Buying a house “with cash” can benefit both the buyer and the seller with a faster closing process than with a mortgage loan. Paying in cash also means no interest and can mean lower closing costs.
Paying all cash for a home can make sense for some people and in some markets, but be sure that you also consider the potential downsides. The downsides include tying up too much investment capital in one asset class, losing the leverage provided by a mortgage, and sacrificing liquidity.
Paying cash for a home eliminates the need to pay interest on the loan and any closing costs. "There are no mortgage origination fees, appraisal fees, or other fees charged by lenders to assess buyers," says Robert Semrad, JD, senior partner and founder of DebtStoppers Bankruptcy Law Firm, headquartered in Chicago.
As long as the seller doesn't need the buyer's funds to purchase their next property, the cash purchase should proceed quickly, potentially within a few weeks. 'Cash sales do typically go through quicker – within around 30 days in most cases, provided there is no onward chain on the property,' says Dale.
Experts believe that even if you have the sums to purchase the property in one go, it is better to take a home loan. Instead of spending a lump sum amount on the property, it is better to go for a large amount down-payment and pay off the remaining amount in higher amount, monthly EMIs, since you can afford it.
A cash offer is an all-cash bid, meaning a homebuyer wants to purchase the property without a mortgage loan or other financing. These offers are often more attractive to sellers, as they mean no buyer financing fall-through risk and, usually, a faster closing time.
Why Do Sellers Prefer Cash Buyers? One reason sellers prefer cash buyers is because deals can often close faster when you don't need to get a lender involved. But the primary reason sellers prefer cash buyers is because there is a lower probability of the deal being delayed or falling apart when buyers use all cash.
Cash sales can still fall through
It is true that a cash buyer will not require a loan and will not be part of a chain, and this may reduce the risk of the sale falling through. However, it doesn't prevent people from changing their minds or issues being found during a survey.
If an estate agent advertises a house as 'cash buyers only', it means that the buyer does not want anyone to put in an offer if they would require a mortgage in order to complete the sale.
Buyers who are willing to pay with cash have an inherent advantage over those who need to borrow, and they may even be able to win over the seller at a lower price. Lenders with multiple foreclosures in their portfolios sometimes discount the list prices in the hopes that properties will attract multiple offers.
Pay Cash. The last option is the simplest: pay for your home in cash. Making a cash purchase can save you money in the long run, particularly on closing costs and interest payments on your loan. Even better, you can enjoy being debt free and unburdened by monthly mortgage payments.
If a property is listed as cash buyers only, this means that the seller is not interested in potential buyers that are either waiting for a mortgage approval to be able to buy or that are waiting for a sale of their own to then have the funds to complete on the property.
Closing costs are paid according to the terms of the purchase contract made between the buyer and seller. Usually the buyer pays for most of the closing costs, but there are instances when the seller may have to pay some fees at closing too.
This isn't always true, but nonetheless, this myth tends to scare off buyers who need financing from even trying to compete. However, I can tell you from personal experience: It is entirely possible to beat an all-cash offer, even if you have a mortgage and other strikes against you.
Paying cash for a house means buying a home without a mortgage. Cash buyers, as a result, don't need to account for mortgage interest or closing costs when they purchase a new property. Buying a house with cash can save you money in the long run, but it can also exempt you from the advantages of a mortgage.
The average timescale from offer to completion for a property with no chain is around six weeks. However, this can be as little as four weeks or as long as twelve weeks, depending on the property.
As a cash buyer, a bank statement showing that you have the money in your account to purchase the property should be enough at this stage. Beware, if the estate agent suggests that their in-house mortgage broker needs to see your proof of funds under anti-money laundering regulations.