Sell your house fast in Burbank
Raised ranch, brick bungalow or 1950s ranch just south of Midway: we buy Burbank houses as-is, handle the village transfer stamp, and close on the date you choose.
- Cash offer within 24 hours
- No repairs, fees or commissions
- We pay normal closing costs
Your Burbank cash offer
No obligation. We never sell your info. Prefer to talk? Call or text (773) 825-9855.
Selling a house in Burbank
Burbank is a city of about 29,000 people in Stickney Township, Cook County, a little under two miles south of Midway Airport. Bedford Park is to the north, Bridgeview to the west and Oak Lawn to the south, with Chicago’s Ashburn neighborhood along the east side and Hometown touching the southeast corner. City Hall is on 79th Street, and Pace buses link the city to the southwest side of Chicago and the south suburbs. The name comes from Luther Burbank Elementary School, which served the area for decades before there was a city.
Burbank is younger than most of its neighbors. Developers platted lots here in the 1920s, but poor drainage, weak water and sewer service and the Depression left much of the land empty until the 1950s. Building took off after that, and the population passed 20,000 by 1960. The area stayed unincorporated until 1970, when it became a city, partly to avoid being annexed by Chicago. So most homes are single-family houses from the 1950s and 1960s, set close together on standard lots, with a newer house mixed in here and there.
Owners tend to stay put in Burbank. The 2020 census put the homeowner vacancy rate at about 1 percent. That means a tidy, updated house usually sells without much trouble on the market, and we’d tell you so. Our cash offer is more useful for houses lived in for 50 or 60 years without big updates, homes with water in the basement or an aging roof, a house an heir doesn’t want to manage, or an owner who’d rather not have strangers walking through.
What to expect
It starts with a phone call. We look up the property, set a time to see it, and get a cash offer to you within 24 hours. During the visit we point out the repairs we see and how they shape the number. If it works for you, we open title at a local company, you pick the date, and we pay the normal closing costs at the table.
What to know before you sell in Burbank
- City transfer tax. Burbank charges $5 per $1,000 of the price, with no rounding and a $100 minimum, and the seller is liable for it. Add the Illinois tax (50 cents per $500) and the Cook County tax (25 cents per $500). We pay all three when you sell to us.
- No pre-sale inspection. Burbank doesn’t require a city inspection before transfer stamps are issued, so your sale won’t wait on an inspector’s schedule.
- Final water reading. The City Clerk’s office needs a final reading, and the last water bill must be paid before stamps are sold.
- Fines and fees. Anything owed to the city, such as old fines or fees, has to be cleared before the stamp is issued. Tell us early so it doesn’t hold up closing.
- Taxes a year behind. Cook County bills property taxes a year behind, so the buyer gets a credit at closing for the current year, taken from your proceeds.
- Probate. Burbank estates are handled by Cook County probate court at the Daley Center in Chicago. We can sign once an executor is appointed and close when the sale is allowed.
The City Clerk’s checklist can change, so the title company confirms what Burbank needs for your sale.
Burbank sellers: comparing a cash sale with a listing
| Sell to us | List with an agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Condition | We buy it the way it is | Buyers expect updates or ask for credits |
| Showings | One walk-through | Open houses and repeat showings |
| Agent fees | None | A share of the sale price |
| Closing costs | We pay them | Seller pays |
| How long it takes | 2–3 weeks, or later if you prefer | Weeks on the market plus about 30–45 days |
| Financing risk | None. We pay cash | Loan approval and appraisal can stall it |
| Belongings | Leave what you don’t want | House emptied and cleaned |
| Price | Below retail, priced for condition | Top price for updated homes |
Most Burbank houses are similar in age and size, so buyers compare them side by side. A 1950s home with its first kitchen and an old furnace has to compete with the redone houses on the same block. If that sounds like yours, ask for our number before you put money into it.
Three steps. You pick the closing date.
- Tell us about the house
Fill out the form or call (773) 825-9855. A few quick questions, no pressure.
- Get a fair cash offer in 24 hours
We look at the house with you and show you how we got the number. No obligation.
- Close on your date
As soon as 2–3 weeks, or take more time. We close at a local title company and pay your closing costs.
Common reasons Burbank owners sell
Burbank FAQ
Does Burbank require a city inspection before I sell?
No. Burbank doesn’t inspect homes at sale. You’ll still need a final water reading and a paid-up water bill.
How much is Burbank’s transfer tax, and who pays it?
It’s $5 per $1,000 of the sale price, and the city puts it on the seller. When you sell to us, we pay it along with the state and county stamps.
I have an unpaid fine with the city. Will that stop the sale?
The city wants outstanding fines and fees paid before it issues stamps. Let us know about it, and it can be settled before or at closing.
My house was built in the 1950s and hasn’t been updated much. Do you buy those?
Yes. Most of what we see in Burbank comes from that era. We price for the roof, mechanicals and basement as they are.
Is Burbank part of Chicago?
No. Burbank is its own city in Stickney Township, though it borders Chicago’s Ashburn neighborhood. Water and transfer stamps go through Burbank City Hall, and property taxes through Cook County.
Can I have extra time to move after we agree on a price?
Usually, yes. Tell us how much time you need and we’ll set a later closing date that fits your move.