Life doesn’t always wait for the perfect time to sell a house. Maybe you’ve accepted a job in another state and need to relocate quickly. Maybe you’re going through a divorce, facing financial pressure, or you’ve inherited a property you simply don’t want to manage. Whatever the reason, when you want to sell your Phoenix home fast, you need real options — not a six-month listing process.
The good news: you have more choices than you might think. Here are five ways to sell quickly in the Phoenix market, with the honest pros and cons of each.
1. Sell to a Local Cash Home Buyer
Timeline: 7–21 days | Cost: $0 in fees or commissions
A local cash buyer like AZ Home Buyer purchases your home directly — no bank financing, no appraisal contingencies, no waiting for a buyer’s loan approval. You receive a cash offer (usually within 24 hours), pick your closing date, and walk away with your money.
The biggest advantages: speed and simplicity. You don’t need to make repairs, clean out the home, host showings, or pay agent commissions. The offer is the offer — no negotiation games, no last-minute surprises. At AZ Home Buyer, we put a $30,000 earnest deposit into escrow the day we sign, which gives you confidence that the deal will close.
This is the fastest option and typically puts the most net cash in your pocket once you factor in the commissions, repairs, and carrying costs you’d spend on other methods.
2. List with an Agent and Price Aggressively
Timeline: 30–90 days | Cost: 5–6% in commissions + repairs + closing costs
If you have a few weeks to spare and the home is in decent condition, listing with a real estate agent at a competitive price can attract multiple offers quickly. Phoenix is still a relatively strong seller’s market in many neighborhoods, and well-priced homes can go under contract within days.
The catch: even after you accept an offer, the buyer’s financing typically takes 30 to 45 days to close. Add in the time to prep the home, stage it, and get through inspections, and you’re looking at 60 to 90 days minimum from start to finish. You’ll also pay the listing agent’s commission (typically 2.5–3%) and often the buyer’s agent commission, plus any repairs that come up during inspections.
3. Sell For Sale By Owner (FSBO)
Timeline: 30–120+ days | Cost: Buyer’s agent commission + your time
Selling without an agent means you save on the listing commission, but you’re responsible for pricing, marketing, showings, negotiations, and paperwork. In a market like Phoenix where inventory moves, FSBO can work — but it requires significant time and effort, and homes sold FSBO statistically sell for less than agent-listed homes.
If you’re trying to sell fast, FSBO is usually not the best route. The marketing reach is limited compared to an MLS listing, and most buyers working with agents will still expect you to pay their agent’s commission (2.5–3%).
4. Sell to an iBuyer (Opendoor, Offerpad, etc.)
Timeline: 14–60 days | Cost: 5–8% service fee + repair deductions
iBuyers are tech companies that make instant offers on homes using algorithms. The process is fast and convenient — you can get an offer online within a day or two. However, iBuyer offers tend to be conservative (they need to build in their own profit margin), and they charge service fees of 5–8% that rival traditional agent commissions.
They also send an inspector after you accept, and the repair deductions from that inspection can significantly reduce your final number. Many sellers report that the initial offer looked great, but the final adjusted price was much lower. iBuyers also typically focus on newer homes in good condition — if your home needs work, they may not make an offer at all.
5. Auction Your Home
Timeline: 30–60 days | Cost: Auction fees (up to 10%) + uncertainty
Home auctions create urgency and competition, which can sometimes drive up the sale price. But they’re unpredictable — you might get a great price, or the property might sell well below market value. Auction fees can run up to 10%, and the process requires significant preparation. For most homeowners, this is a last resort rather than a go-to strategy.
Side-by-Side: Which Option Is Really the Fastest?
Method | Timeline | Your Costs | Repairs Needed? |
Cash Buyer (AZ Home Buyer) | Your choice as little as one day | $0 | None |
Agent Listing | 60–90 days | 5–6% | Usually yes |
FSBO | 30–120+ days | 2.5–3% | Usually yes |
iBuyer | 14–60 days | 5–8% | Deducted from offer |
Auction | 30–60 days | Up to 10% | None, but price risk |
When Speed Matters Most
Selling a home fast isn’t just about convenience — sometimes it’s a financial necessity. Every month you hold a property you’re not living in, you’re paying the mortgage, insurance, property taxes, HOA fees, and maintenance. In Phoenix, those carrying costs can easily run $2,000–$6,000 per month. A sale that takes 90 days instead of 14 could cost you $6,000–$18,000 in holding costs alone, plus whatever you spend on repairs and commissions.
That’s why so many Phoenix homeowners choose to work with a cash buyer. The speed isn’t just faster — it’s cheaper when you add everything up.
Get Your Free Cash Offer Today
AZ Home Buyer has been purchasing homes across the Phoenix metro area for over 20 years. We’ve completed more than 1,100 transactions in Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Glendale, Peoria, and beyond. Our process is simple: tell us about your home, get a fair cash offer, and choose your closing date.
No pressure, no obligation, no repairs needed. Call Landon at (480) 331-1819 or enter your address at AZHomeBuyer.com to get started.
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