Sell your house fast in Washington Heights
Brainerd’s brick bungalows between 89th and 95th, post-war houses along 103rd Street and homes near the Rock Island Metra stops all sell to us as-is, and you choose when we close.
- Cash offer within 24 hours
- No repairs, fees or commissions
- We pay normal closing costs
Your Washington Heights cash offer
No obligation. We never sell your info. Prefer to talk? Call or text (773) 825-9855.
Selling a house in Washington Heights
Washington Heights is community area 73 on Chicago’s Far Southwest Side, about 12 miles from the Loop. The rail tracks near 89th Street mark the north edge and 107th Street the south. Halsted Street and Eggleston Avenue form much of the east side, and Beverly Avenue and Vincennes Avenue the west. Beverly and Morgan Park are to the west and south, Roseland to the east and Auburn Gresham to the north. The 2020 census counted about 25,100 people. Neighborhoods within it include Brainerd, Longwood Manor, Fernwood and Washington Heights proper.
Railroads shaped the place. The Rock Island and the Panhandle lines both arrived in 1852 and crossed here, and Washington Heights was a village from 1874 until Chicago annexed it in 1890. Metra’s Rock Island line still stops at Brainerd, 95th Street–Longwood and 103rd Street–Washington Heights, and Interstate 57, opened in 1967, runs through the middle of the area. The CTA Red Line terminal at 95th/Dan Ryan is just east in Roseland. Shopping is centered on 103rd Street east of Halsted and on Halsted south of 103rd, with more along 95th and Vincennes. The Carter G. Woodson Regional Library is a local landmark.
This is a single-family area. About 74 percent of homes are detached houses, and census figures put the median at 6.4 rooms per home, well above the city’s 4.8. Around 57 percent were built between 1940 and 1969 and a quarter before 1940. The Brainerd Bungalow Historic District, roughly 89th to 95th Streets between Loomis and May, was added to the National Register in 2016 and includes 505 brick bungalows built from 1915 to 1931.
A well-kept bungalow with updated systems will usually draw solid offers on the market, and we’ll tell you if that’s the case. A cash sale suits a house with an original boiler or roof, worn tuckpointing, a basement that needs work, or an estate where the heirs want a fixed date and no repairs.
What to expect
Once we’ve talked about the house, we’ll come walk through it. You’ll get a written cash offer within a day, plus a plain explanation of the repairs and comparable sales we used. Pick your date to close and sign with a title company nearby. The normal closing costs are on us.
Selling in Washington Heights: city and county items
- Transfer taxes, handled. Chicago’s transfer tax is split between a $3.75 per $500 buyer portion and a $1.50 per $500 CTA portion that’s usually the seller’s. State and Cook County add $0.50 and $0.25 per $500. We pay all four when you sell to us.
- Full Payment Certificate. The city issues it once water and sewer charges are paid up. It’s required before the deed is stamped.
- Zoning certification. Every residential sale of five or fewer units needs it. For a bungalow, it simply confirms a single legal unit.
- Taxes billed in arrears. Cook County collects property taxes a year late, which means your share for this year shows up as a credit to the buyer on the closing statement.
- Probate at the Daley Center. If the owner has passed, the estate usually opens in Cook County probate court downtown. The executor can sign a contract and close once authorized.
The title company checks every requirement against your address before closing.
Brainerd bungalow or post-war brick: your two selling options
| Sell to us | List with an agent | |
|---|---|---|
| Repairs | None. As-is. | Common after the buyer’s inspection |
| Showings | A single visit | Scheduled showings for weeks |
| Commission | No commission | A percentage the seller owes |
| Closing costs | We pay them | Seller pays |
| Inspection items | Priced in up front | Negotiated after the inspection |
| Timing | Close in about 2–3 weeks, or later | Days on market, then 30–45 more |
| Certainty | Cash, no lender | Hinges on the buyer’s lender |
| Price | Below retail, priced for condition | Top price for updated homes |
Washington Heights houses tend to be larger than the city average and most were built before 1970. That means a big roof, a full basement and older mechanicals. If those are in good shape, listing may net you more. If they’re not, our offer already accounts for them.
Selling a Brainerd bungalow that needs work
The Brainerd Bungalow Historic District holds more than 500 brick bungalows, most built in the 1920s. They were built well, but at around 100 years old the same items come up again and again: tuckpointing on the brick, original wood windows, roofs, boilers and radiators, and basement walls that seep in heavy rain.
National Register listing doesn’t limit what a private owner can do or who can buy. It recognizes the group of houses. The Chicago Bungalow Association offers resources for owners who want to restore one. If you’d rather not take on the work, we buy Brainerd bungalows in any condition and price the repairs in, so you can sell without lifting a trowel.
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 Washington Heights owners sell
Nearby areas we buy
Washington Heights FAQ
Do you buy bungalows in the Brainerd historic district?
Yes. We buy Brainerd bungalows as-is, including ones that need tuckpointing, roofs or new boilers.
Does National Register status limit my sale?
No. For a privately owned house, the listing doesn’t restrict a sale or require approval from anyone.
My house is near I-57. Do you still buy there?
Yes. We buy across Washington Heights, including streets near the expressway and the Rock Island tracks.
Who pays the city and county transfer taxes?
We do when you sell to us. That covers the Chicago, CTA, Cook County and Illinois portions.
Can the executor sign before probate is finished?
The executor can sign a contract once appointed. We close after the court gives them authority to sell.
How quickly can we close on a house near 103rd and Halsted?
Typically 2–3 weeks after you accept. A later date is fine if you need time to move.