Cash buyer vs. real estate agent: Which is right for you?

Published October 8, 2026

When you decide to sell your house, you have two main paths. You can either list with a real estate agent and wait for a buyer on the open market, or sell directly to a cash home buyer. Both can get your house sold. Which one is right for you depends on what you prioritize.

Here’s an honest breakdown of how each option works and what you can expect.

How selling with a real estate agent works

When you list with an agent, they list your home, schedule showings, negotiate offers, and guide you through closing. Most sellers pay a commission worth about 5.7% of the sale price, split between the listing agent and the buyer’s agent. On a $400,000 home, that’s roughly $22,800 in commissions before closing costs, repairs, or concessions.

Beyond commissions, most agents will recommend repairs or cosmetic updates to get the best price. Showings and negotiations add even more time, and the closing process alone can take 30 to 60 days from the time you accept an offer. That’s assuming that the buyer’s financing doesn’t fall through.

The upside is, in a strong market, a well-priced listing attracts multiple offers and can net you the full market value, sometimes more.

How selling to a cash home buyer works

A cash home buyer purchases your house directly, without a mortgage. There’s no listing, no showings, and no waiting on a buyer’s loan to be approved. You request an offer, a buyer visits the property, and you decide whether to accept the offer.

Cash buyers purchase houses as is, so there’s nothing to repair or clean before closing. Closing can often happen in a matter of weeks, much faster than waiting on a mortgage to be approved.

The trade-off is that cash buyers are purchasing to resell, so their offers reflect that. Most offers come in somewhere between 70% and 85% of market value, depending on the home’s condition and the local market.

Comparing the two side by side

Timeline

Listing with an agent can take months. Selling to a cash buyer is usually much faster, often wrapping up in a few weeks.

Net proceeds

A traditional sale often nets more before costs. But once you factor in commissions (averaging 5.7%), closing costs, any repairs, carrying costs while the home is listed, and potential price reductions, the gap narrows. The difference between a cash offer and a traditional sale may be smaller than you’d expect.

Certainty

Agent sales can fall through if the buyer’s financing is denied. Cash offers don’t have a mortgage contingency, so the deal is far less likely to fall apart.

Convenience

Listing requires prep, showings, and negotiations. A cash sale requires none of that.

Thinking about selling on your own too? You can compare selling options side by side, including cash buyer, agent, and FSBO.

When a real estate agent makes more sense

If your home is in good condition, you’re in no rush, and the market in your area is healthy, listing with an agent will likely get you the best sale price. A well-priced home in a competitive market can attract multiple offers and sometimes close above asking.

When a cash buyer makes more sense

A cash offer is typically the better fit when time matters, when the home needs significant repairs you don’t want to handle, when a financed deal is too uncertain, or when you’re dealing with a situation like inherited property, divorce, foreclosure, or problem tenants. Some sellers just prefer the convenience of a clean, fast sale.