The maths on holding a property you don't want
A vacant house isn't neutral. There are property taxes, and vacant-property insurance costs considerably more than a standard policy — assuming your insurer will write it at all. There are utilities you have to keep on so pipes don't freeze in a Chicago winter, and there's upkeep so the place doesn't attract attention from the village or from people looking for copper.
An underperforming rental is often worse, because it feels like it's earning. Between turnover, repairs, vacancy weeks and management time, a modest rental can spend a whole year's return on a single roof or furnace.
The trouble is that both are difficult to list. A vacant house that's been sitting shows poorly and invites low offers; an occupied one can't be shown at all. Which is exactly the gap we exist to fill.
We buy either way
Occupied rentals
Tenants stay in place through the sale. No eviction, no lease to wait out.
Vacant houses
Empty for a month or empty for five years. Condition isn't a barrier.
Small multifamily
Duplexes, three-flats and small buildings, fully or partly occupied.
Whole portfolios
Selling several at once? We'll look at the lot together.
How it works
Three steps. No obligation at any point.
- 12 minutes
Tell us about the property
Enter the address and a few details. No walkthrough, no paperwork, and nothing you need to prepare first.
- 2As little as 2 hours
Get your cash offer
We price the property on our own in-house valuation systems rather than waiting on outside appraisers or vendors, which is why this takes hours instead of days. You get a written, no-obligation offer and an explanation of how we reached the number.
- 3As soon as 7 days
Close on your date
Accept only if it works for you. We close through a licensed title company and cover the closing costs. You pick the date.
Takes about two minutes. You’re never obligated to accept.
Cash Offer vs. Listing With an Agent
Selling to us isn’t right for everyone. Here’s the honest comparison so you can decide.
| Bright Lane PropertyDirect cash sale | Traditional AgentListed on the market | |
|---|---|---|
| Commissions & fees | None — $0 | Typically 5–6% of sale price |
| Closing costs | We cover them | Usually 1–3%, paid by you |
| Repairs before sale | None — we buy as-is | Often required to attract offers |
| Cleaning & staging | Not needed | Expected |
| Showings | None | Ongoing, on buyers' schedules |
| Time to offer | As little as 2 hours | Days to months |
| Time to close | As little as 7 days | 30–60 days after an accepted offer |
| Financing fall-through risk | None — cash | Common; buyer loans can collapse late |
| Sale price | Below full retail | Often higher, if it sells |
| Certainty | Guaranteed close on your date | No guarantee of a sale |
If your house is in good condition and you can wait 60–90 days, an agent will usually net you more. We’re the better option when speed, certainty, or condition matter more than the last few percent.
Related pages
Frequently Asked Questions
The property has been empty for years. Is that a problem?
No. We've bought houses that were empty for a decade. Long-vacant properties usually have water damage, mould or vandalism, and we expect that.
Can you buy several properties at once?
Yes. If you're exiting a portfolio, tell us what's in it and we'll price them together.
What if there's no working utilities to inspect it?
That's common with vacant property and it isn't an obstacle. We work from what we can see.
I live out of state. Does that complicate things?
Not really. A lot of our sellers are out-of-state owners and the whole sale can generally be handled remotely.