Ah, the all-cash offer. If you’re a home buyer with this ace up your sleeve, you probably have a swagger in your step as you tour homes, looking for the perfect property. And in light of today’s rising mortgage rates, the thought of saving all that monthly interest on a loan makes paying in cash that much sweeter.
Home sellers swoon over all-cash offers for one simple reason:It means there’s no doubt that you’ve got thecoin to closethe deal.
All-cash home buyers have a distinct advantage over those who need amortgage,becausethere’s no guarantee that lenders will fork over the money. A lot can get in the way of that happening, from a subpar credit scoreto a poor home appraisaland beyond.All these what-ifsare eliminated with an all-cash offer; it’s a no-strings-attached deal at its finest!
Although you might assume that only millionaires have enough money lying around to make an offer in all cash, such deals are surprisingly common. According to the most recent report from ATTOM Data Solutions, all-cash offers made up 34% of single-family home and condo sales in the third quarter of 2021. And they’re not necessarily filthy rich: Some buyers are retirees, while others are just savvy home sellers who’ve gained enough equity in their homes (and other investments) that they can swing an all-cash offer.
But should you always make an all-cash offer if you can?
It turns out that in spite of its many benefits, an all-cash offer isn’t always the best move for every home buyer.Here’s how to determine whether an all-cash purchase makes sense for you—and how to do it right.
Should you make an all-cash offer?
Just because you have the money to purchase property doesn’t mean you should definitely do it. Making an all-cash offer comeswithbothadvantages andsome lost opportunities.This explains why even extremely wealthy people (such asMark Zuckerberg!)buy homes with mortgages when theyclearly don’t need to.
Here’s a look at what you gain with an all-cash offer, and what you give up.
Advantagesof an all-cash offer:
- You’re in a tough seller’s market. If bidding wars are erupting over homes, an all-cash offer can help you cut through the competitionand catapult your offer to the top of the list. “All-cash can be an advantage when it comes to shorter escrow periods and eliminating some contingencies,”says Annapolis, MD, real estate agentGreg Beckman.
- Depending on your market, an all-cash offer can strengthen your negotiation stance andpersuade sellers to accept less than their full asking price. However,“in today’s low-inventory seller’s market, don’t expect to get a crazy-good deal because you’re paying cash,” says Beckman. “But if you’re not in a bidding war, you should be able to get the home for a little less.”
- If you’re in a rush, an all-cashpurchase canstreamline the home-buying process for you, too, since there’s less paperwork and no delays for mortgage approval.
- Without a mortgage, you can actually save money on closing costs,title insurance, and othermortgage-related fees.No loan also equals no money wasted onmortgage interestfor the next 15 or 30 years.
- This may seem obvious, but we’ll say it anyway:Owning a home free and clear means no mortgage payments! You’ll never have to worry about foreclosure (where the lender takes over your home) because you didn’t pay your mortgage.
Disadvantages of an all-cash offer:
- You’ll be tying up a lot of money in one asset rather than diversifying your financial portfolio.
- Your purchasecould drastically limit your liquidity.
- You’ll miss out on sizeable tax deductions. (For instance, homeowners with a mortgage receive a tax break onmortgage interest.)
- Your money may be better invested elsewhere (depending on how aggressive you want to be with your investments).
How to make an all-cash offer without getting screwed
While an all-cash offer has many positive qualities, there are still some pitfalls you’ll want to avoid.Here’s how to do it right.
Put the money in one place. You can use cash from a variety of sources to buy a house—including personal savings, cash gifts, and inheritance—but having your home-buying funds in one account can make it easier for you to keep track of the money you’re going to need. Also, because bank transferscan have delays, you don’t want to be moving money around shortly before closing.
Provide proof of funds.You’ll have to provide the home seller with a copy of your bank statement as proof of funds when you submit your offer.
Don’t forget your other home-buying expenses. Even if you plan on buying a house in cash, you still have to budget for the costs that come with any home purchase, including the following:
- Property taxes:They depend not only on the home’s assessed value but also where you live. (See how to calculate property taxes.)
- Homeowners insurance: The average annual premium runs about $1,820, but a number of factors can go into calculating the cost. (See how to calculate your homeowners insurance.)
- Homeowners or condo association fees:For a typical single-family home, HOA fees cost around $200 to $300 a month.
- Home inspection:A typical home inspection costs $300 to $500, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, but costs can vary. (See our home inspection checklist.)
Don’t completely drain your savings. Paying for a house in all cash should not leave you scraping the bottom of your bank account!
Staci tit*worth, regional manager of PNC Mortgage in Pittsburgh, recommends building an emergency fund that will cover living expenses for at least six months. And if you have extra cash after that, you’d be smart to funnel it into a retirement account, since a home alone should not constitute your entire nest egg.
