No Commissions
You won't pay any real estate commissions, and we cover your closing costs.
Sell a Vacant House in St. Louis
We buy empty houses for cash, as-is, even if they've sat for years. No repairs, no check-ins, and you pick the closing date.
- Close in as little as 7 days
- Sell as-is, in any condition
- No commissions, closing costs covered
Get Your Cash Offer
Four quick fields. Free and no obligation.
Why St. Louis Homeowners Sell to Us
Everything that slows a traditional sale down, removed.
Sell As-Is
No repairs, no cleaning, no showings. We buy the house exactly as it sits today.
You Pick the Date
Close in as little as 7 days, or later if you need time to plan your move.
Local and Family-Owned
A St. Louis team buying with our own funds for over 10 years. We don't just make offers. We close.
Sell a Vacant House in St. Louis
Want to sell a vacant house in St. Louis? We buy empty houses for cash, as-is, whether the house has been empty for a month or several years. You don’t have to fix it up, furnish it or keep visiting to check on it. We can close in as little as 7 days, or on a date you choose, with no commissions and closing costs covered.
We’re Swift Home Buys, a local, family-owned home buyer that has helped St. Louis-area homeowners for over 10 years. Many of the vacant houses we buy belong to people who moved away, inherited a house, or have a rental between tenants.
The Cost of Keeping an Empty House
A vacant house keeps costing money even when nobody lives there: property taxes, insurance, utilities, lawn care and repairs. And the longer it sits, the more can go wrong without anyone noticing.
Insurance on a vacant house
Many homeowners policies limit coverage once a house has been vacant for 30 to 60 days in a row, according to insurance guides like Insure.com. A burst pipe or break-in in an empty house might not be covered the way you expect. Call your insurance agent if your house is empty, and ask what your policy covers. This isn’t insurance advice.
Problems that go unnoticed
In an empty house, a small leak, a failed sump pump or a roof problem can run for weeks before anyone sees it. Empty houses also draw break-ins and trespassers, and an overgrown yard can bring code complaints from the city.
City rules for vacant houses
Some cities have their own rules for vacant houses. The City of St. Louis, for example, can charge a fee on certain vacant buildings that have code violations, under its vacant building ordinance. And when a vacant house sells, most cities in St. Louis County require an occupancy inspection before anyone moves in. Our city-by-city guide to occupancy permits explains what each city requires.
Selling a Vacant House From Out of Town
If you live out of state, we can handle most of the sale by phone and email. We need one visit to see the house, and someone can let us in, or we can arrange access with you. The title company can arrange for you to sign the closing papers remotely or by mail.
How a Sale to Us Works
Tell us about the house, we visit once, and you get a no-obligation cash offer with our math explained. Our offers are below full market value because we take on the repairs and the risk, and we’ll always be upfront about that. If the house is in good shape and you’re in no hurry, listing it may get you more, and we’ll tell you so. See every step on our How It Works page.
Inherited the house? Read about selling an inherited house. Is it a rental between tenants? See selling a rental. We buy vacant houses across St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and Jefferson, Franklin and Lincoln counties.
Real Buyers Close
Owners of vacant houses get a lot of “we buy houses” letters, and many come from wholesalers who never plan to buy. They put the house under contract and try to sell that contract to someone else, and if they can’t, the deal falls apart weeks later. Ask whether the buyer is using their own money. We are, and we close through a title company. Read Don’t Be Fooled by Advertising for the warning signs.
Cash Sale vs. Listing With an Agent
Both can be the right call. Here's what changes when speed matters most.
| Topic | Swift Home Buys | Listing With an Agent |
|---|---|---|
| Commissions and fees | None | Agent commission plus seller closing costs |
| Repairs and cleaning | None, sell as-is | Usually expected before listing or after inspection |
| Showings | One short visit | Open houses and repeated showings |
| Time to close | As little as 7 days, on your date | Often two to three months from listing |
| Financing risk | None, we buy with our own cash | The buyer's loan can fall through |
Have a move-in-ready house and time to wait? Listing may get you more, and we'll tell you so. See the full comparison.
Our Simple 4-Step Process
Selling your house to Swift Home Buys is quick and simple.
Get My Cash Offer-
Tell Us About Your Property
Share a few details online, or call or text us.
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Set an Appointment
We visit once to see the house and meet you in person.
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Get a Fair Offer
A no-obligation, all-cash offer, with our math explained.
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Close the Deal
You choose the closing date and get cash in hand.
Read What Our Clients Are Saying
Real reviews from St. Louis-area homeowners who sold to us.
Selling a Vacant House: Your Questions
Do you buy houses that have been vacant for years?
Yes. We buy vacant houses as-is, whether they’ve been empty for a few weeks or several years, including houses with water damage, overgrown yards or code violations.
Does my homeowners insurance cover a vacant house?
Maybe not fully. Many policies limit coverage after a house has been vacant for 30 to 60 days in a row. Ask your insurance agent what your policy covers. This isn’t insurance advice.
Can I sell a vacant house if I live out of state?
Yes. We can handle most of the sale by phone and email, and the title company can arrange for you to sign remotely or by mail.
Do I need to turn the utilities back on?
Not to sell to us. Some cities need them on for an occupancy inspection; the City of St. Louis, for example, requires working water and electric. We’ll talk through what your city requires.
How fast can I sell a vacant house?
We can close in as little as 7 days, or on a later date you choose.
Do I pay commissions or closing costs?
No. You won’t pay real estate commissions, and we cover the closing costs. Any mortgage or liens are paid off from the sale at closing.
Ready to Sell Your House?
Get your fair, no-obligation cash offer and pick the closing date that works for you.