Cash Home Buyer vs Wholesaler: How We’re Different
We’re a direct cash home buyer in the Portland and Vancouver areas. See how that differs from a wholesaler and what to ask any buyer before you sign.
Know who’s buying your house
If you’ve received a cash offer, it might look simple on paper, but the buyer behind it matters as much as the price. When you compare a cash home buyer vs wholesaler, the contract tells you more than the words “cash offer” do.
At Columbia Redevelopment, we use our own funds to purchase properties and take legal ownership. We’re the final buyer, not a middleman looking for another investor to take over your contract.
Start with the purchase contract, not the sales pitch
A wholesaler’s offer and a direct buyer’s offer can look alike until you read the contract. A wholesaler puts a property under contract and then looks for another buyer willing to take it over. That can be a legitimate business model, but you should understand the arrangement before committing your property to it.
Read the agreement for assignment rights, inspection or due-diligence periods, financing language, and other contingencies. An assignment clause can allow the party that signed with you to transfer its contractual rights to another buyer. The details of the contract determine what the buyer can and can’t do.
Also look for language unrelated to the purchase itself. For example, a non-disparagement clause can restrict what a seller can say publicly about the transaction. If contract language is unclear, consider having a qualified real estate attorney review it before you sign.
How much money is the buyer putting on the line?
Earnest money tells you how much the buyer has committed to the deal. A small deposit can leave a buyer with little at stake if the contract gives them several ways to walk away.
When you accept our offer, we deposit $10,000 in earnest money. We release those funds after we’ve reviewed and approved the preliminary title report.
We also buy without inspection or financing contingencies. You choose the closing date, which can be as soon as three days out or later if you need more time.
Questions every seller should ask a cash buyer
Don’t reserve these questions for wholesalers. To tell a cash home buyer from a wholesaler, ask any company or investor offering to buy your home:
- Are you the final buyer, or do you intend to assign my contract?
- How much earnest money will you deposit, and when does it become committed to the transaction?
- What contingencies allow you to cancel or renegotiate?
- Can you show proof that funds are available for the purchase?
- Can you provide references from previous sellers?
- Does the contract contain assignment or non-disparagement language?
- Are there any fees, closing costs, inspections, or repair deductions I should expect?
You should understand the answers before you sign. A fast closing doesn’t help much if the agreement leaves major questions open.
What happened to one Beaverton homeowner
A Beaverton homeowner was in contract with a company they believed was buying the property for cash. Three days before the scheduled closing, the buyer asked the homeowner to reduce the sale price by $50,000.
The company was wholesaling the contract and had been unable to find a third party willing to take it over for a fee. It had put down only $500 in earnest money, and it used the agreement’s contingencies to end the deal. The contract also included a non-disparagement clause restricting what the seller could publicly say about the transaction.
We evaluated the property and made our own cash offer. After the homeowner accepted, we deposited and released $10,000 in earnest money within three days and purchased the property two weeks later.
Not every wholesaler works this way. Still, it pays to know who’s obligated to buy the house and what the contract allows before you count on a closing.
No-obligation offer, closing on your timeline.
What to expect when we’re the buyer
Greg evaluates every property himself, in person or over a video walkthrough. We then provide a written offer within 24 hours.
Our offer comes with no fees, closing costs, inspections, or contingencies. We buy the property as-is and take ownership at closing instead of assigning your agreement to another buyer.
Greg and Laura Perrin, a husband-and-wife team, run Columbia Redevelopment. We have a 5.0-star Google rating and BBB accreditation, two public sources you can check during your own due diligence.
HB 4058 adds wholesaler rules for Oregon sales
Oregon regulates real estate wholesaling under HB 4058. Because the law is specific to Oregon, don’t assume it covers a property in Washington.
If you’re selling an Oregon property, the law’s registration and disclosure rules are worth knowing before you sign.
“This process was easier than buying a car, much easier. That’s how simple it was. At Columbia Redevelopment you deal with one home buyer and that simplifies the whole process of selling your home.”
– Jim & Becky
“What I found working with Columbia Redevelopment is that their house buyers are professional and honest. When they say they’re going to come through, they come through.”
– Garron von Gunten
Frequently asked questions
Why does earnest money matter when I’m accepting a cash offer?
Earnest money shows how much the buyer is putting behind the signed agreement, and a larger deposit gives the buyer more reason to follow through. Compare the amount and the contract terms that explain when the funds are deposited, released, or returned. When you accept our offer, we deposit $10,000 in earnest money.
What’s an assignment clause in a home purchase contract?
An assignment clause can allow a buyer to transfer contractual rights to another party. Read the exact wording so you understand whether the person signing the agreement intends to purchase the property or could transfer the deal. It’s a key sign in a cash home buyer vs wholesaler comparison, since a direct buyer plans to close the purchase itself.
Should I ask a cash buyer for proof of funds?
Yes, it’s a reasonable due diligence question for any cash buyer. A buyer who plans to purchase with its own money should be able to show the funds exist before you sign. You can also ask for references, review the contract, and check independent sources such as public reviews and business accreditation.
Can a cash buyer change the price before closing?
It depends on the contract you signed and its contingencies, which decide whether a buyer can renegotiate or terminate. Review those provisions before you accept an offer so you understand what could change between signing and the closing date. Our cash offers on Portland and Vancouver homes don’t include inspection or financing contingencies.
Can a purchase contract stop me from leaving a review?
It can, if the agreement includes a non-disparagement clause, which can bar a seller from posting online reviews or sharing details of the sale publicly. It doesn’t change the price or the closing date, so it’s easy to miss. Read the full agreement, and ask the buyer to explain any clause you don’t understand before you sign.
Comparing more than one cash offer?
The highest number on paper isn’t the only thing worth comparing. Look at who the buyer is, how the deal is funded, the earnest money, contingencies, assignment rights, and what the agreement says about cancellation or renegotiation.
We buy homes throughout the Portland and Vancouver metro areas, plus Clackamas, Washington, Columbia, Clatsop, Lincoln, and Tillamook counties. If you want a direct cash offer from the company that intends to purchase your property, tell us about your home, and we’ll take a look.
Call (503) 200-8730 or contact us online to discuss your property.
Thinking about selling your home?
We buy houses in any condition. As-is. All-cash. No fees.
Call or text us at (503) 200-8730 or contact us online.