Ask who is actually buying the house, how they arrived at the price, what comes out of your proceeds at closing, and whether your money and the deed change hands at the same time through a title company. A buyer who answers all four without hesitation is worth talking to. One who dodges any of them is worth a second look before you sign anything.
Most cash buyers in DFW are straightforward local operators. A few are not, and the ones who cut corners rely on sellers not knowing what to ask. If you are still deciding whether a cash sale fits your situation at all, our post on what "we buy houses for cash" actually means walks through how it compares to listing. This guide walks through every question worth asking, grouped by what they actually protect: who you are dealing with, how the number was built, what the contract says, and how the closing itself works.
The short answer
A legitimate cash buyer can answer these plainly, in writing, before you sign: proof the money is real, who is buying and who is closing, how the offer was calculated, what fees (if any) come out of your side, what the contract commits you to once you sign, and confirmation that a Texas title company is handling the closing so money and the deed move together. If any of those answers feel vague or rushed, slow down.
Who are you actually dealing with?
Start here before you talk about price at all.
- Can you show me proof of funds? A serious buyer can produce a bank statement or a letter from their funding source showing the money exists right now. This is a normal, expected question, not a rude one.
- Who exactly is buying my house, and which title company is closing? Get both answers in writing before you sign anything. The buyer named on the contract and the title company handling the closing should be spelled out, and neither should change without you knowing. What matters is a straight answer before you sign, not a surprise at the title company.
- How long have you been buying houses in DFW, and can I verify your company is real? A real local business has an address, a track record, and people willing to talk about how they operate. If a company will not tell you where they are based or who runs it, that alone is worth pausing over.
Questions about how the price was built
A cash offer that cannot be explained is a cash offer you should question.
- How did you arrive at this number? A legitimate buyer starts from what comparable houses nearby have sold for, then subtracts the repairs they expect to make, their holding costs while they own the house, closing costs, and their margin. Ask them to walk you through it line by line.
- Is this price firm, or can it change after an inspection? Some buyers lead with a high number to get you under contract, then cut it after a walkthrough finds problems they already knew were there. Ask directly whether the number can move, and under what circumstances.
- What comes out of my proceeds at closing? Commissions, fees, or repair credits should be spelled out before you sign, not discovered on the closing statement.
- Can I see this offer in writing, with the numbers explained? A number quoted over the phone is not a contract. Get the offer and the reasoning behind it in writing before you commit to anything.
Questions about the contract itself
Read the whole document, not just the summary someone gives you over the phone.
- Can I take the contract home and read every page before I sign? A buyer who pushes you to sign on the spot, without time to read it, is not treating you like someone making a major financial decision.
- What happens if I need to back out? In a standard Texas contract, the option period belongs to the buyer, not the seller. Once you sign, you generally cannot walk away just because you changed your mind. Ask what the contract says about ending it and what that would cost, and take your time before you sign rather than counting on a way out later.
- Is there an inspection period, and what can change during it? Most contracts give the buyer a window to inspect the house. Ask what they are looking for and whether the price can change based on what they find.
- Who pays which closing costs? Title fees, escrow fees, and any prorated taxes should be spelled out in the contract, not decided later.
- Is anything promised on the phone actually written into the contract? A move-out date, a specific closing date, or an agreement to leave certain items behind only counts if it is in the paperwork.
Questions about the timeline
- How fast can you really close, and what could push that date back? A closing in as little as 10 days is realistic once the title is clear, but title problems, liens, or probate issues can add time. Ask what could delay things in your specific situation. Our post on how fast a cash home sale in Texas really closes walks through the timeline step by step.
- Can I choose the closing date, or does it have to be your date? A buyer working around your schedule, whether that means closing fast or giving you extra weeks to move, is a good sign.
- What if I need to stay in the house a little longer after closing? Some sellers need a short rent-back period after the sale. Ask whether that is possible and what it costs, if anything.
Questions about the closing itself
- Which title company is handling this, and is it a licensed Texas title company? The closing should happen through a neutral third party, not directly between you and the buyer.
- Will my money and the deed change hands at the same time? In a normal Texas closing, the title company holds your signed deed and does not record it or release it to the buyer until the buyer's money has arrived. Then the title company pays you directly. You and the buyer may sign in separate appointments, or a mobile notary may bring the papers to you, and that is fine. The protection is that the title company sits in the middle and nothing is released until the money is in.
- Is there any fee I need to pay upfront, before closing? There should not be. A legitimate cash sale does not charge the seller anything out of pocket before the deal closes.
Red flags that mean it is time to walk away
A few answers, or a few missing answers, are worth treating as a hard stop:
- Pressure to sign the same day, with no time to read the contract or think it over.
- A request to sign a deed over to the buyer outside a title company. Signing at the title company is normal. Handing a signed deed to the buyer directly is not.
- Refusal to show proof of funds or to say plainly who is actually buying and closing the house.
- Any request for money from you, for any reason, before closing.
- Nothing offered in writing, only verbal promises.
None of these are complicated to avoid. Every one of them comes down to asking the question before you sign, not after.
How this works with us
Ask us any of these questions and you will get a straight answer, in writing. Before you sign anything, you will know exactly who is buying and which title company is closing. We walk you through exactly how we priced the offer, and we cover the closing costs. The only things that come out of your side are what you already owe, like prorated property taxes and any mortgage or lien payoff. Every closing goes through a Texas title company, so your money and the deed move together, and when the title is clean we can close in as little as 10 days, or later if that works better for you.
We buy houses across Dallas, Fort Worth, and the rest of DFW, in any condition.
Quick answers
What is the single most important question to ask a cash home buyer? Ask for proof of funds, and ask exactly who is buying your house and which title company is closing, in writing, before you sign. Those answers tell you who you are actually dealing with before you talk about price.
Should a cash buyer explain how they calculated the offer? Yes. A legitimate offer comes from comparable sales, expected repairs, holding costs, and margin, and a serious buyer can walk you through that math. If the number just appears with no explanation, ask again before you sign.
Is it normal to pay any fee before closing? No. A legitimate cash sale does not ask the seller for money upfront for any reason. Any request for a fee before closing is a reason to stop and look elsewhere.
What should happen with my money and the deed at closing? A Texas title company holds your signed deed and does not record it or release it to the buyer until the buyer's money is in, then pays you directly. Signing at the title company is normal, even in a separate appointment or with a mobile notary. Signing a deed over to the buyer outside a title company is not.
Can I still ask questions after I sign a contract? Yes, and you should keep asking. Just know that in a standard Texas contract the option period belongs to the buyer, and a seller generally cannot walk away because they changed their mind, so read what you signed, ask the buyer to explain anything that is not clear, and take your time before you sign in the first place.
The bottom line
A legitimate cash buyer will answer every one of these questions without hesitation, in writing, before you ask them to sign anything. Ask who is buying and closing, how the price was built, what comes out of your proceeds, and whether your money and the deed move together at a title company. If you want straight answers on your own house, reach out through the form on our home page, and a real local person will call you within 24 hours.
This article is general information about selling a house to a cash buyer in Texas, not legal or financial advice. For guidance on a specific contract or closing question, talk to a Texas real estate attorney or title company.