or use the form above. Start with the address and what you know about the house.