Frequently Asked Questions

Selling a house for cash means a buyer purchases the property directly, using their own funds instead of a mortgage, which removes financing delays and lending contingencies. The typical process is: submit the property's details, receive a walkthrough and a written offer within a day or two, and close whenever the seller is ready — often within 7 days. There's no listing, no showings, and no agent involved.

Sell Now Columbus buys houses across Columbus, GA and the surrounding Chattahoochee Valley region, including Midland, GA; Fortson, GA; Phenix City, AL; Smiths Station, AL; Opelika, AL; Auburn, AL; Fort Mitchell, AL; and throughout Muscogee, Harris, Lee, and Russell counties.

A cash sale can close in as little as 7 days once an offer is accepted, compared to 49–90 days for a traditional listed sale once showings, negotiation, and a buyer's mortgage approval are factored in. The exact timeline is flexible and can be extended if the seller needs more time.

No. A cash offer is generally presented as no-obligation until a purchase agreement is signed. Sellers can request an offer, review it, and decide not to proceed at any point without cost or penalty.

A cash home buyer purchases the property directly with their own funds and takes on the risk of resale, while a real estate agent lists the property on the market and earns a commission (typically 5–6%) for finding a buyer. Selling to a cash buyer skips the listing, showings, and agent commission entirely, but usually at a lower price than an optimally marketed listing would fetch.

Reputable cash buyers charge no commissions and typically cover standard closing costs, meaning the offer amount is close to what the seller actually receives, minus any existing mortgage balance or liens. This differs from a traditional sale, where a 5–6% agent commission and various closing costs are deducted from the sale price.

Yes. Selling a house "as-is" is legal and common, and it allows a seller to skip repair costs entirely — the buyer's offer is simply priced to reflect the property's current condition. This is common for homes with fire damage, water damage, mold, foundation issues, or general deferred maintenance.

No. Most direct buyers, including estate and inherited-property specialists, will purchase a home with belongings, furniture, or clutter left inside and handle removal after closing. This is especially useful for inherited homes, hoarder houses, or sellers moving out of state.

It depends on the seller's priorities: listing with an agent can produce a higher sale price but takes 49–90+ days on average and includes a 5–6% commission, repair expectations, and financing risk from the buyer's mortgage. A cash sale trades some potential price for speed, certainty, and zero upfront costs — a common tradeoff for sellers facing a tight timeline, financial pressure, or a distressed property.

Yes. Georgia is an "attorney state," meaning a licensed real estate attorney must oversee every residential closing, regardless of whether a real estate agent or an FSBO sale is involved. This is different from states that allow title companies alone to handle closings.

Yes. This is the standard scenario in most home sales — the mortgage balance is paid off directly from the sale proceeds at closing, through a payoff statement requested from the lender, and the seller receives whatever equity remains.

Yes, often while the divorce is still in progress, though most Georgia counties issue a standing order once a divorce is filed that restricts selling major marital assets without both spouses' agreement or court approval. Georgia is an equitable distribution state, meaning sale proceeds are divided fairly rather than automatically split 50/50.

Yes, in most cases, as long as the sale closes before the foreclosure auction date. Georgia is a non-judicial foreclosure state, meaning the process can move quickly — often just 60 days from a missed payment to a courthouse sale — so timing is critical to preserving any remaining equity.

Yes, once the personal representative (executor or administrator) has received Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration from the probate court, which in Georgia typically takes 4–8 weeks from filing. If the will grants "Power of Sale," no separate court approval is needed beyond those letters.

Yes. Georgia law requires sellers to disclose known material defects — including water damage, fire damage, mold, and structural issues — even in an as-is sale. This disclosure duty comes from Georgia common law and O.C.G.A. § 44-1-16, and applies whether or not an agent is involved.

Yes. Hoarder houses can be sold as-is, belongings and all, without any cleanout, sorting, or repairs beforehand. Direct/cash buyers experienced with these situations typically handle everything left in the home after closing.

This is called being "underwater" or having negative equity, and it may still be possible to sell through a short sale, which requires lender approval to accept less than the full loan balance. Selling sooner rather than later typically matters more in this situation, since ongoing mortgage payments, taxes, and insurance continue reducing what little equity remains.

Yes, FSBO is legal in Georgia, but sellers must still hire a licensed real estate attorney for closing, since Georgia is an attorney state regardless of whether an agent is used. FSBO sellers also remain responsible for pricing, marketing, showings, and all legally required disclosures themselves.

'Subject to' refers to a sale where the buyer takes over the property and its mortgage payments while the loan remains legally in the seller's name, rather than being formally assumed or paid off. It's legal but carries real risk for the seller, since most mortgages include a due-on-sale clause and the loan stays tied to the seller's credit.

No. Georgia uses equitable distribution, meaning marital property, including a home, is divided fairly based on factors like income, contributions, and length of marriage, not automatically split evenly.

Yes. Sell Now Columbus is a family-owned company based in Columbus, GA, with a physical office at 5820 Veterans Pkwy Suite 101, Columbus, GA 31904, and a 5.0-star rating across 97 Google reviews. Get a cash offer: