The Hidden Discount of an All-Cash Offer On a Home

Psst...we have a home buying secret that you’ll definitely want to hear. Did you know about the hidden discount for buyers who make an all-cash offer on a home? Whether it's a buyer’s or seller’s market, leveraging the power of cash isn't only about winning a bidding war, it can also mean big savings for the everyday homebuyer.

So, what type of cash purchase savings can you expect? And how can you tap into the same benefits as a cash buyer? Here’s a closer look.

Is there a discount for paying cash on a home?

In today’s cutthroat real estate scene, all-cash offers can give prospective buyers a real edge to win a bid. But what many buyers don’t realize is that cash purchasers have more leverage in a negotiation, providing numerous money-saving opportunities as well.

Whether it’s a reduced total sale price, a lower down payment, more immediate equity, or more seller concessions, the advantages built into a cash offer means more green for your balance sheet. We're talking about tens of thousands of dollars, if not more.

How much can you save when buying a house with cash?

The average home price in the U.S. is currently at an all-time high, reaching over $400,000 in 2021 according to Statista. In a desirable and high cost of living (HCOL) city, home prices can be much higher. Denver's median home price soared to a record $600,000 in the summer of 2021 – a 25% increase over the last year.

It's unlikely that housing prices in popular and expensive cities will drop dramatically in the foreseeable future. And for buyers, that means even a small cash discount on a house is a huge win, putting free money, or more equity, back in your proverbial wallet.

According to new findings published by researchers from the University of California-San Diego, cash buyers paid approximately 12% less than those who used traditional mortgage financing over the past 40 years. Think about it: what would you do if you had the opportunity to save $72,000?

The ability to negotiate better terms is considered a "hidden" cash discount because sellers aren't advertising a separate list price for cash buyers. But cash sales are the most attractive. Attractive enough to translate into savings.

What kinds of concessions can you ask for when paying cash?

When your superior cash offer gives you leverage, you may choose to bid lower than the list price or a competing offer. Or you can ask for concessions. You can also use findings from the home inspection as a bargaining chip, for example. Seller concessions can include anything from a credit for closing costs to certain repairs on the home.

For homebuyers, closing costs can cost anywhere between 2% and 5% of the home’s purchase price, or $5,000 to $12,500 on a house valued at $256,000. However, depending on the state, that percentage can be as low as sub-1% or as high as 4+%. After forking over a pretty hefty down payment for a home, these closing fees can be a burden for buyers.

As a homebuyer, you can benefit from cash purchase savings by asking the seller to cover all, or a portion of, your closing costs. Having extra cash in your pocket? That’s a win in our book. In a similar vein, you can request a closing credit to cover big-ticket repairs that the seller doesn’t want to do themselves.

For instance, maybe the chimney needs repairing or the driveway is riddled with cracks and needs to be refinished. If the seller agrees to provide a credit for these items, it won’t reduce the home’s purchase price, but it will lower your out-of-pocket costs.

In reality, there are other factors sellers care about beyond just the purchase price, such as net proceeds. By asking for a credit towards closing costs, it’ll decrease the amount needed to complete the sale, speeding up the closing timeline – which is just one of the benefits, to a seller, of accepting a cash offer.

Cash offers are a better deal for regular buyers, too!

Ok, sure. You're convinced that making a cash offer translates to cost savings on a house. But is this another case of only the ultra-wealthy being able to take advantage of hidden savings loopholes? Not at all!

Anyone who qualifies for a mortgage can make a cash offer with the help of iLending pioneer Accept.inc. The process of making a cash offer with a mortgage is simple with our process. Even if you don't have the funds on hand to buy a house in cash, once you're Cash Approved, Accept.inc will provide you with the upfront funds needed to make an all-cash offer.

Then you'll pay back the loan over time like a traditional mortgage. What does that mean? It means you'll get the leverage of cash to negotiate a discount AND you have the liquidity that comes with using a low-interest loan rather than sinking all your cash into property. The icing on the cake: you’re 4X more likely to win your dream home with a cash offer and it doesn’t involve any funny business or hidden fees. So, the real question is, what will you do with your cash purchase savings?

Enjoy all the benefits that come with making an all-cash home purchase by becoming Cash Approved today.