I have inherited 2 houses in So. California both are mortgage free. One is a rental the other we live in. I know nothing about buying a house and we want to buy a small house in Pennsylvania for $70000.00. The seller wants cash. How do I do this? Also have a small amount of savings but do not want to use it.
-
2First, when you say cash, do you mean currency? Or is this cash as opposed to a mortgage or barter? Do you have to sell one of the houses to pay for the house in Pennsylvania? Are you asking about help with that? With title transfers?– BrythanCommented Sep 18, 2016 at 21:39
-
Cash just means that the seller wants to sell to someone who has cash and does not rely on a mortgage.– Five BaggerCommented Sep 18, 2016 at 23:51
-
In order to buy a home for cash, you need to have cash. From what you outlined here, you do not have enough cash to purchase this home. You will have to pass despite having, presumably, significant assets.– Pete B.Commented Sep 19, 2016 at 14:05
-
Pete B. why would I have to pass? Could I not take Equity out of one of the house's that I already own and pay for the Pa. property that way?– lyssaCommented Sep 19, 2016 at 17:26
Add a comment
|
4 Answers
If they really want cash, you notify your bank in advance of the amount and have it put in your account, then you both sign the paperwork at the bank and after everything is signed you have the bank hand them the money. Guarding it after that is entirely their problem.
Personally, I would consider this a stupid request and tell them to have their lawyer discuss it with my lawyer in the hope they can be talked out of it.
As far as where to get the money: Same as for any purchase, find a bank willing to write a mortgage for you on this new house.
What you choose to do about the other two houses is an independent question. You can sell one or both, but that may take money so you probably won't finish doing so before needing to pay for the new house. Of course when they do sell you can use the money toward paying down/paying off the new mortgage.
-
2It's a strange world, and anything is possible. But. I am guessing that cash means "not a seller financed mortgage." i.e. "I want to walk away from closing with a certified check for $70k." When I bought a property, I told the lawyer that I arranged for $90k in cash to be at my bank. He said the seller attorney would be horrified if I did that. I was kidding but my email sounded serious. Commented Sep 18, 2016 at 21:34
-
7I am a Realtor (please don't hold that against me) and when making an offer where there's no contingency, no house to sell, no mortgage to wait on, I use the term "Cash buyer." Really, it's a euphemism. Commented Sep 18, 2016 at 22:36
-
2Fine as a "term of art", but I'm sure you're careful to define it when you use it around customers.... Apparently someone wasn't clear here.– keshlamCommented Sep 18, 2016 at 23:40
-
2Here, Money.SE, when we say cash, we don't mean paper. My investments are say, 60% stock, 40% cash, you know I don't have a suitcase of cash, but cash equivalents. Money market, T-Bills, etc. My strange world comment remains. A million+ words in the English language, and we are discussing what we mean by cash. To your comment, yes, I try to be clear. And yet, when I asked my last buyer "do you have the ($10000) deposit readily available, and she replied 'yes', it took a week for her bank to break a CD and give her a cashier's check. Commented Sep 19, 2016 at 0:05
-
1@JoeTaxpayer: I am not a REALTOR®, but I have purchased two properties, and I did not know that that was what was meant by "cash buyer". Can you turn your last two comments into an answer?– shooverCommented Sep 19, 2016 at 18:12
I've been prompted to turn my comments into an answer -
Disclosure - I am a Realtor. I work for an investor for whom an offer on a house he will buy describes him as a "cash buyer." This phrase most often means one of two things -
The buyer has funds that are liquid enough to either wire the cash or produce a cashier's check in some number of days, a week or two would be common. (And not wait for another house to sell)
The other point of this is that the seller is not willing to finance the property. The flip side being that the seller will take a down payment and let the buyer pay over time.
I am nearly 54, and I'm open to the fact that language changes. Definition follows usage. In personal finance, we refer to a stock/bond/cash mix. Here, the word "cash" simply means money such as money market or short term T-bills. A 60/30/10 mix doesn't mean I have a briefcase of cash under my bed for that 10%.
To answer the OP, I'd ask the seller does "cash" mean -
- You want to leave the closing with all your money?
- You wont accept a buy who needs a mortgage contingent on selling heir home?
- You expect a very fast closing, and will not wait for me to pull money from my other houses via mortgage or HELOC?
Keep in mind, when a seller has a buyer who needs to sell their home first, there can be a chain going a few levels. When it's "turtles all the way down" it becomes too risky to the seller.
No, you are not out of luck. I'd open a dialog with the seller or their agent if any. Sales is all about understanding what each person's goal is.
answered Sep 19, 2016 at 23:12
JTP - Apologise to Monica♦JTP - Apologise to Monica
173k34 gold badges297 silver badges560 bronze badges
-
I think you mean "common" not "comment" in the third paragraph. (Any edit by me will go into the queue).– mkennedyCommented Sep 20, 2016 at 8:17
-
(Raises fist and in Homer Simpson voice 'damn you auto-correct!!') Thanks, @mkennedy Commented Sep 20, 2016 at 13:58
To give the seller cash at the closing, you will need to borrow the money ahead of time, which means a mortgage is out. A bank will only make a mortgage if they get the deed. Therefore, you will have to borrow a different way, such as through a more-expensive home equity loan.
answered Sep 18, 2016 at 23:51
i think and what i understand when a house seller is asking for cash, thats means he is looking for a ready and quick buyer doesn't rely on mortgage and its long process. cash means a certified check for sure, but not physical money in suitcase!
