A cash sale skips the bank entirely: the buyer pays with funds they already have, so there's no loan underwriting and no appraisal requirement standing between an accepted offer and closing. You share the property details, the buyer evaluates it (often with a quick walkthrough), and you get a written cash offer — usually within a day or two. Accept it, and a title company handles closing, often in as little as one to two weeks.
The typical steps
- You share the basics. Address, condition, and why you're selling — takes a couple of minutes online or by phone.
- The buyer reviews the property. Usually a short in-person walkthrough or a conversation about condition, not a full inspection.
- You get a written offer. A specific dollar amount with no financing contingency attached, typically within 24–48 hours.
- You choose a closing date. A title company opens escrow, runs a title search, and prepares closing documents.
- You sign and get paid. Funds are wired or a check is issued at closing, same as any other real estate sale.
What's actually different from a traditional sale
The paperwork and legal transfer of ownership work the same way — a title company or closing attorney still handles the deed, title search, and disbursement of funds. What's missing is everything tied to buyer financing: no appraisal gap risk, no loan conditions that can kill a deal in week five, no staging or showings, and a timeline measured in days instead of months.
Where the buyer's money comes from
A legitimate cash buyer is purchasing with funds they already control — their own capital or private financing they've already arranged — rather than a mortgage that still needs bank approval. That's the whole reason the process moves faster: there's no lender in the loop who could still say no after you've already accepted an offer.