A plain-English guide, on this page

Read it here

This page is the whole guide. There is no PDF and nothing to download. You do not need to give an email address to read it.

Who you are talking with

Zada Homebuyers is a private home buyer. We are not a government agency, not your lender, not a code enforcement office, and not a law firm or tax advisor.

Four situations people ask about

• Tax delinquency: the county explains the bill. A direct sale is one way to ask whether the house can be sold while taxes are unpaid. A call does not stop a tax sale.
• Preforeclosure: facing foreclosure, you can explore whether selling is an option before your auction. We are not the lender, and a call does not stop the foreclosure.
• Code notices: you can ask us to look before you pay for repairs. We are not the city, and a call does not close a code case.
• Inherited homes: when upkeep, repairs, or coordinating heirs is the hard part, you can ask about a direct sale. We do not decide who can sign, and we do not skip probate.

We also talk about houses with fire or smoke damage. Vacant land is not a buying program on this site. An offer, if we make one, is in writing, and there is no obligation to sell.

The same four steps

• 1. Reach out. Share the address, the city, and what is going on. A date already printed on a notice is optional. Leave out Social Security numbers and account numbers.
• 2. We look, then we call. If we can review the house, we call. The call is about your options. It is not an offer, and it does not stop a foreclosure, a tax sale, or a code case.
• 3. You see the terms in writing. With a direct purchase, there's no listing agent to hire. Any fees, and exactly which closing costs are included, are in the written offer. Another arrangement, if we discuss one, has its own fees, also in writing.
• 4. You decide. Understand your options. There's no obligation to sell. You can pause or say no.

What to gather if you want a call

• The property address and city.
• A phone number where we can call you.
• Which of the situations fits best, in your own words.
• Any date already printed on a notice, only if you want us to see the date you type. We do not create a deadline and we do not confirm that the date is legally correct.
• What you want to have happen, including "I am not sure" or "I may not want to sell."

Leave out Social Security numbers, driver license numbers, bank account numbers, card numbers, and full loan or insurance account numbers. We do not need them.

Questions worth asking any buyer

• What is the legal name of the business, and who am I speaking with?
• Is this a conversation, or a written offer?
• What price, costs, and dates are in a document I can read before I sign?
• What happens if I say no?
• Who else will see what I submit?
• Are you asking me to pause a conversation with my lender, the county, or the city? You should not have to.

What to remember

• With a direct purchase, there's no listing agent to hire. Fees and the closing costs that are included are in the written offer.
• Another sale arrangement, if one is discussed, has its own fees, also in writing.
• We can work toward a fast closing, subject to title clearance and your situation. This guide does not give a number of days.
• It does not tell you how to stop an auction, and it is not legal, tax, or lending advice.
• Understand your options. There's no obligation to sell.

Where official information comes from

Use the notice you were given, the office printed on it, and your lender if a loan is involved. A lawyer, a tax professional, or a housing counselor you choose can help you read those papers. We are not a substitute for them.