Frequently Asked Questions
From Sellers Like You!
Real Answers. Straight Talk. No Games.
At 209HouseBuyers.com, we know selling your home—especially in a tough situation—can bring a lot of uncertainty. That’s why we’ve taken the most common questions we hear from homeowners and answered them clearly, honestly, and without the real estate fluff.
Whether you’re worried about scams, curious about timing, or wondering what happens if you change your mind, you’ll find real answers here.
Selling your home directly—without listing with a Realtor—might seem unconventional, but it's actually how homes were sold long before the internet and MLS. And it’s still how thousands of homes are sold every year, especially when speed and flexibility matter most.
At 209HouseBuyers.com, we’ve closed hundreds of deals in San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties. I’m a licensed California real estate broker with 25+ years of experience—and we’re local, not a national call center. When we say we’re going to buy, we show up and follow through.
Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what one seller had to say:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Jon is genuinely a good guy. I am always skeptical when it comes to people offering to buy homes 'As Is'. He made a fair offer but I told him I was uncomfortable with the process and considered to put the house on the market. Jon told me he could close the house in a week. He produced his own contract and escrow he used. I offered to produce my own drafted contract with my lawyer and to use an escrow of my choice. The buyer party agreed and surprisingly the house was closed in two weeks, one week of which I used for drafting my contract.
I am surprised I would say that I highly recommend Jon and his group. There was no scam involved and the process was efficient and clean.
Thank you, Jon."
— Ken Jiang
We believe you deserve respect and transparency—especially during a difficult time. That’s why we walk you through every step before you commit to anything.
At 209HouseBuyers.com, we understand that receiving a fair offer is a top concern for homeowners. Our process is designed to be transparent and straightforward, ensuring you feel confident every step of the way.
We base our cash offers on the After Repair Value (ARV) of your home—that is, what your house would be worth once it's fully renovated and updated to current market standards. From this ARV, we subtract the estimated costs for repairs, our selling expenses, and a reasonable profit margin. This method ensures that you receive a competitive offer that reflects the true potential value of your property.
For a detailed breakdown of our process, please visit our How It Works page.
At 209HouseBuyers.com, we specialize in buying homes exactly as they sit—no repairs, cleaning, or prep work needed. Whether it’s an inherited house packed with belongings, a home that hasn’t been updated in decades, or a property with significant damage, we’ve seen it all—and we’ll take it from there.
Many of the sellers we work with leave behind:
Old furniture
Appliances
Storage sheds full of stuff
Garages filled with tools
Even hoarder-level cleanouts
We handle the cleanup so you don’t have to lift a finger or spend a dime. In fact, the condition of your home never affects our willingness to buy—we’re looking at the potential, not the problems.
If you're stressed about what to do with what’s left inside, just let us know. We’ll take care of it.
We completely understand—selling a home, especially in a tough or emotional situation, can bring up second thoughts. At 209HouseBuyers.com, we never want you to feel rushed or locked into something you’re not ready for.
If you need more time, just let us know. We’ve extended contracts for sellers who needed extra days to pack, coordinate family schedules, or secure a new place. We’ve even helped some find moving companies or local support when things got overwhelming.
Our goal is to work with you—not against you—because real life doesn’t always follow a perfect timeline.
That said, we do ask that when you sign with us, you’re doing so in good faith. Once we begin the process—lining up escrow, involving private lenders, and coordinating any necessary cleanup—we’re making real commitments too.
And if you decide that selling isn’t right for you after all—if you truly choose to keep the home or go a different direction entirely—we’ll absolutely respect that and release the agreement with no hard feelings. We’re here to help people who need a solution, not to pressure anyone into parting with a property they genuinely want to keep. All we ask is open communication, so we know you’re not just shopping the offer—we’re committing real time and resources on our end too.
At the end of the day, we believe in fairness—on both sides of the table.
We can close in as little as 7 days—sometimes even faster, depending on the situation.
At 209HouseBuyers.com, we don’t rely on bank loans or traditional financing that can take 30+ days. We work with private capital and experienced escrow teams, which means we can move quickly when a seller needs to close fast.
That said, not everyone wants a super-quick sale—and we understand that too. Whether you need a few weeks to move, time to clear out personal items, or help arranging a transition, we’ll work with your timeline, not against it.
We’ve closed in 7 days, we’ve waited 45—and everything in between. Our job is to make the timing work for you.
Not from us.
At 209HouseBuyers.com, we don’t charge any commissions, agent fees, or surprise costs. What we offer is what you walk away with—period. No closing costs, no paperwork fees, and no fine print.
However, sometimes a property comes with its own financial baggage—like:
Unpaid property taxes
Outstanding utility bills
Past-due HOA dues
Liens or judgments on the title
We’re always upfront about this. If we discover any of these during our title check, we’ll go over them with you before closing. In many cases, we can even help resolve them as part of the sale—sometimes paying them off directly at closing so you’re not left dealing with it.
We’ve helped sellers pay off tax liens, clear old debts, and walk away with peace of mind instead of problems.
No pressure. No games. Just real solutions.
We understand that every situation is different. Some sellers need a little extra time to move, especially if they’re dealing with physical challenges, special care needs, or complex transitions. While we do prefer to close on vacant homes whenever possible, we’ve made exceptions in situations where the seller truly needed support.
For example:
We worked with a senior woman who had no family to help her move. She chose a mover, and we helped coordinate everything with them—room by room—after the sale. She needed the sale proceeds to pay for the move, so we held a portion of the funds until she was fully moved out, then released the balance immediately.
In another case, we helped two adults with special needs—one of whom was relocating to a care facility. The deposit for that facility came directly from the sale proceeds, so we structured the deal with a brief post-close stay and a partial holdback, which was released as soon as they vacated.
These types of arrangements are the exception—not the rule—but we’ll always listen to your situation.
If you need a short period after closing, just let us know upfront. We may be able to:
Structure a brief grace period
Hold back a portion of proceeds until move-out
Help coordinate a moving team or care support
Our goal is to make the transition smooth—not stressful—for both sides.
This is a common concern—especially because some sellers have heard horror stories about buyers backing out days before closing or disappearing altogether.
At 209HouseBuyers.com, that’s not how we operate.
We’ve been doing this for over 25 years, and in that time, we’ve never backed out on a seller at the last minute. When we make an offer, we do it with full intention to close—and we back that up with real resources: private funding, experienced escrow teams, and a vetted, professional process.
We’re not assigning your contract to an unqualified buyer or hoping someone else will close for us. If we say we’re buying your house, we mean it—and we show up to the finish line.
The only times we’ve ever had to reconsider a deal is when we’ve uncovered major, undisclosed issues during inspections or title review—things like foundation problems, significant liens, or unpermitted additions that weren’t mentioned up front.
Even then, we don’t just disappear or drop the ball. We bring the issue to you, have a real conversation about it, and one of two things happens:
If the numbers still work, we move forward as planned.
If the issue changes the deal too significantly, we may ask to renegotiate or, in rare cases, step away respectfully.
No surprises. No pressure. Just professional, transparent communication.
We completely understand that privacy matters—especially when you're dealing with personal, emotional, or sensitive circumstances. At 209HouseBuyers.com, we treat every seller’s situation with total discretion. We don’t name names, share your story, or talk about your property with anyone outside our trusted team.
That said, real estate sales are public record. Once the transaction is complete, it will be recorded with the County Recorder’s Office—just like any other home sale—and that information is technically available to the public. This includes details like the sale price, buyer name, and legal transfer of ownership.
But outside of that? Your story stays with us.
We don’t share your situation with neighbors, post photos without permission, or advertise your name in any way. We’ve helped sellers through probate, hoarder cleanouts, divorce, relocations, and much more—and we always keep those situations private unless you specifically allow us to share your story (like in a testimonial or video review).
Discreet. Respectful. Professional. That’s how we operate.
We keep it simple—because you probably have enough stress already.
Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Tell us about the property.
You can call, text, or fill out a short form on our website. We’ll ask a few basic questions and schedule a quick walkthrough—either in person or virtual.
Step 2: Get your offer.
We’ll review the condition, location, and current market data—then give you a no-obligation cash offer. No repairs, no agent fees, and no pressure.
Step 3: Close on your terms.
If you accept, we handle the paperwork and coordinate with a local escrow company. We can close in as little as 7 days—or work on a timeline that fits your move. You choose the date. We make it happen.
Want to see the full breakdown with more details?
Check out our How It Works page for the full process, start to finish.
We're your local cash home buyers here in Stockton, and surrounding area's. We believe in keeping things honest, upfront, and simple. Selling your house can be daunting, so we're here to walk you through every step, explaining everything clearly and working within your timeframe.
Need to sell your house quickly in Stockton, or surrounding area's? We're your best bet! No need to worry about repairs, agent fees, or the condition of your home. From probate & hoarder situations to landlords getting out of the business. In some situations we can even help if you're facing foreclosure.
Don't hesitate-give us a call today!
Final Thoughts
At 209HouseBuyers.com, we know that selling a house—especially one with emotional baggage, repairs, or family history—isn’t always easy. But the process can be simple, honest, and respectful when you work with the right people.
Every question above came from real homeowners we’ve helped—people just like you who felt overwhelmed, unsure, or stuck. We’ve walked them through the entire process, step by step, and we’re here to do the same for you.
Whether you're ready to sell or just looking for answers, we’re here to help with zero pressure.
Have a question that’s not listed here?
Feel free to reach out to us directly—we’re always happy to talk it through.